After suffering an exodus of top city appointees throughout last year, Stockton’s government has filled vacancies at the helm of three departments, including its finance division.
The city has hired a chief financial officer, public works director and interim director of community services, according to a Monday statement from the city. The finance and public works chiefs started working Dec. 22, and the interim community services head started Dec. 15, the city says.
The new leadership arrived at the conclusion of a year when at least six top officials resigned, retired or were fired, starting with former City Manager Harry Black resigning at the beginning of last year under threat of firing by the new City Council. Deputy City Manager Will Crew stepped into the role temporarily. The city’s chief executive seat would go on to change hands three more times in 2025.
Departures picked up in February after the council hired former interim City Manager Steve Colangelo, who, according to his comments at a council committee meeting, immediately fired an assistant CFO and a deputy city manager who’d been serving as the city’s interim finance chief.
Stockton’s longtime financial auditing company also submitted its resignation in early February.
The list of those who left the city eventually grew to include the city’s economic development director in April and spokesperson in May, their LinkedIn pages show. And in June, Stockton’s top budget official left the job for Community Services Department role, according to city spokesman Tony Mannor.
Colangelo also exited his role after an August after the council opted not to re-up his contract. The council replaced him with Deputy City Manager Will Crew, who served as acting city manager until council hired Johnny Ford as the Stockton’s permanent city manager in November.
“We are excited to welcome these seasoned leaders to the City of Stockton,” Ford said in a statement about the new hires. “These roles are critical to the city’s operations and financial stability, and we’re pleased to have filled them with experienced professionals.”
Stockton’s new CFO is Gilbert Garcia, whose most recent government service was as CFO of Huntington Beach from 2018-2019, according to the city and Garcia’s LinkedIn. Garcia was previously in charge of the finances of Lincoln and Ventura, Mannor stated.
Since 2019, Garcia has been working as a writer, according to his LinkedIn.
Garcia holds a Bachelor of Science in business administration from California State University, Fresno, his LinkedIn states.
Before Garcia, Deputy City Manager Chad Reed was serving as interim CFO, as well as interim chief of the public works department.
Taking over from Reed in the Public Works Department is Peni Basalusalu, who most recently served as deputy director of public works in Berkeley for roughly two years, according to Mannor’s statement and Basalusalu’s LinkedIn. He’s also held city government roles in Manteca, Waterford, Patterson and other cities, Mannor stated.
Basalusalu holds a bachelor’s in political science from Brigham Young University-Hawaii and a master’s degree of public administration from Brigham Young University, Mannor stated.
Both Basalusalu and Garcia worked in Stockton’s government years ago, Basalusalu from 2003-2007 and Garcia from 1997-2006, their LinkedIn pages show.
“Gilbert’s return is particularly significant,” Ford said. “His two decades of finance leadership will help us hit the ground running. Peni brings that same local knowledge after previously serving the City.”
In Stockton’s Community Services Department — which runs the city’s libraries and recreation programs — Audree V. Jones-Taylor was hired as interim director.
Jones-Taylor’s most recent public role was as Chief of Staff for Baltimore’s public works department, Mannor stated. Jones-Taylor held the job for about two years, ending in 2023, according to her LinkedIn. Starting in October 2023, Jones-Taylor’s LinkedIn listed her occupation as “retired.”
Throughout her four-decade career, Jones-Taylor led Oakland’s parks and recreation department, and also held senior public posts in San Bernardino, Long Beach, San Francisco and Marin City, Mannor stated.
Jones-Taylor holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Redlands and a Master of Organizational Leadership from St. Mary’s College, Mannor stated.
“Audree’s track record in major cities and her passion for the youth in our community speak for themselves,” Ford said.
Former Community Services Director Kris Farro’s city employment ended Dec. 12. Mannor didn’t share the reason for her departure. Farro started a job as Walnut Creek’s arts and recreation director last month, her Linkedin states.
None of the three new department heads immediately returned requests for comment about their roles.
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