The search for Cathedral City’s next chief executive ended this month with a promotion from within city ranks. Andrew Firestine, who had been serving as Director of Community and Economic Development, was hired as City Manager on February 11. He replaces Charlie McClendon, who retired last year.
Firestine has signed a five-year contract with the city. He’ll earn an annual base salary of $280,000.
“Cathedral City stands out in the Coachella Valley. It is a hardworking community that helps support and sustain the regional economy while supporting multitudes of small businesses locally. It was for all these reasons that I was elated to join Cathedral City in 2023 and why I'm grateful for the opportunity to lead the organization,” Firestine stated.
Mayor Raymond Gregory explained that the city council had “conducted an extensive and deliberate search to find the right leader for Cathedral City.”
"After evaluating candidates from across the country, it became clear that the best person for the job was already part of our team. Andy's experience, vision and deep understanding of our community made him the clear choice."
Firestine has worked in local government for more than two decades. Before joining Cathedral City, he served as Assistant City Manager in Palm Desert and Centennial, Colorado.