Incoming City Manager Márquez Meets The Press

Incoming City Manager Miguel Márquez was introduced to the community at Monday’s City Council meeting, but before that he answered questions in front of the local media.

“I am very excited to be here and I am very eager to start the work just as soon as I can responsibly transfer and transition all the work I have up to Santa Clara county,” Márquez said. “So I’m eager to work with so many people. I’m eager to work with our elected officials, partnering closely with the mayor and the city council, as well as other local leaders here in the community. I’m eager to work with more than 2,000 fellow public servants that I will have the privilege of leading in this important work. I’m eager to partner with the county of Los Angeles, which provides safety net services for those most in need in our community.”

Márquez said he was also looking forward to working with and meeting Pasadena’s residents and meeting local stakeholders.

Márquez said there is more than one local issue that he thinks needs immediate attention.

“The Rose Bowl and the financial situation that it finds itself in largely due to the pandemic,” said Márquez. “I believe I still have to look into it. But I think dollars coming back and forth quickly is something you need to get your attention on right away. And then I also learned quite a bit about the events that happened in 2020 involving the police department and all of the press that I was able to see about that. And, you know, and I look at that and I look at Pasadena and how special we are and I’m going to start using the word ‘we.’ It’s going to be seven weeks before I come here, but I am part of this community.”

Márquez will finish up his work in Santa Clara before moving to Pasadena. He was flanked by Mayor Victor Gordo, Vice Mayor Andy Wilson and local councilmembers Steve Madison and Felicia Williams.

“I tell people that there is no greater job and responsibility than serving as city manager of Pasadena, because you’re responsible for the day to day operations of a very complex city,” Mayor Gordo said. “And it’s not an easy job. You have to balance members of the city council like Vice Mayor Wilson and myself and councilmember Steve Madison — never know when the other guys show up. It’s a complex city, it’s a world class city. Not many cities the size of Pasadena can claim a world stage. Not many cities the size of Pasadena command the attention that Pasadena receives, because we are a very complex city with our own convention center, stadium, police department, health department. We’re a full service operation here, and so it requires someone with the talent, the demeanor, the insight and the thoughtfulness that Miguel Márquez brings to the job.”

That talent insight took Márquez whose first language was Spanish to the Sixth District Court of Appeals.

He was appointed by Governor Jerry Brown on May 18, 2012, and was confirmed by the California Commission on Judicial Appointments the following June 28. Márquez was the first Latino to serve on the court.

Márquez’s parents immigrated to the United States from México with only a limited amount of formal education.

Márquez beat out 10 other candidates that made the cut from a field of about 60 candidates that were whittled down by a City Council ad hoc committee.

“I had the privilege of not just being involved as a councilmember, the selection process, but the mayor and I had the task of closing the deal and needless to say, that’s a lot of responsibility because he was our clear first choice, and I know he’s excited to come to Pasadena,” said Wilson.

Madison called Márquez a terrific choice to be the new CEO of a municipal services organization with a total budget of almost a billion dollars over 2,000 employees, football stadium, a water and power, and all the other great amenities that we have here.

“I would say just three quick things,” Madison said. “One is I grew up in San Jose and I went to Santa Clara University. So I know Santa Clara county very well. It is a complex diverse community with a terrific economy and a very tolerant progressive place just like Pasadena.”

“So the skills that Miguel has developed as the chief operating officer of that huge county — it’s probably bigger than some nations — for sure will serve him well as we tackle the challenges and the opportunities before us, including the repatriation, the relinquishment by the state of the 710 freeway stub the challenges that the Rose Bowl has now being a Big 10 football stadium and all the other challenges that we have.”

Pasadena has a council-city manager type of government, which calls for the elected City Council to serve as the city’s primary legislative body and to appoint a city manager to oversee day-to-day municipal operations, draft a budget, implement and enforce the council’s policy and legislative initiatives, and oversee 14 of the 16 city departments.

Márquez said he plans to move here.

“I’m looking for a place now. It’s not been easy, but I will make that happen. I will be here in seven weeks living in Pasadena where I plan to live and work for the rest of my career for sure. If not the rest of my life.”