Mayor apologizes to assistant city managers

Diana Sahagun

Thursday, May 2, 2002 | 9:56 a.m.

Mayor Oscar Goodman apologized to the city's deputy city managers Wednesday for pushing his own replacement for outgoing City Manager Virginia Valentine, then voted with the council to search statewide for her replacement.

Shortly after Valentine announced her resignation effective May 31, Goodman touted his choice for her replacement, retiring Air Force Maj. Gen. L.D. Johnston. Goodman said Johnston was the best candidate for the job, even though Deputy City Managers Betsy Frewell and Doug Selby expressed interest, as has former lobbyist Rose McKinney-James.

On Tuesday Johnston told Goodman he had a pending job offer from the Defense Department, and said the council should proceed with seeking a replacement for Valentine.

"There are some folks out there who feel that (Fretwell and Selby) have not been treated with the respect that they deserve," Goodman said. "I myself feel that if in any way you believe you've been slighted or haven't been treated in a matter consistent with decency, I would apologize if that was your feeling."

Claudette Enus, the city's Human Resources director, will send out a statewide notice and collect applications.