Selma council installs John Kunkel as interim city manager after 4-1 vote

The Selma City Council on May 6 appointed John Kunkel as interim city manager and administered his oath of office after a 4-1 roll-call vote that recorded Councilmember Trujillo as the lone “no.”

The move followed a closed-session decision earlier in the evening. After the public portion of the meeting, the council formally considered Resolution 2025-32R to approve and authorize execution of the interim city manager employment agreement for Kunkel and voted to adopt it.

Kunkel, who has previously served as chief of police and city manager in other Central Valley cities, addressed the council after being sworn in and described his working style. “I have an open door policy,” he said. He told the council he will post his office hours and that he will comply with CalPERS limits on retired annuitants’ hours.

The appointment prompted public comment at the meeting. Blanca Mendoza Navarro told the council she was “disappointed” and questioned the ethics and transparency of appointing an investigator who examined the previous city manager to a management position. The council and city attorney responded that the investigation was produced by the city attorney and that there is no legal conflict of interest tied to hiring a retired annuitant under CalPERS rules.

The vote and swearing-in concluded with the council’s formal record showing a majority approval and the new interim manager acknowledging his duties to the federal and state constitutions and promising accessibility to the public and staff.

What happens next: Councilmembers and staff said the interim appointment is intended to cover day-to-day administration while the council continues to consider a permanent city manager process.

Ending: Kunkel said he will post his working hours at City Hall because his status as a CalPERS annuitant limits his hours. The council gave no immediate timeline for a permanent recruitment during the May 6 meeting.