After three-plus years serving as Santa Monica’s City Manager, David White will be stepping down from the role in February, the city announced Tuesday.
White began his role as permanent City Manager in October 2021 after serving as City Manager of Fairfield for five years, as well as two years of experience as the Deputy City Manager of Berkeley. He will be returning to the Deputy City Manager position in Berkeley.
“This is a bittersweet departure, and I am tremendously grateful to have had the opportunity to serve Santa Monica,” White said. “I’ll be working closely with the City Council and city leadership to ensure a smooth transition and am confident in the city’s bright future.”
In the position, White oversees a City budget of $705.5 million and a workforce of 1,923; and is also responsible for operation of 12 City departments. During his tenure, White worked with City Council to establish the five key priorities of Addressing Homelessness; Clean & Safe; Economic Growth & Cultural Vitality; Justice, Equity & Diversity; and Sustainable & Connected.
The city’s press release noted that White’s leadership “advanced bold initiatives to strengthen the approach to public safety and broadened the work to address homelessness,” as well as moved forward infrastructure projects, adopted new tax measures, adopted zoning code amendments and began the process for the conversion of the Santa Monica Airport site.
He started his tenure at the end of a long and strenuous search for a city leader. Former City Manager Rick Cole resigned in March 2020, citing an inability to preside over budget and staffing cuts the City was facing. City Attorney Lane Dilg took over the position until leaving in June 2021, when John Jalili took over as Interim City Manager.
City Council’s search for a permanent City Manager began in February 2021, with Montebello City Manager Rene Bobadilla first tapped for the role in June of that year. Bobadilla declined Santa Monica’s offer after a press leak of the selection prompted Montebello City Council to offer him a significant raise.
The city stated that more details on the process to hire White’s successor will be released in the coming weeks.
