In June, the Tucson City Council selected Assistant City Manager Martha Durkin to serve as interim city manager to replace City Manager Richard Miranda, whose retirement became effective July 31.
Durkin will not be eligible to apply for the permanent position after community leaders demanded that the residents become part of the new manager selection process. Community members showed up at City Hall at sent letters demanding the inclusion of the public and transparency.
Residents had also been concerned about the proposed selection of Durkin as the interim city manager. In an email sent out to residents, one community leader wrote, “When was the last time this council ever cared about cost??? As a result of their concerns that the Council can blab all they want about how open they would like to be but — like the scorpion in the lake on the back of the frog — it is just their nature to cut a back-room deal, as they have for the last three (at least) managers.”
Community leader and chairman of the Sunnyside Recall Committee, Richard Hernandez, wrote to each Council member demanding that there be community involvement in the selection of a new City Manager. Hernandez wrote, “I know historically speaking when City Manager Keene was selected there was a committee of community leaders involved in the recommendation as to who would be the best leader. I feel that failure to allow community input is clearly a violation of community trust.”
Durkin left TUSD after the District was found to have violated Open meeting laws and took a job with Tucson’s City Attorney. While at TUSD, in one Agenda Meeting, when asked by a Board member if they were engaging in Open Meeting law violatons, Durking openly advised members to continue violating the law and if a member of the public questioned it later, they could worry about it then.
“I am honored to serve as Interim City Manager and build upon the City’s mission to provide excellent service delivery,” Durkin told the City’s NewsNet. “This is a time of great synergy between our organization and the community as we all work toward a more vibrant and prosperous Tucson.”
Durkin has worked in local government since 1984.