Meet Sacramento’s new city manager. How the city ‘definitely scored a winner’
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Maraskeshia Smith named Sacramento's first Black woman city manager in 2025.
- Smith led Santa Rosa through fiscal challenges and declined a salary increase.
- Smith prioritized public services, community ties and capital project efficiency.
Maraskeshia Smith’s appointment as Sacramento’s new city manager came as little surprise to her Santa Rosa colleagues, who have long viewed her as one of the state’s most sought-after city leaders.
As Santa Rosa’s city manager, Smith has impressed multiple councilmembers with her commitment to improving essential city services, presence in the community and leadership during fiscal challenges. Earlier this year, she declined a council approved salary raise due to the city’s budget deficit.
“It speaks loudly of her character,” said Santa Rosa Vice Mayor Eddie Alvarez. “I’m happy for Sacramento. They definitely scored a winner.”
The appointment, which became official Tuesday, is the latest milestone in a career filled with firsts for Smith. She will become the first Black individual and woman to hold the position charged with overseeing the city’s nearly 6,000 employees and $1.6 billion operating budget. Smith is expected to begin working Jan. 5 and be paid an annual salary of $399,000.
“This is not just a job for me,” Smith, a native of Kentucky, said Tuesday morning. “This is a calling. I step into this role with humility, honor and a deep sense of responsibility. I am ready to serve this community, steward its resources and help guide its future.”
Smith will come to Sacramento after leading Santa Rosa’s city government for nearly four years. There, she was also the first Black woman to become city manager.
Santa Rosa Councilmember Natalie Rogers called hiring Smith in 2022 one of her “greatest accomplishments.” Rogers described Smith as a “yes person” who will introduce innovative ideas, build strong relationships with staff and routinely attend community events.
“Everyone knows who she is,” Rogers said. “She has great relationships and just comes in like a breath of fresh air, so it’s definitely a loss for us and a gain for Sacramento.”
Santa Rosa Mayor Mark Stapp met Smith shortly after he was elected to the council in 2022. He said their first experience was “positive,” which was reflective of the subsequent years.
He noted that Smith was instrumental in launching the police department’s real-time crime center and streamlining capital projects. In another instance, Stapp said Smith prioritized vegetation management on city sidewalks and medians, which quickly led to a noticeable change among residents.
“It seems like a small thing, but it’s those kinds of details that really impact the attractiveness of the city and the extent to which residents enjoy and are proud of their community,” Stapp said.
Among Smith’s most notable moments in Santa Rosa was last April when she declined a salary raise. The pay bump had been previously approved by the City Council based on merit and to ensure her compensation was competitive with other top government executives at local agencies.
But Smith requested the city freeze salary adjustments for two years.
“As the chief executive of our city, I have determined it is inappropriate to accept any salary adjustments given the financial pressures our city is currently facing,” Smith said then in a statement to the Press Democrat newspaper. “Leading an organization in these times means demonstrating a commitment to fiscal responsibility and fairness.”
Stapp said such a decision was yet another example of her leadership.
“She worked hard for Santa Rosa,” Stapp said. “She did a good job. No one wanted to deprive her of the money that she was contractually owed. But again, it was at her request, and through her leadership, the council reluctantly agreed.”
Before arriving in Santa Rosa, Smith was the deputy city manager in Stockton and assistant city administrator in Oakland. She also spent about 10 years working for the city of Cincinnati, including becoming the first female public services director. Smith earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration at the University of Kentucky.
On Tuesday, Smith said she was attracted to Sacramento because of its diversity and “bold vision.” Smith highlighted the Railyards project and construction of Sacramento Republic FC’s new multi-use soccer stadium. After her official start date, Smith said the city manager’s office will begin scheduling “listening sessions” with city employees, business owners and owners.
“I want to hear your priorities, your concerns and your aspirations,” Smith said.
This story was originally published September 30, 2025 at 3:13 PM.
