Council Names New Mayor, City Manager

Santa Paula replaced its top elected and top appointed municipal officials--on the same night.

Peter Cosentini, presently top administrator in the Napa Valley community of Calistoga, was formally named city manager Monday after a 1 1/2-year search. Meanwhile, Don Johnson was unanimously appointed mayor, replacing Robin Sullivan in the largely ceremonial, one-year post that is rotated among council members.

Cosentini, 47, who will start work Feb. 9 at his $97,000-a-year job, is familiar with the region, having been assistant city manager in the farming community of Lompoc from 1984 through 1988. He was hired after a statewide search conducted by interim city manager Murray Warden.

Cosentini will inherit a financially strapped city, a Police Department in disarray because of infighting between the police chief and officers and a divided City Council.

“It’s always my plight to build consensus and build bridges and not to burn them,” he said. “[And] I have excellent experience in dealing with financially difficult situations.”

Cosentini also said he has the administrative tools necessary to help Santa Paula grow. The city plans to annex surrounding land for industrial and upscale residential development in an effort to bring in badly needed revenue.

Cosentini previously served for four years as the city manager of Galt. He resigned in 1995 after a complete turnover of the City Council.

Johnson, who is also the publisher of the city’s twice-weekly newspaper, is in his first term on the City Council.

“I think we’re going to have a good year,” he said. “I think we’re going to move this city forward.”