Steve Mcclary

The City of Ojai announced today the hiring of longtime Fillmore City employee Steve McClary to serve as Ojai’s new Assistant to the City Manager. An 11-year employee with the City of Fillmore, McClary will begin his new position next month, said Ojai City Manager Jere Kersnar.

Currently employed as Fillmore’s Administrative Services Manager, McClary has been responsible for a variety of duties, including human resources, film permits, elections officer, public information liaison and champion of Fillmore’s 20-year community plan, dubbed Vision 2020. “Of all the tasks that I worked on during my time in Fillmore, none was more rewarding than Vision 2020,” said McClary. “To be able to work directly with Fillmore residents to dream and plan for the betterment of the community was an enriching opportunity and best of all, it was just plain fun.”

McClary said he is looking forward to the challenges of working in a new community and said it will be hard for him to leave the community where he began his career in 1991. McClary, 39, started as a reporter for local weekly newspaper The Fillmore Gazette and became editor of the publication in 1993, serving in that capacity until he was hired by the City of Fillmore in 1997 as deputy city clerk. “In many ways, I feel like I grew up in Fillmore, in a professional sense. I was fresh out of college at the time and the small town experience was something altogether new for me,” he said.

He replaces retiring Assistant to the City Manager Paulette Matheson Whiting, who held the post for 7 years. Job duties include human resources and risk management, analyzing City issues, preparing staff reports for city council meetings, and serving as public information officer. “When you work in local government in a small town, you get to wear a lot of hats,” McClary said. “That’s one of the most enjoyable aspects--the job duties and the priorities are always shifting from day-to-day or year-to-year. There is always something new to learn or experience. I am looking forward to getting to know Ojai and I am excited about the opportunity.”

Kersnar said, “I look forward to working with Steve. I know his skills and experience will be a great fit with our organization, and with the Ojai community.”

Fillmore City Manager Tom Ristau said he plans to analyze current staffing levels before determining how best to fill the position.

Ristau said “Steve will be missed at City Hall. Steve brought a lot of qualities to the table that will be hard to replace. I wish Steve the best and congratulate Ojai on a great hire.”

For further information please contact the City of Ojai at 646-5581 or the City of Fillmore at 524-3701.