First published in the July 14 print issue of the Pasadena Outlook.
The Pasadena City Council has announced the selection of former Justice Miguel Márquez to serve as the Pasadena’s next city manager. Márquez officially begins his tenure in August.
Márquez currently serves as the chief operating officer of the county of Santa Clara, responsible for all operations of the county, the largest in Northern California, with nearly 2 million residents, 22,000 full-time employees and an annual operating budget in excess of $11 billion. He has unique and successful experience overseeing the daily operations of the county, which serves a diverse urban and rural population, including working with the county’s public health department, health and hospital system, public safety and justice systems, social services agency, parks and recreation, the Emergency Operations Center (including helping to lead the County’s pandemic response), the Office of Supportive Housing (working to create sustainable and affordable housing) and working with the community to address social justice issues.
“On behalf of an enthusiastic Pasadena City Council, I am thrilled to welcome Miguel to our great city, and I am excited with the experience, compassion and connectiveness that he will bring as our new city manager,” Mayor Victor Gordo said in a statement. “Miguel has served the public and the greater good for decades in a variety of positions and, in his current role, has substantial executive experience in all aspects of government service, so many of which are similar to Pasadena. He understands our unique opportunities and challenges and his ability to connect with a range of people will have a profound impact. I have no doubt that he will be an exceptional leader of our employees, a caretaker of our city for our residents, a partner to the City Council and an impactful member of our community.”
Márquez was selected after an extensive search process, which included the recruitment of candidates, a review of candidate materials and select interviews with members of the City Council.
Prior to his current role in Santa Clara, Márquez served as an associate justice of the California 6th District Court of Appeal, as counsel for the County of Santa Clara, as the general counsel of the San Francisco Unified School District and as a deputy city attorney in the San Francisco City Attorney’s Office. He began his public service career as a deputy counsel in San Mateo County. He has also worked for two private law firms (Cooley Godward LLP and Remcho, Johansen & Purcell), and as a management consultant at KPMG Peat Marwick, where he was part of a national financial and organizational consulting practice.
“I am honored and humbled to join the city of Pasadena, one of the greatest cities in America, and to continue its positive momentum into a city of the future,” said Márquez. “My life’s journey and work have led me to this moment and opportunity. I look forward to learning about Pasadena, to engaging with and serving its residents and to working alongside an exceptional staff. I am grateful to Mayor Gordo and the members of the City Council for their belief in me and my ability to bring about a shared vision of a just and inclusive community.”
A native of Sacramento, Márquez received his law degree from University of California, Berkeley, Law School, his master’s degree in public policy from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, and his bachelor’s degree in public policy from Stanford University.
