Mark Linder finds his calling as Sonoma’s city manager

Sonoma’s new interim city manager is no stranger to a city in transition, having seen Windsor through the challenges of a mayor accused of multiple counts of sexual assault. Luckily, Sonoma’s biggest challenge is turnover — a much easier hill to climb.

Mark Linder, 76, may get his almost compulsive drive to work from his parents. His father was an active Lutheran minister until age 80, and his mother finally switched to part-time work at 80.

Maybe he gets it from modeling after role models like Ed Chambers and Ernesto Cortes, who each served as executive director of the social justice organization Industrial Areas Foundation, which brought billions of dollars to marginalized communities.

Or maybe, as Windsor Vice Mayor Sam Salmon said, he is simply “one of those people who found their calling.”

Out of retirement, into the fire

Linder retired in 2016 after 30 years in executive management for cities across California.

“About five years after retirement, I was restless,” Linder said.

He contacted the consulting firm Baker Tilly to bring him back to a city in need of interim manager. The firm offered up an interim city manager position in the town of Windsor.

Roiled in the political turmoil following allegations from at least 14 women who accused former mayor Dominic Foppoli of sexual violence and misconduct, including former Sonoma Mayor Rachel Hundley, Windsor needed a steady hand in City Hall. Additionally, the town had to negotiate a new contract with its employees.

“It sounded interesting to me,” Linder said. “So I said, ‘Sure, let's try it.’”

Salmon served as mayor to Windsor during Linder’s tenure, and described him as having a “special ability” to communicate with both the council and city employees.

“Mark told our council what he aimed to accomplish in his time as interim, and he did it,” Salmon said. “Mark is a person who I believe continues to serve in the capacity of a city manager because he realizes it is his calling and somewhat a gift to local governing bodies.”

Linder moved to Windsor during his tenure and visited Sonoma on his travels through the county. Unknowingly, he was scoping out his next challenge.

“(My wife and I) had already – when we were working in Windsor – already visited General Vallejo’s house and the mission and the Barracks and all of that stuff,” Linder said. “So we kind of knew the community.”

Sonoma’s newest resident

After terminating former interim City Manager Sue Casey in November, the Sonoma City Council was looking for someone to fill the office while a permanent replacement could be found.

After unsuccessful attempts to find a candidate suited to take on Sonoma’s challenges, former Vice Mayor Kelso Barnett went to Google and found Linder.

“We felt like the city was at a crossroads,” Barnett said. “(Windsor) basically recommended him without reservation. And they said that he was just the right man for their challenges. And they knew that he would be just the right person for our challenges.”

Linder began his tenure on Jan. 2, hoping to bring his talents as a city manager to help guide another Sonoma County city through a time of transition and turnover among staff. In addition to Casey, Sonoma has seen or will see the resignations of City Attorney Jeff Walter, Planning Director David Storer, Public Works Director Colleen Ferguson, Sonoma Police Chief Orlando Rodriguez, as well as the recent exit of Councilmembers Madolyn Agrimonti, Bob Felder and Barnett.

Linder sat in his corner office of City Hall on Friday, Jan. 20, which overlooks the Plaza green and down Broadway. His white hair is parted on the side and his hands move prudently as he speaks, adorned with a single, simple wedding band. He cracked jokes with city staff as he welcomed the Index-Tribune into his office.

“You're going to have people who are in leadership positions who have technical skills, and soft skills,” Linder said. “You need to know enough of the technical skills and be able to work with your staff to put together a budget to manage the day-to-day operations. And then you need the soft skills to deal with... some of the more potential conflict-oriented things.”

Salmon said Linder’s “special ability” to work with people and gain their trust served Windsor well during its time of upheaval.

“He is a good listener and provides an understanding of situations with an accepting tenor and sincerity,” Salmon said.

But Linder is also less restrained than a permanent city manager, Barnett said, because he knows there’s an expiration date on his contract, which states he is “not anticipated to exceed eight months and will not exceed 737 hours.” He will be paid $103.79 per hour, for a potential salary of $76,493.23 if he maxes out his hours. Linder will meet with the city council on Jan. 31 to talk about their priorities for the next five months of his tenure.

“I want the five year, one year and six months,” Linder said of the council’s goals. “They've studied the cemeteries a lot. They've studied the parking lot. They have some lingering issues related to the Plaza... so they'd like to see if I can do anything with that.”

As he has throughout his career, Linder’s focus will be on building community, which he considers the “highest form of community service.” This was his approach as assistant city manager for San Jose, America’s 10th largest city.

“When I worked in San Jose, community building was as big of a deal, if not bigger than some of the smaller communities that worked in that area,” LInder said. “In San Jose, where you have a million people... it's a big deal for these council members that there is a sense of community out there.”

Though Linder and his wife are new residents of Sonoma, they have already settled in to their new digs. His wife plays golf and sees friends in Santa Rosa and Windsor, while Linder continues to pursue his professional calling.

“My friends are all jealous I get to work in Sonoma County,” Linder said.

Contact Chase Hunter at chase.hunter@sonomanews.com and follow @Chase_HunterB on Twitter.