Johnson Appointed Interim City Manager

Bruce E. Johnson, the chief financial officer for the City of Alexandria, was appointed acting city manager on Wednesday.

The city council will vote on Johnson’s appointment on Monday. City Manager Jim Hartmann announced his resignation in January and will officially step down on May 6.

Johnson, a 30-year resident of Alexandria, has worked for city since 2003. He was promoted to CFO in February 2009 after serving as director of the city’s Office of Management and Budget for more than five years.

“We are confident in Bruce’s leadership,” Mayor Bill Euille said in a statement. “His excellent management and financial skills helped the city keep its strong financial footing during the good times, guided us through recent economic challenges, and has helped us to realize our current budget, which contains no shortfalls for the first time since 2008.”

Prior to joining the staff at City Hall, Johnson worked in the federal government for 27 years, including a stint as the budget director of the U.S. Courts.

“He’s a good choice,” Deputy City Manager Mark Jinks told Patch. “I hired him.” 

According to the city release, Hartmann has accepted an offer to become county manager in Seminole County, Fla.

Johnson is not a candidate for the permanent city manager position.

Last month, the city council announced it had began the hiring process for a new full-time city manager. According to Wednesday’s release, executive recruiter Robert J. Burg has been hired to facilitate the search. The council plans to have a new city manager selected by the end of September.

“I am excited and honored to take on this position,” Johnson said in a statement. “We will build on the improvements that Jim initiated during his time here, and provide a smooth transition to a new city manager when Council finishes making its choice.”