NEWPORT BEACH : City Manager Hires Aide at $72,000 a Year

A San Bernardino administrative officer has been hired as an assistant to City Manager Kevin J. Murphy.

Peggy Ducey, 37, who was an executive assistant to former County Supervisor Harriett M. Wieder, begins Oct. 26 with a $72,000 salary.

The position was created last spring as part of the city’s management-reorganization plan. The position is designed to alleviate some responsibilities assigned to Assistant City Manager Ken Delino, whose duties were increased early in the summer when he took over as planning director with the retirement of James Hewicker.

Delino, who has spruced up the city’s economic development, will continue as assistant city manager, filling in for Murphy when he leaves town.

Ducey will concentrate on the city’s property management, cable television franchise and producing an administrative policy manual for city employees, Murphy said. She will also be responsible for inter- and intra-governmental relations, Murphy said.

“We are going to place more attention in developing and working closely with the city’s legislative committee,” which assists council members in advocating for state and federal legislation, Murphy said. “We want to become more proactive than reactive to the issues that come before us.”

About 300 people applied for the new post, and 14 finalists were selected.

Ducey received a bachelor’s degree in political science at UCLA and a master’s degree in public administration at Cal State Long Beach. In San Bernardino, she was an assistant to the city manager, overseeing special projects.