Sacramento Interim City Manager Gus Vina is resigning his post today, the second time in 13 months that the top executive at City Hall has abruptly stepped down.
And once again, a division on the City Council has played a role in the top manager's departure.
In an interview inside his office this morning, Vina told me "it's difficult as a city manager to work when you don't have at least a supermajority of the council (behind you)." Five council members voted earlier this year to conduct a national search for a permanent city manager, while the four others voted to hire Vina.
"It's OK, that's their prerogative," he said. But, he added, "some days I feel like I'm a wedge and the lightning rod and that's not what you want in a city manager."
Vina, 50, does not have another job, but said he is in the final round of interviews for two city manager posts elsewhere. He has worked for the city for 12 years, taking over as interim city manager after former City Manager Ray Kerridge quit in February 2009.
Councilman Jay Schenirer, who supported keeping Vina, called the news "unfortunate."
"I think he has a done good job for the city in a very difficult time," Schenirer said. "And my hope is that the council can use this in a way that moves us forward as a cohesive body."
Councilwoman Angelique Ashby, who also voted to keep Vina, said she was disappointed in the news.
"I had hoped Gus would stay and be involved in the search and ultimately be our next city manager," she said. "I hope that we will find unity in whoever replaces Gus, but I do think we have a challenge ahead of us."
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