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Ventura city manager to interview for Texas job
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More from Local NewsVentura City Manager Rick Cole will interview for the top administrative job in Austin, Texas, after being named by that city's council and mayor as one of seven semi-finalists for the job.
Cole, who has been Ventura's top administrator since April 2004, said he was recruited to apply by a headhunter.
"The part that was intriguing to me is that Austin has set the goal of being the greenest city in America," Cole said Thursday by cell phone from Sacramento, where he was attending a meeting on new air quality rules. "For the 15th largest city in America to set that goal is an exciting challenge, and I was honored to be asked to be considered. But I remain committed to the job of making Ventura a great community."
Cole earns $164,303 and oversees 665 full-time employees.
Cole said he was approached about the job after speaking on a panel discussion with several Austin officials at an international city managers' conference in November.
Asked how seriously he was considering the job, Cole said it was a "very hypothetical question." He reiterated his commitment to Ventura.
The Austin American-Statesman reported the news Thursday on its Web site after the city released a press release with the names and short biographies of all seven candidates. Besides Cole, there were four candidates from Texas, one from Kansas City, Mo. and another from Savannah, Ga.
Ventura Mayor Christy Weir said Cole informed her about the news Thursday morning.
"It would be a great loss for us," Weir said. She then added with a laugh, "We hope he does not get selected."
Councilman Carl Morehouse echoed those sentiments, saying it would be tough for Ventura to lose Cole now as the city sits at a "creative crossroad."
"He's brought a great positive mood to the city staff," Morehouse said. "That's a pretty unique individual to have that set of talents to do that."
Councilman Jim Monahan, however, was not as impressed.
"I'm disappointed that he hasn't gotten more done for the city of Ventura," Monahan said. "I'd like to see more stuff completed."
Monahan cited problems with the city's development approval process, saying several proposals have been unnecessarily delayed in the pipeline.
Bob Alviani, a board member of the Ventura Chamber of Commerce, was surprised by the news. Although Alviani and Cole have clashed in the past, he wished Cole good luck if he got the job.
"If not, we've made many inroads to a good working relationship for the future and look forward to working with him in 2008," Alviani said.
Cole said he's regularly approached with similar opportunities.
"Sometimes it's a full-court press, and sometimes it's just a courtesy inquiry," he said. "What is unusual in this case is it's one of America's largest and well-known cities, which makes it a more intriguing prospect. That's why I'm going down there — not that I expect to be their city manager."
Posted by AngryYouth on January 4, 2008 at 4:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm confused? If Monahan is a city councilman then that makes him Cole's boss. If you don't like how he is performing then whose fault is it?
Posted by luv2sail on January 4, 2008 at 5:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Since the City manager is seeking other potential job oppourtunities, maybe it's time to start looking for his replacement. Now is the time to seek the next one, not once he gives notice.
If a better applicant is found, then the City can relieve him of his position and allow him more time to persue his interests.
From what I've read in the Star, the City isn't managed all that well.
Posted by DoctorDude on January 4, 2008 at 6:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
""But I remain committed to the job of making Ventura a great community.""..........I could be wrong but when you're committed to something or someone, you're not supposed to be shopping yourself around to others. Cole seems "committed" to himself and to moving up the ladder of success, more than to our community.
Posted by DoctorDude on January 4, 2008 at 6:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
""But I remain committed to the job of making Ventura a great community.""..........I could be wrong but when you're committed to something or someone, you're not supposed to be shopping yourself around to others. Cole seems "committed" to himself and to moving up the ladder of success, more than to our community.
Posted by KatieTeague on January 4, 2008 at 8:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Austin is supposed to be a great city and would be a feather in Rick Cole's hat. That being said, if our city leaders (council people) didn't like the management of Ventura, they could be more proactive in their voting. Obviously, they are happy with Rick Cole and Jim Monahan's comments are a little like the barn door being shut.
Posted by Equitable_Enforcer on January 4, 2008 at 8:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I am one of those who publically opposed the hiring of Cole. What we predicted is coming to pass. What I, and others who have successfully managed growth and turnaround in large companies, were saying, was that he is a job hopper --- and that his loyalty is to the dollar and his ego. If I had 100 applicants for a job, his resume would not be given a second glance. People like Cole never stay long enough to suffer the consequences of the damage they have caused, because that damage won't be felt until they have already departed.
Lets find a native Venturan next time around. Somebody who has roots in our city and who will stay for the long haul. I can think of many who are qualified for the position.
Posted by FedUp on January 4, 2008 at 8:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
ditto to what TimeArrow said.
so many of us were saying he was going to use our city for his own agenda, and then bail when something better comes along. all the while, leaving a mess behind. low and behold, this is what he is doing.
I say let him go to Austin. dont let the door hit you on the butt on your way out Rick!
Posted by star on January 4, 2008 at 11:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
You couldn't blame him for moving up to Austin. That's quite a big step up -- Austin has a national reputation as a progressive, livable city in the middle of a renaissance. But people in LA confuse Ventura with Valencia.
It'd be a shame to lose him. If we do, we're worse off for it, I guarantee. Monahan is no help, either. He's proof that just because somebody grew up here doesn't mean they're qualified to make decisions about what our town should look like in 50 or 100 years. I'm sure he'd make a fine dogcatcher. But man, maybe we could pay Austin to take him off our hands, and let us keep Rick Cole?
Posted by Equitable_Enforcer on January 4, 2008 at 11:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
star ... Monahan notwithstanding, there are well qualified locals who can excel at the job. I had hopes when Cole was hired. He actually attended one meeting between our neighborhood group and a developer. I had some information regarding some high tech companies that were interested in moving to Ventura if conditions were right. Non service industry jobs would have been created. He promised but never got back to me. Then, after observing his behavior in refusing to consider neighborhood public safety concerns regarding an adjacent housing development, I realized that he was for Rick Cole and not for the residents of Ventura. I was not happy when he got a bonus without first having produced concrete results.
The council should have had a minimum commitment from Cole before signing him on. His contract appears to have been written by folks who had minimal management experience.
Posted by fpecar4525 on January 4, 2008 at 3:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Getting rid of King Cole would be no loss but don't get your hopes up about a city such as Austin falling for his baloney. At 15 times bigger, (1.5 million residents) Austin isn't about to take as City Manager an obvious self-promoting small-timer like Rick "King" Cole. Ventura with it's backward ("Bridge to the Past")populace is where he is stuck.
Posted by deigner on January 5, 2008 at 8:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm a native Venturan, I have 20 years experiance managing Risk (10 with a Fortune 500 Company). How do I sign-up?
Posted by deigner on January 5, 2008 at 9:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm a native Venturan, I have 20 years experience managing Risk (10 with a Fortune 500 Company). How do I sign-up? I really do know how to spell.
Posted by otiscampbell on January 5, 2008 at 10:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Funny timing that Rick Cole is looking for another job -- just when his 911 phone tax gets approved! That is only one example of changes he instigated that are not beneficial to Venturans.
The best thing that could happen to Ventura is for Mr. Cole to leave the area; it would improve the Ventura quality of life. Oh, one thing, though: he has to leave the house and profits from purchase of same since he's looking at greener pastures.
Posted by shaver_one on January 5, 2008 at 11:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Don't expect him to leave.
Expect instead, that Ventura will offer him a pay incentive to stay.
He's in it for the money.
Posted by sespeangel on January 5, 2008 at 4:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Is it coincidental that he applied elsewhere about the same time that the View Initiative qualified for the ballot? That would surely give some of his L.A. highrise New Urbanist buidlings a haircut.He needs a bigger pond in which to play, and I don't think he'll get much credibility now that we all know he's looking for greener pastures. However, Shaver could be right, about it being a win-win for Mr. Cole. If he doesn't get the job, leave it to our city council to offer him more of our tax dollars.People predicted we were just a rung on his ladder, but at least he may not be here long enough to turn us into Pasadena.
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