Wow–Five years ago last month I had the pleasure to be a part of a panel discussion with icons of local governance and management– From left to right, Juliann Allison, Professor of Political Science at the University of California, Riverside, former City Managers, Ron Bates, Steve Harding (Icon in Training), Ted Gaebler and former Mayor of the City of Riverside California, Ron Loveridge.
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A panel of three former city managers will discuss how the position of city manager has changed over the years, challenges such as shared governance, the cost of city government and regional cooperation, and what it takes to make a city an attractive place to live, work, play and do business. Panelists are:
- Ted Gaebler, co-author of “Reinventing Government” and an internationally recognized authority on new approaches to government issues. He served as city manager of Rancho Cordova, Visalia, San Rafael and East Palo Alto, and as CEO of Nevada County, California. He holds a B.A. from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and an M.A. in government administration from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton Graduate School. He is an elected Fellow of the prestigious National Academy of Public Administration.
- Stephen Harding, adjunct professor of public policy and administration at Northwestern University and the University of La Verne. He most recently served as the first city manager of newest city in California, the City of Jurupa Valley. He has served as city manager of the City of Murrieta and interim city manager of the Cities of Menifee and San Jacinto. Previously he was president of the City of San Diego’s Southeast Economic Development Corp. (SEDC) and served as deputy city manager and executive director of the City of Santa Ana Redevelopment Agency and Housing Authority. He holds a B.A. and an M.P.A. from California State University, Long Beach.
- Ronald Bates, a financial and transportation consultant to local governments and longtime city manager. His last full-time position was as city manager in Pico Rivera. He previously served as city manager in South Gate, Buena Park and La Habra Heights. He also served as mayor and city council member in Los Alamitos. In 2014 was awarded the National Public Service Award by the American Society for Public Administration and the National Academy of Public Administration. He earned his B.A. from California State University, Los Angeles, and his M.P.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Southern California.
via UCR Today: Seminars to Address City Management Challenges, Need for Regional Collaboration
The Scholarly Participant 
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