A nationwide search for a city administrator brought Todd Bodem to Guadalupe in 2019. His resignation in October triggered the city’s next search, underway with applications due on Nov. 30—Bodem’s last day with the city.
“To ensure continuity in city operations and leadership during the recruitment and appointment process for a permanent city administrator, it is both prudent and necessary to designate an interim city administrator,” Bodem told the Guadalupe City Council at its Oct. 28 meeting.
About nine months into his job as the city’s Public Works Director, David Trujillo was appointed during the hearing to take on a temporary dual role that combines his current duties and those of an interim city administrator.
“I just thought it made sense to have somebody internally, that can step right in,” Bodem told the council before it decided to approve Trujillo’s appointment with a 4-0 vote (Councilmember Eugene Costa Jr. was absent).
In mid-October, the Apple Valley Town Council—of Apple Valley in San Bernardino County—appointed Bodem to become its next town manager, following former manager Doug Robertson’s retirement.
Once Trujillo’s new interim role with Guadalupe begins on Dec. 1, he will receive an annual salary of $160,000 “for the duration of his service,” according to the staff report, which left his end date as acting city administrator open ended.
Guadalupe Councilmember Whitney Furness asked staff how long Trujillo is expected to maintain the dual role.
“It depends on how quickly we select somebody,” Guadalupe Human Resources Manager Sylvia Estrada said. “Definitely longer than a month, … especially with the holidays.”
After the application deadline closes in late November, “the better candidates that are selected will interview with the council,” Estrada added. “We’ve got some pretty good candidates already.”
Furness asked Trujillo if he was planning to apply for the permanent role. After a few seconds of silence, Furness laughed and told him, “You don’t have to answer that.”
“David, why do you think you fit this position?” Mayor Ariston Julian asked Trujillo at one point.
“I was kind of hoping this question wouldn’t come up,” Trujillo said with a laugh. “I think that my experience in leadership roles, both in the military and on the civilian side, have kind of set me up to where it’s easy for me to communicate with people and find out what their actual long-term goal is, and I think that’s what we need to do—sit down and decide as a city and as a community where we want to go, and I’m willing to put on that hat and take on that role.”
Prior to working for Guadalupe, the Air Force veteran said he supervised inmate construction crews at the California Men’s Colony in San Luis Obispo, while also working for the institution as a budget analyst.
“I think David is going to sincerely put all that he has in this interim position, so I think we’re safe in that regard,” Councilmember Amelia Villegas said.
Bodem described Trujillo as demonstrating “strong leadership, a deep understanding of city operations, and a commitment to public service that I believe uniquely positions him to succeed in this interim capacity.”
“He fits the suit,” Bodem said. “If you know what I mean.”
This article appears in Nov 6 – Nov 13, 2025.