NEWPORT BEACH : City Names New Utilities Director
Almost a year after Newport Beach’s utilities director, Robert J. Dixon, was arrested for pocketing $1.8 million of the city’s money, Acting Utilities Director Jeffrey A. Staneart was appointed to the post Tuesday.
City Manager Kevin J. Murphy made the decision after more than four months of weeding through applications and conducting extensive background checks and psychological evaluations of more than 80 applicants.
Staneart was hired by the city seven years ago as an engineer in the Public Works Department. He has served as acting utilities director since Jan. 14, 1992, the day after Dixon was arrested.
Staneart, 35, beat out experienced utilities directors and heads of public works departments and water agencies from all over the country, Murphy said.
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