HAWTHORNE : Council Fires City Manager Hired to Cut Budget Deficit

Hawthorne City Manager Todd W. Argow, who was hired to help erase a $10.5-million budget deficit was fired Tuesday night after just six months on the job.

The City Council voted 3 to 2 to oust Argow, 42. Leonard (Bud) Cormier, director of community development, was named acting city manager.

Argow said Wednesday that he was shocked by the council’s decision to remove him. But he added, “You have to look at the magnitude of the problems and how it was affecting the community, the council and the staff. I brought them through some very difficult times.”

Hawthorne Mayor Larry Guidi criticized Argow for focusing too much attention on cost-cutting proposals already under consideration by the City Council.

“He was a professional bureaucrat,” Guidi said. “There was no innovation. . . . We need someone out there beating the bushes, calling Washington, Sacramento and pounding people over the head saying, ‘We’re in trouble, we need help.’ Todd was a very nice man. But he just didn’t come out strong enough as a leader.”