Bell Gardens : Former Lynwood Official to Be Interim City Manager

The City Council this week appointed former Lynwood City Manager Charles Gomez as interim city manager while the city searches for a permanent replacement for fired City Manager William Vasquez.

Gomez, who will be paid $7,500 a month, was approved by a 5-0 vote Monday night and moved into his office Wednesday morning. He was among three interim managers suggested to the council by the League of California Cities.

The five council members met behind closed doors for more than 90 minutes Monday night, reviewing the candidates. Last week, council members George T. Deitch and Josefina (Josie) Macias refused to go into a closed session to discuss the appointment of Gomez. At that time, Gomez indicated to the council that he was not interested in the job unless he was approved unanimously. Gomez met later last week with Macias and Deitch. Macias said that Gomez impressed her with his desire to get the bitterly split council working together again and that he was “very honest and open” during their meeting.

Gomez, 63, was the city manager in Lynwood for 10 years. In 1991, he left to work as a consultant in Honduras, representing the International City Managers Assn. Since returning to the United States last fall, Gomez has been head of the social services department in Norwalk.

No timetable has been set for permanently hiring a city manager, city officials said. Gomez last week indicated that he might be interested in the permanent position.