After a long process that involved winnowing down to a few finalists from more than 50 applicants and then holding a series of personal interviews, the Malibu City Council has made a decision in appointing a new city manager.
The Council has chosen Marilyn Leuck, a veteran of many years in city management in several cities and in numerous posts, to be Malibu’s new city manager.
During a phone interview at her home, while cooking for a July 4th celebration, she said she was enthusiastic about the new job and was looking for a home.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity,” Leuck said. “Malibu has unique opportunities and issues. I hope I can be part of taking advantage of the opportunities and also taking care of the problems.”
Leuck, who is single and lives in Ventura, said she anticipates commuting for the first year and later finding something closer, which she’s discussed with the council. She said she wanted to first settle into the new job without the disruption of moving.
Leuck is a 1972 graduate of Arizona State University with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and obtained a master’s degree in Public Administration two years later. She is also a certified Industrial Engineer (1975).
Her professional career has been spent in city governments where she has served most recently for three years as Administrative Services Director for the city of Ventura, a charter city of 100,000.
Previously, she was city manager for nine years, for the city of Hercules, a growing small municipality of 20,000 in Contra Costa County. She was also involved in the process of constructing public facilities and infrastructure. Before that she was assistant city manager of Novato, for four years, and held several earlier posts in the cities of Chula Vista, Chandler, Ariz. and Phoenix, Ariz.
She has been active professionally as president of several regional government risk-management groups in Marin County and Contra Costa County, and had an active role in the League of California Cities City Manager’s Department–serving on the executive board of directors and as chair of the Economic Development Task Force.
Leuck participated as a member in a number of community organizations including the Hercules, Novato and Ventura Chambers of Commerce, Board of the West County Public Education Fund, the Ventura Rotary, YMCA, and as a volunteer at the Boy’s and Girl’s Club of Ventura.