Two Bakersfield City Councilmembers are calling for the removal of City Manager Christian Clegg.
Despite their comments last week, it’s a sentiment that does not appear to be shared among the rest of the council.
The big picture: Last week, the city council held a performance evaluation for Clegg during the closed session portion of the council meeting.
Councilmembers Ken Weir and Zack Bashirtash came out after the evaluation and said they have no confidence in Clegg.
What they’re saying: “I want the record to reflect that I am not pleased with the city manager’s performance and I have no confidence in his abilities,” Weir said on the council dais.
Bashirtash echoed Weir’s comments.
“I don’t have faith in our city manager,” he said.
Both councilmembers then spoke to the Bakersfield California later in the week, saying Clegg has led experienced staff members to lave the city.
“I don’t think he has the ability to organize or assemble a management organization that fits the city of Bakersfield,” Weir told the Californian. “We’ve been in management situations where it was clear he had no idea what he was doing there, or what needed to be done.”
Weir went on to say that Clegg does not prioritize how the city spends public money.
Bashirtash told the Californian that Clegg does not fit the city’s needs.
“He has a very specific job that has to be completed and at that, at that level, that position, there’s expectations that come along with it,” Bashirtash told the Californian. “And I have expectations. Everybody’s got roles that they’re supposed to perform within their duty, especially when you’re getting paid for it. I just, I have standards.”
The other side: Other councilmembers came out and said they support Clegg as City Manager.
Councilman Eric Arias called Clegg the city’s “greatest asset” and praised him for leading the city through the COVID-19 pandemic, protests and budget issues, according to the Californian.
Councilmembers Larry Koman, Bob Smith and Andrae Gonzales all told the paper that they support Clegg.