Divided Turlock council hires city manager. Supporters vouch for former Stanislaus CEO
The Turlock City Council on Tuesday voted 3-2 to appoint former Stanislaus County CEO Reagan Wilson as city manager.
Several residents and a city official who vouched for Wilson emphasized that nearly 20 years have passed since he resigned from county government amid a scandal.
Wilson handed the county Board of Supervisors his resignation in 2003 after failing to publicly disclose his private business relationship with consultant R. Lee Torrens, The Bee previously reported. But supporters, including Interim City Manager Sarah Eddy, said during Tuesday’s meeting that Wilson brings leadership experience Turlock needs.
“He will be an enormous asset to not only you, mayor, and all of the council, but also to the city of Turlock,” said Mike Lynch, a political consultant and Turlock resident. “I think this is a breath of fresh air for Turlock and for all of Stanislaus County.”
Council Members Nicole Larson and Andrew Nosrati voted against the appointment. Both referenced past council decisions leading to the hire, including how a 3-2 majority put former City Manager Toby Wells on investigative leave in January 2021. Four months later, Larson and Nosrati voted against approving a separation agreement for Wells.
As a result, Larson said, Turlock received a small candidate pool. She and Nosrati promised to work with Wilson, but both noted they heard concerns from the public about his record.
“Reagan, for better or worse, comes with some history that makes this a very difficult thing to support,” Nosrati said. “I want a city manager in that seat that’s capable and that’s gonna be the leadership that this organization needs.”
Wilson began working as city manager Wednesday, with a base annual salary of $197,640, per his employment agreement. His contract does not include any severance package for ending his employment.
Of the officials who voted to appoint Wilson, only Mayor Amy Bublak commented on his qualifications during the meeting.
“Mr. Wilson, I do think you are the best choice and that we couldn’t do better,” Bublak said.
New Turlock manager comments on past
Wilson served as county CEO from January 1993 to July 2003 and served as the assistant CEO before then. No investigations related to his resignation done by the Merced County and San Joaquin County district attorneys, the California attorney general and the Fair Political Practices Commission charged him with wrongdoing, Wilson told The Bee in a Wednesday phone interview.
A Turlock resident asked Wilson to speak to how he has rectified his past, but he did not respond to the public comment request before being appointed.
“I’ve explained to each council member what happened and I don’t plan on explaining it again in the public,” Wilson told The Bee on Wednesday.
Wilson added that the county deducted $20,000 from his last paycheck because he provided copies instead of original receipts.
Wilson has not worked in government since his 2003 resignation. Other fields Wilson has worked in include alternative energy and farming. Wilson also has served on community boards including United Way and Community Hospice, the city said in a press release.
Turlock’s city manager position has a high turnover rate. In the past seven years, eight people have held the job on a permanent or temporary basis. Some worked the role multiple times in separate stints.
Since 2015, the position has been filled by Roy Wasden, Michael Cooke, Gary Hampton, Robert Talloni, Robert Lawton, Toby Wells, Sarah Eddy and Dan Madden. Wasden, who retired in 2015 after being hired in 2009, served as city manager the longest out of the group.
This story was originally published February 9, 2022 at 10:24 AM.
