Private questioning

On July 14 the Chico City Council interviewed candidates to replace City Manager Dave Burkland, who is retiring at the end of August. The interviews were conducted in closed session on the advice of the city’s hiring consultant to keep the candidates’ current employers from knowing they are seeking work elsewhere. The number of candidates interviewed was not made public. Follow-up interviews are set for July 28.

The CN&R has learned that one of the candidates is Brian Nakamura (pictured), city manager of Hemet, population 75,000, where he was hired in July 2009. When he took the job, according to the Valley Chronicle newspaper, he agreed to a salary cut to help with city budget matters. He is regularly criticized by anonymous postings in the local newspaper, blaming him for every problem the city faces. He should feel right at home in Chico.