Port Hueneme’s City Manager Search Ends

A four-month search for a new Port Hueneme city manager has resulted in a homecoming of sorts.

Richard Hunt, city manager of Arroyo Grande in San Luis Obispo County, was chosen as the first new city manager in Port Hueneme in 25 years.

The five-member City Council met in closed session at 8 a.m. Thursday. When the members emerged, Hunt was named to replace Dick Velthoen, who is retiring in February.

“This is the first time in 25 years that the city has appointed a new city manager, so we’re all rookies at this,” Mayor Murray Rosenbluth said. “We were looking not only for someone who is a capable manager, but also someone with innovative and creative ideas that will move the city forward.”

For Hunt, the decision amounts to somewhat of a homecoming--for 16 years he was assistant city manager in Simi Valley. He has been Arroyo Grande’s city manager since 1995, and prior to that was the city manager in La Quinta.

Hunt holds a master’s of public administration degree from Cal State Northridge.

“I’m thrilled to be coming back to Ventura County,” Hunt said. “This position offers a great opportunity to work with an energetic and innovative City Council and city staff.”

Hunt will start his new job Jan. 31.

Rosenbluth, who assumed the post of mayor Dec. 1, said the city received 50 applications for the city manager position and winnowed the number to 17 through a screening process conducted by DMG Maximus, a San Francisco-based professional search firm.