Torrance : Jackson Gets Raise, Assistant

The City Council voted Tuesday night to give City Manager Leroy Jackson the 4% raise it gave other management employees, and, in a reorganization of Jackson’s office, created the position of assistant city manager.

The council named Albert Ng, who was chief assistant to the city manager, to the newly created post.

When Jackson’s raise was delayed last month, he said he might start looking for a new job if the raise did not come through. Council members who voted for the delay had criticized Jackson in general for failing to delegate responsibility and in particular for not having an assistant city manager. In addition, some criticized his penchant for wearing cowboy boots and loud ties.

Jackson emerged from a job evaluation conducted by the council with his boots on and a $3,200 raise in his pocket. His tie was subdued.

As a result of the private discussions with council, he said, he would concentrate more on strategic policy-making, specifically on long-range efforts to strengthen the city’s financial position.