Douglas has new city manager

By Bruce Whetten
Douglas Dispatch
Published/Last Modified on Wednesday, June 27, 2012 5:51 PM MDT


Douglas Mayor and City Council approved the hiring of a new city manager at a special meeting Thursday night.


Douglas' new City Manager Carlos De La Torre (left) is welcomed to his new position by new Mayor Danny Ortega Jr. (right) at Thursday's meeting.

Douglas native Carlos De La Torre was approved by a 6-1 vote to replace Curtis Shook who is retiring June 28.


De La Torre will officially take over July 2. He will be paid an annual salary of $120,000


Councilwoman Marget Morales was the lone nay vote Thursday. Morales stated at the meeting she wasn’t against De La Torre’s hiring but rather against the salary he was going to be paid feeling it was a little high.


“I feel honored,” De La Torre said after Thursday’s meeting when asked how it felt to be named Douglas’ new city manager. “It’s a great opportunity for me. It’s a great opportunity I believe for the community as a whole and really appreciate the council has given me and really look forward to working with the council and the community.”


De La Torre is a 1988 Douglas High School graduate then attended both Cochise College and the University of Arizona. He has worked for the City of Tucson, Bisbee, Douglas, Cochise County and now back to the City of Douglas.


“I’m happy about the opportunity and look forward to whatever challenges we have ahead of us,” he said.


Douglas’ new Mayor Danny Ortega Jr. said this is an exciting start for the city.


“I’m really looking forward to working with Mr. De La Torre,” he said. “We’ve known each other for a few years now and I think together we can as a council and Mr. De La Torre take this city a long ways.”

Twenty people applied for the City Manager’s position; five were interviewed and of those five De La Torre was selected.



In other action Thursday the city council renewed its liability insurance with Travelers Insurance for Fiscal Year 2012/13.

Copyright © 2013 Douglas Dispatch

Comments

    T wrote on Jul 9, 2012 10:43 PM:

    " Obviously they are using the money that was designated to hire other Department heads to overpay the few in City Hall who want to run the whole city. City Departments are being run by the HR Director. Mrs Urquijo has no business running the whole city. She is not qualified in the areas that she is leading and the entire city is being shortchanged of the services that we deserve for our tax dollars.Instead of paying excessive amounts in salary to a few people, we should be getting several qualified individuals to head the other Deapartments. "

    concerned wrote on Jul 3, 2012 10:30 AM:

    " I agree with really. I am not sure where all the money is coming from but its sad they pay 30% increase to the city clerk and 120,000 to the city manager when the employees have not had a raise in over 5 years. Yes,I have heard they are going to get a 2% raise in January but 2% really. that does not help any. price of gas, groceries, utilities, and everything else has gone up more than 2%. Why should these two people make so much more money and the rest of the employees are struggling to make ends meet. come on douglas mayor and councilmen let's be realistic in what your paying these two. "

    douglas citizen wrote on Jun 29, 2012 4:07 PM:

    " I hope the new mayor and city manager will raise taxes on rich people and business so the poor people and city workers are given more money. "

    Hope wrote on Jun 29, 2012 10:31 AM:

    " Carlos, congratulations on your appointment. You're an intelligent man who has come a long way. We're fortunate to have you! A new mayor, a new city manager...we have hope for the positive element. "

    Positive Flow wrote on Jun 27, 2012 9:09 PM:

    " Good luck Mayor Ortega. Do your people right and show them you are the person for the job! "

    I Agree with Former Bulldog wrote on Jun 27, 2012 9:07 PM:

    " You are right! No matter what decision is made, people will never be happy in Douglas. I bet most of these comments are from either the penny pinching cronies from the old administration, bitter ex City employees, or people who can afford to sit home all day, read the internet, and get a monthly check for their hard earned services. If Douglas is that bad....relocate! "

    Wow to Former Bulldog wrote on Jun 27, 2012 12:30 PM:

    " It is simple math my friend. Do we have to have a brand new fire truck, what about gently used? Do we have to give a huge salary to someone who hasn't been a city manager? What will they want next year as a salary? You don't spend money you don't have, especially in a recession. "

    douglas citizen wrote on Jun 26, 2012 5:15 PM:

    " RAISE THE TAXES ON THE RICH AND BUSINESSES. PLENTY OF MONEY FOR EVERYBODY "

    FORMER BULLDOG wrote on Jun 26, 2012 3:01 PM:

    " Geez! To Really and Wow, what a bunch of negative pessimists you are! I get the feeling you wouldn't be happy no matter what decisions were made! I am happy for the city of Douglas, this is a new opportunity and I believe you are off to a great start! "

    Frustrated Citizen wrote on Jun 26, 2012 12:03 PM:

    " Well there goes my hopes for a better Douglas! The fire truck I'm ok with, it's a lot of money but I think a good choice. $120K for a city manager and a huge salary increase for city clerk - also with no clue! So, do the rest of the city employees get a raise also? Is the City getting a Youth center now? Come on Mayor and Council members, do what's right for the city and the citizen here! "

    A New Era wrote on Jun 26, 2012 10:22 AM:

    " Congratulations to the Douglas community on acquiring such a great candidate for City Manager. Carlos, along with the new mayor and council will be a great team and are more than qualified to take Douglas to a higher echelon of success through innovation and ingenuity. Carlos, congratulations...and know that you are supported not by those within the Douglas area, but throughout Cochise County and beyond. "

    Really..... wrote on Jun 25, 2012 11:02 PM:

    " Rumor has it,there was a bidding war between the county and city for Carlos. Guess the city is not as financially straped, as it misleads its employees. Lets see. $1,ooo,ooo for a new ladder truck; a 30% pay raise to a very hard working city clerk. Just joking. And a hefty salary of $120,000 for our new city manager. What's next? New Ford Explorers for the mayor, city council, city manager and the hardest working employee in the citys' history? We should be thankful for our unpaved roads, filth on our streets and alleyways, yard sale posters littering our corners, our beautiful manicured cemetary and lastly, where could $191,000 be best invested? "

    Wow wrote on Jun 25, 2012 1:52 PM:

    " Douglas must be rolling in the dough. New fire truck, city clerk being paid top salary for the area. Now an inexperienced Manager making top salary. Let's see what we have to sacrifice to pay for all of this. What next? The new city council and Mayor haven't even been in a month. Maybe we don't have a recession in Douglas. "

    Bernadette Burick wrote on Jun 25, 2012 12:00 PM:

    " With a new city manager and a new mayor will the youth get summer programs? "

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