Former city of Yachats finance director Judy Richter of Yachats has been named the city manager in Toledo, where she had been working as finance manager for the past year.
The seven-member Toledo City Council made the appointment Wednesday night.
The city of Toledo, population 3,600, has 44 employees including police and fire departments and a $19 million yearly budget.
The council had been seeking a city manager since mid-2019. It offered the job to a candidate in December, who ended up turning down the job. Richter was one of 33 who applied in January after the council resumed its manager search. The council interviewed Richter and another finalist for the position last week, then offered Richter the job.
“It’s a new challenge and I’m excited about that,” Richter said.
Toledo has been in political turmoil the past two years; the mayor and two council members were recalled in September 2018 and the fire chief, city recorder and finance director were fired or resigned that year.
With the aid of a new council and interim city manager Wes Hare of Albany, Richter said things have calmed down substantially.
“Everyone is anxious to put that behind them,” she said. “It’s a good council and they’re focused on getting down to business.”
Richter, who moved to Yachats in 2012, worked for the city of Yachats for two years before leaving in February 2019. She has worked in finance positions for Serenity Lane and MidValley Glass & Millwork in Eugene, owned a fabric store with partner Ruth Bass in Junction City and Springfield for 13 years, before working 10 years as a manufacturer’s representative for fabric and sewing suppliers.
