Merced Sun-Star
Merced's City Council will vote Monday on hiring John Bramble as the next city manager, possibly ending the seven-month search to find a new leader at a critical time.
Bramble, 62, serves as city manager in Brighton, Colo., and would replace Jim Marshall, who announced that he'd end his 16-year career with the city in January.
"I'm excited about the opportunity and the challenges," Bramble said Thursday from Brighton. "This is a good opportunity for me and a good opportunity for Merced."
He said he sees Merced's problems -- high unemployment, a record rate of foreclosures and shrinking revenue -- as challenges he's prepared to take on.
"It's a community that has potential," he said.
Bramble, who was approached by the city's hired headhunter about the job, won't be at the meeting.
The city is offering Bramble a five-year contract with a $171,653 annual salary and four weeks vacation. It also includes a nine-month severance package that includes pay and benefits.
If hired, he'd start Dec. 1, allowing Marshall, who'd been working on an hourly basis as interim city manager, to retire.
Brighton's salary would start where Marshall's left off.
Though most city managers stay behind the scenes, they're the most important figure in local government, as they deal with the day-to-day operations of a city and oversee the budget.
It's up to the City Council to hire and fire them. Oftentimes, city managers are sent packing after an election because they're seen as part of the last council's legacy. Marshall's stay in Merced was remarkably long.
Mayor Ellie Wooten said that Bramble's similar to Marshall in that he listens to everyone's perspective.
"I just like him. I've read his track record," she said. "I think he's the man for the job."
The background check came back without any problems, she said. The decis ion to offer him the job wasn't unanimous, she conceded, though closed-session rules prevent her from saying how everyone on the council voted.
She declined to say why some council members didn't want to offer him the job. "Everyone has to speak for themselves," she said.
His resume shows a long history of government jobs in California and Colorado. He's been Brighton's city manager since 1996. It's a city near Denver of about 34,000 with about a 40 percent Latino population.
Bramble said his top priorities there had been revitalizing its downtown and bringing in more jobs. Recently, the city landed a wind turbines maker that will employ 1,350 in the area.
Like Merced, Brighton also has an agricultural base that Bramble has worked to diversity so the economy is stronger.
He has a wife, a real estate agent, and a son, who's 22 and attending the University of Colorado at Boulder.
If hired, he said he'll visit Merced soon to meet with the city's department heads. "I want to assure them that I don't have horns," he said. "I'm there to lead a team. I'm not the star."
Councilman Jim Sanders noted that the council must still vote on hiring him. In any case, he said, Bramble brings a wealth of experience at a time when Merced's facing some serious challenges.
"He'll be a good fit," he noted.
Councilman John Carlisle said Bramble is personable and is enthusiastic about coming to Merced. He declined to say whether he voted to offer Bramble the job.
He said Bramble was one of the most qualified candidates the council considered.
"I personally believe everyone on the council will do their best to work with him," he said. "The lack of a unanimous vote is a matter of personal preference."
Councilman Bill Spriggs said said Marshall is a tough city manager to replace. Merced's in a for a change no matter who's hired.
"I just wanted to keep Jim punching the time clock," Spriggs said. "He's unbelievably well regarded in the profession."
Reporter Scott Jason can be reached at (209) 385-2453 or sjason@mercedsun-star.com.
John Bramble's biography
1979 through 1981: Belmont's assistant city manager/ finance director
1981 through 1984: Commerce City, Colo.'s city manager
1984 through 1987: Pueblo, Colo.'s city manager
1987 through 1988: Adjunct professor at University of Southern Colorado
1988 through 1993: Bell's city administrator
1993 through 1996: Adams County, Colo., administrator
1996 to present: Brighton, Colo., city manager
Source: Bramble's resume
