Concord City Manager Valerie Barone, who has guided the city through economic downturns, redevelopment battles and the COVID-19 pandemic, will retire at the end of the fiscal year in June 2026, city officials said Thursday.
Barone has worked in public service for more than three decades, including stints with the Peace Corps in the Philippines, the cities of Walnut Creek and Milpitas, and as Concord’s assistant city manager starting in 2008.
She was appointed interim city manager in February 2012 and officially took the role two months later.
During her tenure, Barone helped stabilize Concord’s general fund and restore reserves, oversaw major infrastructure upgrades, and pushed forward economic development projects such as The Veranda shopping center and the city’s tourism improvement district. She also steered regional collaborations on housing, homelessness, mental health, and public safety, while championing cultural programs such as Creative Concord and the city’s Music and Market concerts, city officials said.
Barone said in a statement she was “deeply grateful for the leadership of the Council and the dedication of our employees, whose hard work has made Concord a thriving community where families can grow, businesses can prosper, and residents can flourish.”
Mayor Carlyn Obringer praised Barone for leading with “care, integrity, and a deep commitment to our residents” and said her leadership team would ensure a smooth transition.
The city will begin a search for Barone’s successor in the coming weeks.
This is GREAT news. Barone has had the whole city by the nether region for far too long. She is without a doubt the most powerful person at the City of Concord and we’ve all suffered for it.
PLEASE get someone better, but I’m afraid the criteria that the “leadership team” will apply will only result in someone with minimal professional qualifications and maximum social boxes checked.
All positions of leadership need to be elected not appointed. They are supposed to represent us not their buddies.
whatever,
.
Knowing the Concord City Council they’ll give the position to Concord Assistant City Manager Justin Ezell. I wouldn’t expect to see any difference from the way current City Manager Valerie Barone runs the city, as she’s trained her likely replacement.
If you could do better you should apply. Hopefully your social boxes include more than being a keyboard warrior on Claycord.
She’s done a fine job at navigating such a big city. Other cities are hurting tremendously right now with their budgets. So this is not great news. Hopefully the next person has fiscal aptitude she had.
@two cents, it’s not a matter of “if you could do better”, that’s a silly comment. I’m not qualified to be a city manager and I know it. I also know that referencing past hiring history with the City of Concord indicates that they don’t pursue the best option, they pursue the socially/politically safe option, which often means the most qualified is passed over. We’ve seen this REPEATEDLY at the state and federal level, and the City of Concord leadership wants to be good little boys and girls and follow suit. I’m sorry for Justin Ezell, he’s a straight white man… odds are slim hiring him will be allowed by the social warriors on the council.
I see what you’re saying but following Concords practices for decades in hiring, it was a big leap for Ms. Barone to take on the role with the uncertainty of the city in 2012, then Covid hit almost a decade later and navigated thru that as well. It was a fine job done. I’ve met Justin Ezell a-lot of times at different events and he seems to be a great administrator as well. I would hope being a “white straight male” doesn’t matter when hiring someone. He listens to all, I have seen it.
Nice comment! Always the come back and absolutely inane every time!!!
Hopefully, her unqualified Economic Development Director follows her out door.
needed
Good! Concord has been disastrously poorly managed for the past decade. Hopefully we get someone more competent.
Good riddance! She had no clue what was going on in the city. Hopefully they don’t promote the ex Public Works Director Justin Ezell with his multiple Union votes of no confidence. Hopefully a couple of the equally useless Dept Head’s will go with her like Steve Voorhies who has an office at City Hall away from his staff and knows and does absolutely nothing. Take the incompetent IT Director with her along with the HR Director and her incompetent staff that depend on Mommy to tell them how to do their job. Last but not least all of the attorney’s in the City Manager’s office who can’t make it in the world of billable hours.
$500k+ in 2023 (over 50% increase since 2012)
https://transparentcalifornia.com/salaries/search/?q=valerie+barone