City Administrator Withdraws Resignation

Just days after shocking the City Council by announcing his resignation, City Administrator John Davidson changed his mind Wednesday, city officials said.

Davidson, 47, said he will not, after all, be leaving next month to become city manager of Temple City.

Less than 48 hours earlier, Davidson had announced he was leaving, sending elected city officials scrambling to try to retain the 47-year-old city administrator. Janet Sherman, a spokesperson for the city, said Davidson would remain in the city after “contract negotiations broke down in Temple City.”

Temple City officials refused to comment on the announcement, referring questions to Charles Martin, the interim city manager. Martin, who is also Sierra Madre’s contract city attorney, was not available for comment. Just a day before, Temple City officials had been quoted as saying that Davidson had signed a contract with them.

As Sierra Madre’s top official, Davidson earns about $70,000 and is among the lower paid city managers in the region. Three years ago, Davidson was promoted from public works director to city administrator after Sean Joyce left the job for a higher-paying position in South Pasadena.

For much of the last decade the city of 11,000--which does not have a commercial tax base nor a stop light--has struggled to retain its employees, who generally can earn far more in large cities.

Temple City has operated without a permanent city manager since September when Hugh Riley resigned after five years in the position.