City Manager Urges Council Cooperation in Farewell Speech

On his last day as Oxnard’s city manager, David Mora used a library groundbreaking ceremony Friday to bid his colleagues farewell and to urge more cooperation among the City Council members.

“I’ve always tried to emphasize to residents, to staff, to the City Council the need . . . to seek accomplishments rather than put up roadblocks,” Mora told a crowd of about 50 assembled in a parking lot next to the site of the city’s new central library.

With the council members sitting on a stage behind him, Mora said he hoped that the groundbreaking for the $10-million library will symbolize a “positive beginning that can set a new tone and manner in the city of Oxnard.”

Despite repeated conflicts with council members, Mora has been Oxnard’s top administrator--in charge of more than 1,000 full-time employees--for the past five years. He announced his resignation in December after he received a 3-2 vote of no confidence from the council.

Councilwomen Ann Johs, Dorothy Maron and Geraldine (Gerry) Furr voted against Mora, blaming him for many of the city’s financial woes. Mayor Nao Takasugi and Councilman Manuel Lopez supported Mora, saying he was a scapegoat for the council’s poor decisions.

The council announced Thursday that former Escondido City Manager Vernon G. Hazen will replace Mora. Hazen is scheduled to begin work Aug. 13.

While known for his guarded manner, Mora ended his impromptu speech by stressing the need for stronger Latino representation in City Hall. Speaking in Spanish, Mora urged Mexican-American residents to use the new library to learn more about city government and become more politically active.

More than 50% of Oxnard residents are Latino, yet Lopez is only the third Mexican-American to hold a council seat since the city was incorporated in 1903.

After posing for photos with the council, Mora returned to his office, passing up an opportunity to chitchat with city employees.

He said he would spend his last day completing staff evaluation reports and briefing Assistant City Manager John Tooker on unfinished business. Mora said he planned to return during the weekend to clean out his desk.

On Monday, he said, he and his wife would begin a vacation. “I need to relax . . . wind down,” he added.

During Mora’s tenure, his most vocal critics, Johs and Maron, accused him of being dictatorial and scheming, and his supporters, Takasugi and Lopez, praised him as a hard-working professional.

At his last council meeting Tuesday, Mora was praised by city activist Roy Lockwood, who said Mora has “done an outstanding job here” and “deserves to be commended.”

Takasugi said one of Mora’s greatest accomplishments has been modernizing Oxnard’s financial records, which last week won a bookkeeping award from the Chicago-based Government Finance Officers Assn.

“I’m sure that is going to be a shining light in the record of Mr. Mora,” the mayor said.

In March, Mora was one of three finalists in the search for San Antonio’s city manager, but the job went to the city’s assistant city manager. Mora said he is continuing his search for a new post but has “nothing on the horizon.”

On his last day, Mora said he was not bitter and voiced no personal regrets. In a private conversation, he refused to take parting shots at individual detractors or the councilwomen who ousted him.

“There is nothing that I’ve done in my five years that I didn’t do with professionalism and integrity, and I would not do anything any different,” he said.

But he said his “greatest single frustration has been basically not being able to get the council to work together.” Mora said the council has spent too much time assessing blame and not enough time seeking cooperation.

He said the divisive nature of the council has a negative effect on the city staff, which looks to the council for leadership.

“Unless they come together, I don’t think Oxnard is going to reach its potential,” he said.

Nonetheless, Mora said his job was not been without rewards. He said he takes pride in having assembled what he considers a first-rate team of department heads. “You just have to take the thanks any way it’s offered,” he said.