The Murrieta City Council last month announced that Assistant City Manager Justin Clifton would assume the role of city manager following the retirement of current City Manager Kim Summers.
“I think that you are a phenomenal choice to move Murrieta forward,” Mayor Lori Stone said at the Nov. 19 meeting. “I’m so glad that you and your family have moved to Murrieta, so you are a resident as well, and you have meat in the game, and so welcome. I look so forward to working with you.”
Clifton joined the city earlier this year as assistant city manager and has more than 15 years of experience as a city manager, according to the city.
“I am thrilled to take on the role as city manager,” Clifton said in a press release from the city. “I’m excited to work in the community my family and I love and to be part of such an amazing team.”
The meeting was also Summers’ last and started with a celebration of her service to the city and all that she has achieved during her tenure.
“Lots of accolades will happen tonight, but I believe your strongest legacy will be the insight that you have in selecting the very best of the best for [the] city of Murrieta,” Stone said. “As you enjoy your retirement, I know that you have such relief that you are leaving our city in the best hands possible, so thank you for your leadership, thank you for this phenomenal team that we have here, I hope you enjoy your retirement.”
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Those who came out to honor Summers included representatives for Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA 48th District) and Supervisor Chuck Washington, State Sen. Kelly Seyarto (R-Murrieta), Murrieta Valley Unified School District Superintendent Ward Andrus, Murrieta Fire Chief Bernard Molloy, Murrieta Police Chief Anthony Conrad.
“There are a lot of things city managers have to put up with, and so it’s not easy to navigate them,” Seyarto said. “Kim has been an all-star in doing that, and so I super appreciate not only her leadership in this community and how she’s leaving it, but I appreciate her friendship more than anything.”
Summers, who announced her retirement earlier this year, was first hired by the city in 2014 as an assistant city manager before taking on her current role in 2017. Prior to that, she was a deputy city manager and public information officer in the City of Hesperia from 1999-2014.
“Thank you for entrusting me with this role, for your partnership and for your commitment to our shared mission of caring for the members of this community,” Summers said. “Although I’m retiring, Murrieta will always have a special place in my heart, and as a resident, I look forward to seeing all of the great things that lie ahead.”
Summers went on leave Nov. 22 and will not return to the city ahead of her official retirement date of Jan. 10. Clifton will serve as acting city manager until Jan. 12, when he will be appointed to the permanent role of city manager. His base salary was set at $341,712.80 annually.
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