Santa Maria Sun / News

Guadalupe searches for a new city administrator

BY JEREMY THOMAS

The city of Guadalupe is on the hunt for a new top administrator with the departure of Regan Candelario, who has accepted a city manager position in Fortuna.

Guadalupe’s city administrator since 2010, Candelario was officially hired to a three-year contract by the Fortuna City Council on June 27. He’ll start work in his new position on Sept. 4 with an annual salary of $107,000.

Candelario beat out 58 other applicants for the job and was one of five final candidates interviewed. In Fortuna, he replaces Duane Rigge as the top administrator for a city of about 12,000 people, located in the redwoods of Humboldt County near Eureka.

Candelario said he was most proud of  helping the city secure improvements to its wastewater treatment plant, working with city staff and building relationships with local nonprofits.

“I’m looking forward to working there in a larger area,” Candelario said. “It has nothing to do with Guadalupe. I like it here, and maybe I’ll be back someday.”

The Guadalupe City Council on July 10 directed staff to begin the search for an interim, as well as a permanent city administrator. Guadalupe mayor Lupe Alvarez told the Sun the city would need to find a fill-in by late August.

“Budget is always a concern in a small city,” Alvarez said. “[We’re looking for] somebody with integrity, and somebody who ideally lives on the Central Coast ... It’s good to have some relationships already in the area. It’s always important.”

Alvarez said he thought Candelario did the best he could in his time in Guadalupe, though he’ll be leaving before fulfilling his three-year contract with the city.

“We wish the best to him and his family,” he said. “We hope they like it up north.”