The city of Cottonwood announced Scotty Douglass, deputy city manager of Modesto, Calif., has been appointed as the new city manager via a press release issued March 28.
The city of Cottonwood received almost 40 applications for the position before narrowing the selection to two top finalists: Douglass and John Cassella, city manager for the city of Safford.
Douglass and Cassella were interviewed by both staff and Cottonwood City Council on Monday, March 20.
After the process, the city worked on negotiating a contract with its top candidate: Scotty Douglass. The contract was accepted by the City Council at a special meeting Monday, March 27.
Douglass is the current deputy city manager for the City of Modesto in Modesto, California.
Previously, Douglass spent some time in Arizona working in the banking industry in the greater Phoenix area, according to the city of Cottonwood. “In addition to his more recent ventures in municipal work, Douglass has a diverse background. Douglass is a Navy veteran, a private pilot, and has extensive experience operating a regional 911 center. His broad experiences, positive demeanor, and dedication to issues important to Cottonwood such as building sustainable community partnerships, housing, and government transparency all contribute to his selection as Cottonwood’s next city manager,” the city stated.
Douglass is expected to start with the city of Cottonwood on or about Monday, May 15.
Douglass fills the post vacated by City Manager Ron Corbin, who was hired by the Avondale City Council on Aug. 22 to be its city manager. Corbin, who has been Cottonwood’s city manager for four years, said he is leaving Cottonwood because he and his wife were looking for a more urban area with more amenities.
Cottonwood Deputy City Manager Rudy Rodriguez, a longtime city of Cottonwood employee, served as interim city manager after Corbin’s departure.
The city of Cottonwood operates under the council-manager form of government. Cottonwood’s City Council serves as the community’s governing body, providing policy direction through the appointment of a city manager and enacting ordinances and policies. The city manager serves as the chief administrative officer and is responsible for the oversight of the City’s daily operations. The City Manager works collaboratively with key staff members to implement policies set forth by the City Council and provides organizational leadership for department directors and employees.
