Santa Ana’s acting city manager has been hired for the permanent position. Alvaro Nuñez’s appointment was approved on Aug. 6 by a unanimous vote of the Santa Ana City Council.
“With over 30 years of dedicated service to the City of Santa Ana, Mr. Nuñez has shown an unparalleled commitment to our City team and a deep understanding of our community’s needs and aspirations,” Mayor Valerie Amezcua said in a statement. “As a resident of Santa Ana, Mr. Nuñez embodies the spirit of our city and is uniquely positioned to lead us into a prosperous future. I am confident that with the City Council’s clear vision and his proven ability to get the job done as Acting City Manager, we will continue to thrive and grow as a prosperous community.”
Nuñez previously worked as the assistant director of planning. Until 2021, he was Santa Ana’s code enforcement manager.
Santa Ana’s last city manager, Kristine Ridge, resigned in October. Ridge alleged she’d been pressured by elected officials on behalf of the police union to raise the pay and pension of former union president Gerry Serrano. The city settled with Ridge in a nearly $600,000 payout.