New City Manager Takes the Reins : Government: Donald Duckworth, ousted last year from the same post in Visalia, has a reputation for attracting major business developments.

The former city manager of Visalia, who was ousted last year amid controversy involving a botched $16.9-million redevelopment project, has been selected as Arcadia’s new chief administrator.

Donald Duckworth, 43, who was sworn in as city manager on Tuesday, was chosen by the City Council last week from 70 applicants. Officials said they unanimously appointed Duckworth because of his warm personality and his ability to solicit major business developments.

“I’m excited about it, excited about helping the council achieve some of it goals,” Duckworth said.

He will replace George Watts, whom city officials asked to step down in May, shortly after the two new council members won office in April.

Similarly, Duckworth was forced out as Visalia city manager last October after two new members were elected to that city’s council in a campaign that focused on a disastrous redevelopment project he headed.

Visalia City Attorney Steve Kabot said a developer hired by the city to construct a Radisson hotel and to expand the existing convention center exhausted nearly $6 million in city support before the project was completed. The city had to take over the project to keep it afloat.

Outraged residents filed several lawsuits against the city, accusing it of illegally using taxpayers’ money as a gift of public funds, Kabot said. The suits, however, were dismissed for lack of evidence.

Arcadia officials said they learned of the controversy during the search process. Mayor George Fasching and two council members visited Visalia and talked to friends and foes of Duckworth, including past and present city officials. They concluded Duckworth had done no wrong and was following council orders.

“He was the sacrificial lamb,” said Councilman Bob Margett, echoing the sentiment of the council. “Someone had to take the hit for the problem.”

Councilman Joe Ciraulo said, “As far as I’m concerned, he’s a perfect fit for Arcadia. He has extensive experience in redevelopment, (which is) what we were looking for.”

Both said one of Duckworth’s goals will be to bring in businesses to increase sales tax revenue, especially needed with the loss of Hinshaw’s department store, which is closing this year, and a Ford dealership, which has announced it is moving to another city. The additional revenue would also replace expected cuts in state funds. Duckworth will also oversee renovation of the library, City Hall and police stations, they said.

Duckworth, who is a past president of the California Redevelopment Assn., has a bachelors degree in political science from Cal State Northridge. After he retired last year, he began studying for a master’s degree in public administration. Duckworth is divorced and said he plans to remarry next year.

He went to work in the central California city of 82,000 in February, 1985, as an assistant city manager and was appointed city manager in July of that year.

On Monday, several Vasalia city staff and officials praised Duckworth for bringing in major businesses, including the hotel and convention center, which they say has become successful.

Visalia’s finance director, Tim Hansen, said the city’s subsidy for the hotel has dropped from $1 million the year it opened to $500,000 last year, after the opening of a convention center.