In the midst of an election for a new mayor, Inglewood will now also have to find a new City Manager after Tim Wanamaker's sudden resignation. (Photo by Gary McCarthy)
Story Created:
Mar 17, 2010 at 3:25 PM PST
Story Updated:
Mar 17, 2010 at 6:57 PM PST
INGLEWOOD — Already reeling from the sudden departure of former Mayor Roosevelt Dorn, the city has suffered another blow with the abrupt resignation of City Manager Tim Wanamaker.
Effective Thursday afternoon, Wanamaker’s resignation comes after months of derision of his fiscal oversight by City Councilwoman Judy Dunlap and her political allies. In a short statement released Wednesday morning, Wanamaker did not allude to those attacks.
“Effective at the close of business on March 18, I have submitted my resignation to the Mayor Pro Tempore and City Council as Administrator for the City of Inglewood,” read the statement.
“I have enjoyed the tremendous challenge of working with the wonderful team of dedicated public servants and staff to improve the City’s infrastructure as well as its business and family environment for the wonderful people who live and work here.”
He continued that although he felt “proud of the progress the City has made during my nearly two years in this demanding role, many challenges remain ahead for the elected leaders as well as my future successor.”
In an interview conducted Wednesday morning, City Treasurer Wanda Brown suggested that Wanamaker’s exit was forced. Brown said her colleague looked “extra down last night” as they rode the elevator down from Tuesday’s city council meeting, which was canceled after a bomb threat.
“He told me that he would be out of here in two days, and his specific words were, ‘Well, they put it to me in such a way that I will be resigning.’”
Brown added: “His resignation saddens me, especially at this particular time when we have an election and an array of financial woes.”
Neither Dunlap or council members Ralph Franklin and Eloy Morales were available for comment at press time. But Councilman Daniel Tabor, reached by telephone in Washington D.C., where he is attending a League of Cities conference, said Wanamaker’s duties would be handled in the short term by Sheldon Curry, the assistant city administrator in charge of redevelopment.
“This was unexpected, but not completely out of the blue,” said Tabor. “It will take the focused effort of all the city council to confront the issues we have going on at the moment.”
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