Scott Mozier is getting a promotion at Fresno City Hall – assistant city manager.
Mozier is currently the city’s Public Works director. He begins his new job on July 10.
The appointment was made by Wilma Quan-Schecter, now assistant city manager but headed for the City Manger’s Office on July 10.
“I wanted my first hire as incoming City Manager to be someone with proven experience, integrity and a passion for local government, and Scott meets all those requirements with room to spare,” Quan-Schecter said in a City Hall news release. “He demonstrates daily all the qualities that I am looking for in my management team and he’s the perfect choice to fill this important position.”
The news release goes on to note that Mozier at various times has served Fresno as city traffic engineer, city engineer and assistant Public Works director. He has been Public Works director since January, 2014.
Mozier succeeded Patrick Wiemiller, who left to take the city manager’s job in Lompoc.
Mozier worked several years with engineering firms in Los Angeles and the Bay Area before joining the city, according to the news release. He is a graduate of the University of California at Davis. He and his wife, Sandy, have three daughters.
City Hall has begun a national search for Mozier’s replacement at Public Works.
Permit me to add two thoughts.
First, the assistant city manager job in a town as big and complex as Fresno can make or break careers. To be an ACM (as it’s called by city officials) is in a lot of ways to be like an assistant city editor (ACE) back in the day when big city newspapers had full staffs. You’ve got big shot bosses above you. You’ve got the rank and file below you. And outside your building you’ve got a world full of customers with conflicting interests who expect personal satisfaction 100% of the time.
The ACM, like the ACE, merely has to deliver that satisfaction while keeping both the big shots and the grunts happy.
Severo Esquivel during Alan Autry’s first mayoral term was an ACM of uncommon talent and courage. However, Esquivel when he came to Fresno already had some four decades of public service under his belt. He could have retired in a heartbeat if events came to that. That kind of cushion makes coming to work a lot easier.
Ruth Quinto in 2005 became an interim ACM after serving nearly four year’s as the city’s controller. Quinto later that year moved to Fresno Unified School District, where she currently is deputy superintendent/chief financial officer.
Nicole Zieba, a former deputy city manager, is now Reedley’s city manager. Zieba while in Fresno had the unenviable job of riding herd on the Fresno Grizzlies’ lease at Chukchansi Park. She always knew her stuff. She was always available to the press.
And let’s not forget two of City Hall’s finest ACM warhorses – Andy Souza and Bruce Rudd. Souza advanced to city manager during Autry’s second term and served in that capacity early in Ashley Swearengin’s first term. Rudd, of course, is the current city manager. He retires next month.
My second thought: I’ve never heard a bad word about Mozier at City Hall or anywhere else. I’m sure they’ve been uttered – no one is perfect. But from my years of dealing with him, Mozier has always been a superb and tireless public servant.
I’ll give you one small example. I wrote a recent piece for CVObserver about the traffic signals at the intersection of Herndon and Maroa avenues, on the southern edge of Pinedale. To make a long story short, I criticized the intersection’s system of walk/don’t walk signals for crossing Herndon. I said the signals could be confusing to pedestrians. Pedestrian confusion is the one thing you don’t want on Herndon.
Lo and behold, Public Work’s traffic division in a relatively short period came up with a solution. Crossing Herndon at Maroa is now safer, in my opinion.
I called Mozier to thank him and his troops. What did he say?
He said, “Thank you.”
Then Mozier added: “George, if you see anything else on your walks to improve pedestrian safety, don’t hesitate to let us know.”
Scott Mozier – the consummate professional.
