Former Murrieta Employee Appointed Acting Menifee City Manager

The city of Menifee has named a former city of Murrieta employee its acting city manager.

Rob Johnson, who worked as a management analyst for Murrieta between 2002 and 2005, will temporarily assume the head position at Menifee as a result of Tuesday's resignation of Menifee City Manager Bill Rawlings.

According to a news release from the city of Menifee, Rawlings' last day will be Nov. 30.

The decision for Rawlings to leave was mutual, the city stated.

"A new majority on the city council will be assuming control on Dec. 4," the city stated in a news release.

During the Nov. 6 election, incumbent council members Sue Kristjansson and Darcy Kuenzi lost the election to Scott Mann and Greg August.

"Both Mr. Rawlings and the city council feel it is in the city's best interest for the new city council to have the freedom to appoint a city manager of their choosing."

Rawlings, who has more than 27 years experience in municipal management, was hired on as city manager in 2009.

During his tenure, the city of Menifee became a financially strong, fiscally stable municipality with a conservative budget and growing revenues, the city stated.

“It has been a real privilege to help guide the city of Menifee forward and to work with such a passionate city council and motivated staff. I am proud of the things we have been able to accomplish. The city of Menifee has a very bright future," Rawlings said, in the news release.

One of the first tasks of the new city council, according to the news release, will be to begin a recruitment process for a permanent successor.

In the meantime, city council on Tuesday approved the appointment of Johnson as acting city manager.

Johnson has been with the city of Menifee since 2009, most recently serving as senior manager of community improvement, outreach and communication.

Prior to that, he worked at the city of Corona after leaving his post at the city of Murrieta.