The City of Malibu has appointed Christopher J. Smith as interim assistant city manager, bringing 14 years of coastal city management experience to an organization that has struggled with leadership stability in recent years.
Smith joins Malibu following a distinguished career with the City of Santa Monica, where he served in multiple leadership roles including deputy city manager, chief of staff and acting chief information officer. He also served as Santa Monica's LGBTQ+ liaison, leading community engagement and inclusion initiatives.
"Christopher brings deep leadership experience, a collaborative approach, and a clear commitment to public service," said Mayor Marianne Riggins. "His proven track record in effective city management and innovation will be a tremendous asset as Malibu continues the fire rebuild and recovery effort and strengthens its operations and deliver exceptional services to our community."
As interim assistant city manager, Smith will support the city manager in overseeing daily operations, managing key departments including finance, human resources and information technology, and coordinating major citywide initiatives. He will also serve as acting city manager in the city manager's absence.
"I am honored to join the Malibu team and to serve this remarkable community," Smith said. "Malibu represents resilience, beauty, and civic pride. I look forward to supporting the Council's goals, empowering staff, and working closely with residents to ensure that our local government continues to reflect the community's values and priorities."
Before his work in Santa Monica, Smith spent a decade with the Judicial Council of California, where he led statewide court technology strategic planning and policy development to expand electronic filing and access services. He holds a master's degree in public administration from California State University, Long Beach.
Smith's appointment comes as Malibu works to stabilize its leadership after experiencing unusual turnover in the city manager position since 2020. The city has cycled through multiple managers — both permanent and interim — in just five years, a period marked by high-profile departures, interim appointments and ongoing efforts to find stable leadership.
The turbulence began in May 2021, when Reva Feldman resigned amid political controversy. Feldman had served as Malibu's city manager since 2016. The city immediately named Steve McClary, a former Ojai city manager, as interim city manager and launched a national search for Feldman's replacement.
After serving in an interim capacity for about a year, McClary was appointed permanent city manager by the City Council in June 2022.
However, McClary's tenure proved short-lived. He went on personal leave after Thanksgiving 2024, during which Assistant City Manager Joseph Toney served as acting city manager. In early 2025, McClary and the city mutually agreed to part ways in what McClary described as an "amicable transition."
With McClary's departure, Malibu again turned to interim leadership. In May 2025, the City Council appointed Candace Bond, a Malibu resident and former U.S. ambassador, as interim city manager. Her appointment prompted Toney to resign from his deputy/assistant city manager post just hours after being passed over for the interim position.
Bond's temporary term was set to last until a new permanent manager could begin, and she steered City Hall through the summer.
In August 2025, the City Council unanimously approved Ronda Perez as Malibu's new permanent city manager, effective Aug. 25. Perez, formerly the city manager of Palmdale, brought nearly 20 years of public sector experience to the position. Local officials said they hoped she would provide the "consistent and capable leadership" Malibu needed during ongoing disaster recovery efforts.
However, after criticism of her past performance was brought forward, Perez withdrew her name before actually starting work. Bond has remained as interim city manager.
The leadership instability has complicated Malibu's efforts to address critical challenges, including fire rebuild and recovery following recent disasters. Smith's appointment to the assistant city manager role represents an effort to strengthen the management team as the city continues its search for permanent leadership.