CALABASAS : Ex-Official to Head Tucson Water District

Former Las Virgenes Municipal Water District General Manager Charles (Kent) McClain, who was fired in March in a disagreement over management style, has been hired as head of the municipal water district in Tucson.

“It’s a tremendous advancement, so that makes me feel good,” McClain said. “The service population is about 10 times greater than the one in Las Virgenes.”

McClain was fired as manager of the Las Virgenes district, which serves about 20,000 homes, because directors were “looking for a little stronger leadership,” board President Harold V. (Hal) Helsley said at the time.

He added that there “may have been some minor personality conflicts” within the ranks of the 135-employee district.

McClain said he left the district with “no hard feelings.”

The former city manager of Santa Monica; Fremont, Calif., and Flagstaff, Ariz. is expected to begin his new job Aug. 15 at an annual salary of $89,500.

McClain was hired after a nationwide search by Tucson officials produced 150 applicants.

“We’re very happy to have him,” said Tucson City Manager Michael Brown. “We’re hoping he can help turn us from an old-line technocratic organization to a more customer-oriented one.”