Game-Changing Appointment: Anticipated City Manager Announcement This Tuesday

Maraskeshia Smith is on the verge of being appointed as Sacramento’s new city manager, as indicated by sources from City Hall. If confirmed, she will make history as the first Black woman to occupy this role. The City Council is set to hold a vote regarding Smith, currently serving as the city manager of Santa Rosa, during a closed session on Tuesday morning, prior to a subsequent press briefing. While her office in Santa Rosa declined to either confirm or deny her candidacy, the city has acknowledged that the position has been vacant since December 31, when Howard Chan’s contract was not renewed. Assistant City Manager Leyne Milstein has been acting in an interim capacity since January 14. The selection of Smith comes after a comprehensive national search. Chan, who assumed the role of city manager in 2017, was reported to have a total compensation package of $789,147 for the year 2024, including payouts for unused vacation and sick leave. Smith has been serving as Santa Rosa’s city manager since January 2022, making her the first African American woman in the position.