John A. Russo | |
|---|---|
&sq=Google&lang=en&file=File:John_A._Russo_at_Make_Oakland_Better_Now_2011-02-20.jpg) portrait of John A. Russo | |
| City manager, Irvine, California | |
| In office July 2018 – May 2020 | |
| City manager, Riverside, California | |
| In office May 4, 2015 – April 17, 2018 | |
| City manager, Alameda, California | |
| In office June 13, 2011 – February 23, 2015 | |
| City attorney, Oakland, California | |
| In office September 2000 – June 10, 2011 | |
| Succeeded by | Barbara Parker |
| Member Oakland City Council | |
| In office 1995–2000 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Brooklyn, New York |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Yale University New York University School of Law (JD) |
John A. Russo (born February 6, 1959) is a former American politician, city attorney, and city manager with municipal management experience in four cities in the state of California.
Russo was a member of the Oakland City Council from 1994–2000, where he served as finance committee chair and became a leading advocate for fiscal accountability and government reform. In September 2000, he became the first elected city attorney of Oakland, California after a little-debated aspect of Jerry Brown's strong-mayor initiative, Measure X, changed the city attorney post from an appointed to an elected one.[1]
Russo served as the president of the League of California Cities from 2002–03, serving a total of nine years on the board.
In 2007, during his second term as city attorney, Russo ran unsuccessfully for the California Assembly 16th District seat in 2006. In June 2008, Russo was re-elected to a third term as city attorney, running unopposed.
In 2011 Russo was named the city manager for neighboring Alameda, California.[2][3][4]
In 2015, Russo was named the city manager of Riverside, California.[5] He served in that position for nearly three years, establishing practices of reform and accountability and increasing projects in arts and culture, including initiating the deal to bring the Cheech Marin Center for Art, Culture, and Industry to Riverside.[6] According to the Press Enterprise, "Russo, who has served as City Manager since 2015, has been behind initiatives like the Sunshine Ordinance to improve transparency in city government, a more robust budget process and a rotating system of audits of all city departments."[7]
In 2018, the Irvine City Council voted unanimously to name Russo as the city manager for Irvine, California.[8] In 2019, Russo was included on the Orange County Register list of 100 Top Influencers.[9] Russo resigned in 2020 to devote more time to family.[10]
- ^ Janine DeFao, "Russo Vows Reform as Oakland City Attorney," San Francisco Chronicle, 9/13/2000
- ^ Rumors confirmed: Oakland city attorney wants out
- ^ Nicole Jones (June 1, 2011). "Exit Interview: John Russo Reflects on His Time as Oakland City Attorney". Oakland North.
- ^ Keith Gleason, "Russo to the Rescue: Alameda's CEO Enters the Fray," Alameda Magazine, May–June 2012
- ^ [1] City Manager John Russo Headed to Riverside}
- ^ "Riverside City Manager John Russo Honored for Nurturing Cheech Marin Center | riversideca.gov". Archived from the original on 2018-02-02. Retrieved 2025-02-07.
- ^ "EDITORIAL: Budget outlook brightens". 20 June 2016. Archived from the original on April 25, 2018.
- ^ Brandon Pho (2018-07-12). "Irvine Hires John Russo as City Manager Despite Controversy in Riverside". Voice of OC. Retrieved 2019-05-14.
- ^ "Most Influential: Meet Orange County's 100 top influencers for 2019". 23 December 2019.
- ^ Register, Alicia Robinson | The Orange County (2020-05-30). "Irvine city manager tells council he'll depart by Labor Day". Orange County Register. Retrieved 2024-09-03.