> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Council is confident in its choice for city manager - URL: https://www.smdp.com/council-is-confident-in-its-choice-for-city-manager/ - Published: 2005-11-30T16:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-23T08:15:03.000Z - Author: Ryan Hyatt - Tags: Government & Politics, Santa Monica, #archive-import *SM represents pay increase for Ewell MATCHING EWELL’S STRENGTHS* CITY HALL — Elected officials say they’re confident in their choice for Santa Monica’s new city manager, despite concerns some have expressed regarding controversy he’s endured while holding his position in San Diego. The Nov. 22 City Council announcement that Lamont Ewell is to become Santa Monica’s top administrator as of Jan. 14 has spurned some inquiries among community members, curious about the process by which the new city manager was selected. Ewell, 52, a former Compton firefight-er, was named city manager of San Diego in March of 2004 after Michael Uberuaga was forced to resign amid complaints about his role in that city’s pension debacle, according to news reports. Ewell was assistant city manager at the time. Ewell — who has not been accused of any wrong doing — will be leaving San Diego as it strives to recover from a $1.4 billion pension deficit, investigations by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and Securities and Exchange Commission, criminal charges against six pension board members, as well as an inability to sell bonds until a long-awaited audit is completed, according to news reports. A Monday, Nov. 28 letter to the editor in the Santa Monica Daily Press, written by the chair of a San Diego tax group, lambasted City Hall for hiring Ewell at a salary of $245,000 — $20,000 more than his San Diego position paid. The letter writer also accused Ewell of money mismanagement and a failure to correct the crisis in San Diego. Meanwhile, the Santa Monica City Council — which unanimously approved making Ewell City Hall’s top administrator after screening more than 60 applicants — has cited his integrity in helping San Diego and other municipalities overcome obstacles as a basis for their decision in choosing him. City Councilman Bobby Shriver said that the council, having heard about Ewell’s candidacy and the problems in San Diego, took steps to investigate through professional headhunter Lisa Mills what relationship, if any, he had with the troubles in San Diego. “She did her own investigation and told us he had no relationship (with the problems),” Shriver said. “In fact, she told us he had done much to address the problems. “She said she has never met a more qualified candidate for a city manager.” Shriver’s confidence was shared by City Councilman Richard Bloom. “I am completely confident I made the right decision and so did the council,” Bloom said. “I did some research on the issues (prior to making a selection), and I’m 100 percent certain that not only did Mr. Ewell not contribute to the problems in San Diego, I think he has done everything in his power to help the city extricate itself under very difficult circumstances. “It’s his ability to comport himself well in the context of a crisis that resonated well with me.” TO SANTA MONICA’S NEEDS Bloom said Ewell has successfully led San Diego through tough times and is leaving that city on a better note because of it. The root of the problem in San Diego was that political leaders wanted to spend more than they were taking in, according to news reports. They didn’t have the revenue to offer city employees raises. So, instead, they offered increased pension benefits. Now, San Diego’s pension system is at least $1.4 billion short and there are legal questions as to whether there were improper conflicts of interest that led to overly generous payments, according to news reports. To deal with a $50 million deficit in San Diego, Ewell had to make difficult budget decisions and return the city to core services. Among the cuts were 200 positions, justified by the fact that 78 percent of San Diego’s budget was payroll. There are about 11,000 people employed by the city of San Diego, which has a budget of about $2.4 billion. Santa Monica has 1,900 employees and a $383 million budget. Through City Manager Susan McCarthy’s efforts, Santa Monica has maintained its triple A bond rating while supporting big ticket capital improvements that have been in the works since the 1990s. Some of those projects are expected to open this year, including the $55 million Main Library, the $13 million Virginia Avenue Park expansion and the new $722,000 skatepark at 14th Street and Olympic Boulevard. She supported raising the hotel room tax in order to strengthen Santa Monica’s present and future financial base. San Diego, meanwhile, may have to hold off on some capital improvement projects for a few more years until its bond rating reaches satisfactory levels, according to news reports. McCarthy will be leaving Ewell to complete a two-year overhaul to the city’s planning and traffic plan, which will set policy for development and transportation in Santa Monica for the next 20 years. The $120 million Civic Center complex, a $90 million downtown parking plan and the redevelopment of Santa Monica Place Mall are further undertakings she has helped manage, which will be carried on by other leaders. Ewell announced in November of 2004, after voters passed a strong mayor measure, that he was planning to leave his post, which he agreed to take in order to help San Diego navigate through its tough times, according to City Hall spokeswoman Judy Rambeau. Ewell’s last work day in San Diego was set for Monday. Ewell was resigning because, beginning Jan. 1, San Diego will move to a stronger mayor form of government. That change will give mayor-elect Jerry Sanders the power to veto the San Diego City Council, hire and fire department heads and prepare that city’s annual budget, according to news reports. Santa Monica City Councilman Bob Holbrook, set to become mayor in December, said he has personally checked Ewell’s references and heard from numerous officials that the problems in San Diego have had nothing to do with him. “His references were outstanding,” Holbrook said. “Many wished he was still working for them. They said he’s a good team builder.” Ewell’s career began as a firefighter with the Compton Fire Department in 1975\. After serving that department for 19 years in such capacities as deputy fire marshal, deputy fire chief and fire chief, Ewell then served Oakland, Calif., as deputy city manager, assistant city manager and acting city manager. He helped Oakland recover from a series of devastating fires that took place years ago, Bloom said. Ewell also served as city manager for Durham, N.C., before landing in San Diego. Ewell has an executive master’s degree in general administration from the University of Maryland and a bachelor of science degree in business administration from the University of Phoenix. Recruited by San Diego in 2001, he was named assistant city manager, responsible for the day-to-day operations of all city departments. Bloom said he thinks those who may be skeptical about the council’s decision to hire Ewell will be less so once he’s had a chance to prove himself in his new position. “I think we will see Mr. Ewell doing positive things for the city within six months or a year into the future,” Bloom said. “I look forward to hearing other people’s impressions of him then.” ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2026/10/113005-01_01.jpg) Crews prepare the inside of the MASS Music Dome at the Santa Monica Pier. (Photo: Fabian Lewkowicz/Daily Press) *Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on November 30, 2005.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/113005.pdf?ref=smdp.com)