The Watsonville City Council will vote Tuesday on removing her “interim” label and appointing Tamara Vides as city manager.
Vides has worked for the city for three decades, the past 15 years in various positions in the city manager’s office, including being named deputy city manager in 2018 and assistant city manager in October 2020. She was named interim city manager in April. She similarly served in an interim role in 2021.
“After a thorough search for top talent to fill the vacant City Manager position, the council selected the candidate they felt was best suited for the role,” said Watsonville Mayor Vanessa Quiroz-Carter.
In a media release Wednesday, the council highlighted Vides’ work in the city manager’s office, including managing response to homelessness, the COVID-19 pandemic and natural disasters.
Vides is a native of Argentina. She holds a master of science degree in recreation management from San José State University.
Former Watsonville City Manager Rene Mendez left in the spring to take the city manager job in Salinas. When she was named interim city manager in April, Vides told Lookout that she would fully embrace the role even though she expected it to last only a few months, and that she was unsure whether she’d apply for the permanent role.
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