Former Stockton city manager tapped as interim Vallejo city manager

VALLEJO – Harry Black will serve as Vallejo’s interim city manager while the city seeks a permanent replacement for Andrew Murray, according to a pending agreement the Vallejo City Council will consider Tuesday.

According to a staff report to the council which was released on Saturday, Black will begin working in the new role on May 16 if his appointment is approved by the council on Tuesday. He recently served as Stockton’s city manager for five years before he resigned in lieu of termination without cause in January 2025.

The city’s recommendation to appoint Black comes following Murray’s announcement earlier this month that he would leave the position. Black’s hiring agreement also comes one week after the city announced a plan to alternate between Assistant City Managers Gillian Haen and Nalungo Conley every two weeks during a recruitment process for an interim city manager. 

In that announcement, officials said the council “expressed its intent to defer the selection of a permanent City Manager until after the November election.” However, last week the city issued a correction saying that the council had not made a decision as to when a permanent city manager may be hired.

The City Council and  city human resources director Stephanie Sifuentes sought referrals for candidates, according to the staff report. The council discussed four candidates in a closed session meeting April 20, and unanimously picked Black. 

“Council wanted to move quickly but intentionally to find an interim city manager to ensure continued operations and to drive the city forward,” staff said in the report for Tuesday’s meeting, referring to Black as having “seasoned operational expertise, high ethical standards, and swift, decisive leadership.” 

According to his employment terms, Black will earn a base annual salary of $340,432 along with a $500 monthly auto allowance and a $3,000 monthly housing allowance. 

Black holds a bachelor’s degree in public administration from Virginia State University and a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Virginia. Before serving in Stockton, Black worked as Cincinnati’s city manager from September 2014 to April 2018. 

Black also worked as chief financial officer for Baltimore from 2012-2014 and Richmond, Virginia, from 2005- 2008, according to the Vallejo staff report and his LinkedIn profile. 

Vallejo city staff said that in Baltimore, Black helped develop and implement a 10-year financial plan that addressed a projected cumulative 10-year structural budget deficit of approximately $750 million. In Richmond, he helped advance the “City of the Future” initiative, a community revitalization effort that supported investments in schools, community facilities, infrastructure improvements and gateway enhancements. 

Black’s salary is $37,432 higher than Murray’s $303,000 annual salary, which was never raised in two years. In Stockton, Black was set to earn a 8% raise for an annual salary of $348,068 before resigning, after which he received more than $400,000 in severance and benefits, according to​​ The Stockton Record. 

The Record also reported in March that auditors found widespread internal control failures in Stockton's financial operations, including accounting errors, delayed reporting and weak oversight of millions of dollars in public funds.

Vallejo staff said in their report to the council that “More recently, as City Manager of Stockton, Mr. Black oversaw a period marked by structurally balanced budgets, sustained operating surpluses, and consistent clean audit opinions.” 

The report says that Black’s contract does not have a set term length, adding “It is assumed by both parties that Black’s employment as Interim City Manager shall end once a regular City Manager assumes that office, or unless terminated earlier by either party in accordance with the provisions of this agreement.”

Black arrives to serve Vallejo amid the city’s budget planning process for the next year, as staff and City Council will in June consider and revise the 2026-27 budget underway, which must address a deficit of at least $20 million.