Sacramento expected to make history by appointing Black woman as city manager
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- The City Council is expected to vote on Tuesday to hire Maraskeshia Smith as the new city manager.
- Smith would be the first Black woman in Sacramento history to hold the city manager job.
- A nationwide search was launched to replace former city manager Howard Chan.
The Sacramento City Council is expected to make history Tuesday when it considers appointing Maraskeshia Smith as the next city manager. If that happens, Smith would be the first Black woman to hold that job.
Citing City Hall sources, the Sacramento Observer first reported Monday that Smith is expected to fill the role. She was selected in November 2021 to be the city manager in Santa Rosa, where she was the first Black person to have that job.
Previously, she was the deputy city manager in Stockton, The Press Democrat reported. Before that, Smith worked as an assistant city manager for two years in Oakland where she led programs on homelessness, affordable housing and economic development.
The City Council will formally vote on the appointment during a closed session meeting Tuesday morning. The job is one of City Hall’s most influential roles, overseeing nearly 5,000 city employees.
Geneva Jacob, a spokesperson for Sacramento Mayor Kevin McCarty, declined to comment on Monday about the Observer’s report.
“There’s no way to comment ahead of the City Council’s vote,” Jacob told The Sacramento Bee. “Not confirming or denying any appointment.”
Councilmember Roger Dickinson, who represents District 2, said on Monday evening he was aware of news surrounding Smith and the city manager job.
“I’m aware that this has been released — leaked — by somebody. I think, though, I’m gonna ... withhold comment at this stage,” Dickinson told The Bee.
Leyne Milstein, who has worked with the city since 2005, was appointed interim city manager in January. Milstein at that time was the first woman to hold that job. The spokesperson for the Mayor’s Office confirmed that Sacramento has never had a Black woman as city manager.
Milstein had previously told Inside Sacramento that she did not plan on applying for the permanent position. She is expected to return to her job as an assistant city manager.
Sacramento launched a nationwide search after the City Council declined to extend former City Manager Howard Chan last December. The decision followed months of criticism over his salary and decision-making. Chan earned $789,147 in total wages last year — the second highest among all California city employees. A chunk of his total pay in 2024, as in previous years, came from his leave balances.
In February, the city hired CPS HR Consulting to lead the search for the new city manager. The firm began by interviewing the mayor and council members and later held in-person and virtual community meetings. The City Council had interviewed the finalists in the last few weeks. The start date of the new city manager is yet to be announced.
The Bee’s Mathew Miranda and Graham Womack contributed to this story.
This story was originally published September 29, 2025 at 6:03 PM.
