Hollister’s third city manager in four months will take office
Monday when Dale Shaddox replaces interim City Manager Ed Kreins,
whose last day at the position is Friday.
Hollister’s third city manager in four months will take office Monday when Dale Shaddox replaces interim City Manager Ed Kreins, whose last day at the position is Friday.
Shaddox, 51, was most recently the city manager in the Marin County city of Cotati for three years. Kreins, 68, is finishing his seventh interim post during his retirement from an array of government jobs throughout California.
Kreins has been working outside of Hollister this week and was unavailable for comment. Shaddox is in the process of moving from Cotati to Hollister and could not be reached for comment.
“The Council made a very good choice with Ed and a very good choice with Dale,” said City Attorney Elaine Cass, who consults with the city manager during Council meetings.
During Kreins’ short stay, he gained widespread respect from city officials and Council members. Kreins – a former police chief in Beverly Hills, Sausalito and Pleasant Hill – performed an extensive review of the Hollister Police Department. Since, former Police Chief Bill Pierpoint retired and other changes have been instituted at the police department.
Kreins also recruited current interim Police Chief Larry Todd and was contracted by the Council to perform a search for a permanent chief. Kreins earned $12,900 per month as city manager and will earn $9,500 for the police chief search.
“He did a lot for the city in a very short period of time,” Cass said.
Councilman Robert Scattini said the city “got a lot of mileage out of Ed.”
Cass said Shaddox has a “very good reputation” from his previous posts in Cotati and Yreka. The Hollister city manager can earn an annual salary of $98,000 to $120,000.
The Council in October hired an executive search firm – Bob Murray and Associates – to perform a nationwide search for the new city manager at a cost of $25,000. Shaddox was one of four finalists interviewed by the Council in early March, and he was approved for the position March 24.
Officials such as Scattini say they’re anxious to have Shaddox aboard.
“Without a doubt, I think it will be good for the city,” Scattini said. “Just talking to him, I’ve got a good feeling about him.”
Shaddox earned a master’s degree in public administration from California State University, Chico, and a bachelor’s of science degree in biology from CSU, Fullerton.
On May 8, the city will host a reception, which will be closed to the public, to welcome Shaddox to Hollister.
