A longtime San Bernardino County employee has been hired as Assistant City Manager of Bakersfield. Gary Hallen started his new job Monday, Bakersfield.com reports. The city is working to fill one other vacancy for the second Assistant City Manager position.
Hallen worked for San Bernardino County for 21 years, most recently as Director of the Community Development and Housing Department. For many years, he ran the City of San Bernardino’s redevelopment agency, overseeing $50 million in economic development projects.
“The breadth of Gary’s knowledge makes him a wonderful fit as an assistant city manager where the diversity in his experience will be invaluable for the city of Bakersfield,” said Bakersfield City Manager Christian Clegg.
Hallen said Bakersfield “has positioned itself well and is poised to set itself apart from the rest of California as the most business-friendly place in the state” and that he’s “thrilled” to join the city.