After completing a comprehensive nationwide recruitment, the City of Santa Barbara is excited to announce the appointment of Kelly McAdoo as the new City Administrator, effective late May. With a wealth of experience and proven leadership, McAdoo is ready to take on her new role, guiding our city on a path of continued growth and success.
Mayor Randy Rowse, expressing his enthusiasm for the appointment, stated, "On behalf of my colleagues on City Council, I am pleased to announce the hiring of Kelly McAdoo as our next City Administrator. Kelly comes to us from the City of Hayward, a full-service city with nearly twice the population of Santa Barbara that is also home to the CSU – East Bay main campus. Kelly’s background and service with other agencies gives Council the confidence that our well-researched choice will serve our city well. Welcome aboard, Kelly!"
Since 2016, McAdoo has served as the City Manager and Chief Executive Officer for the City of Hayward, overseeing a team of over 900 employees. She began her tenure as City Manager after serving approximately six years as the Assistant City Manager/Chief Operating Officer for the organization. Prior to joining the Hayward team, she worked with the City of Palo Alto as the Deputy City Manager and Assistant to the City Manager, and with the City of Fremont, California, across multiple departments.
McAdoo boasts impressive credentials with Bachelor’s degrees in Political Science, Economics, and International Studies, and a Master’s degree in Public Administration, all from the University of Kansas. Her commitment to lifelong learning and leadership development is evident through her completion of the Harvard Kennedy School State and Local Executives Program and a two-year Leadership program with the International City/County Management Association.