By Ted AYALA

Mayor Laura Friedman and Glendale City Council have appointed Scott Ochoa as city manager. The appointment of Ochoa has ended months of speculation as to who would be succeeding long-time city manager Jim Starbird, who announced his retirement earlier this year.

Ochoa, currently serving as the city of Monrovia’s manager, will begin his term as Glendale’s city manager beginning Jan. 3, 2012.

“My colleagues and I are very pleased that Scott Ochoa will be Glendale’s next city manger,” said Mayor Friedman in a press release that was issued Tuesday.

“Scott’s credentials, his values, and multi-dimensional understanding of local government and municipal operations have impressed us all.”

Aside from serving as Monrovia’s city manager, Ochoa keeps a very active presence in various community boards and committees, including with the San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership and Gold Line Foothill Extension Advisory Committee. He has also worked with the Monrovia Kiwanis Club and the Boys & Girls of the Foothills.

“Glendale is a wonderful community: diverse well-managed, and progressive,” said Ochoa in the same press release.

“I hope to add the benefit of my experiences to this dynamic organization and validate the trust and confidence that the [Glendale] City Council has placed in me.

“Following a manager of Jim Starbird’s caliber is no easy task,” he added. “But with a high performance management team … and clearly defined and ambitious expectations from the council, I will look forward to the challenge.”

Mary-Ann Lutz, mayor of Monrovia, congratulated Glendale on its choice for city manager.

“He was our city manager for seven years,” she said.

“He’s smart as a whip and has a great management style. But he’s also a great ambassador for the city and cares deeply for its residents. Throughout his time as our city manager, he has been able to keep at the forefront what budget changes will mean for the average resident. In a time of great economic stress, this is a very admirable quality.”

“Glendale has made a great choice and will get a great city manager,” added Lutz. “We’ll miss him very much. But Glendale should be very happy that it will soon be enjoying a Scott Ochoa experience.”

  Ted Ayala