Rudat Takes Over as City Manager

David L. Rudat, who rose through the ranks to become chief of the Fire Department, was chosen this week as city manager.

Rather than conduct a wide-ranging search for outside talent, the City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to appoint Rudat, who has held the position on an interim basis since the resignation of City Manager David F. Dixon.

Rudat, 43, stepped into the $138,000-a-year job shortly after Dixon, recruited from Temecula in 1994, stepped down in September after a long battle with cancer. Dixon died two weeks later.

Council members this week praised Rudat’s leadership during a difficult period. Rudat “was a natural for the job because of his background, his knowledge of the city and his dedication,” Mayor Joanne Coontz said.

A firefighter since 1972, Rudat became chief in September 1994. He earned a master’s degree in public administration from USC last May.

Key to his success in landing the city manager job, Rudat said, were his familiarity with Orange and his years of service. “I knew the history of the city, I knew the players, where the land mines were, where people felt beat up,” he said.

During his interview for the post, Rudat said, he told the council that he will develop a vision for economic stability and reorganize City Hall without laying off staff members.

That sat well with most of the city’s 600 employees.

“I think people here by and large are very happy that Rudat was appointed,” said Jim Devore, one of the city’s union leaders. “He’s been an employee here for quite a while, and we’ve always found him to be straightforward and honest.”