Novato Assistant City Manager Cathy Capriola has been chosen from a pool of 46 candidates for the City Manager position in Sonoma. Capriola is resigning Dec. 9 and assuming her new position exactly one month later.
“I’m sad to leave so many great people, teammates, colleagues and community members, but this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Capriola said. “I live in Sonoma and that’s where we’re raising our children. To be able to work and serve in the community is a gift.”
Capriola has held the assistant city manager position in Novato since 2009 and served as interim City Manager from January 1 to October of this year. She had previously worked as Administrative Services Director for the City of Citrus Heights and as Deputy City Manager and Economic Development Coordinator for the City of Davis.
Capriola is credited with helping steer Novato through the great recession and developing a workable plan for the city following the dissolution of redevelopment agencies in California. She also oversaw a number of driving projects related to the arrival of the Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART), a series of labor negotiations, and significant investments in Novato’s downtown.
Capriola is taking over for retiring city manager Carol Giovanatto at an annual salary of $186,000. She was earning $162,816 a year in Novato.