Lemon Grove names Tony Winnie interim city manager with $215,000 annual salary

The Lemon Grove City Council voted Jan. 20 to appoint Tony Winnie as interim city manager and to update the city's salary schedule to reflect an annual salary of $215,000.

City Attorney Kristen Steinke summarized that the former city manager’s contract expired on Jan. 1 and Public Works Director Izzy Murguia had been the acting city manager during the vacancy. After interviews and applicant review, the council directed staff to offer the interim position to Tony Winnie, who accepted. The staff report said the appointment will help maintain continuity while a permanent recruitment is conducted.

Council members described the selection criteria used during the interview process: working well with staff, experience in municipal administration across departments, and the ability to steady operations during a transition. "Tony came with experience in every department and showed enthusiasm for the position," one council member said. Tony Winnie, who attended the meeting, said he was honored to serve and that his early priorities will be supporting staff, keeping operations steady and communicating with the public about ongoing projects.

Vote and details: The resolution authorizing the mayor to sign the employment agreement and updating the FY25–26 salary schedule passed on a 5–0 roll-call vote. Winnie’s start date was announced as Jan. 26, 2026.

Next steps: Staff will finalize the employment agreement and implement the salary-schedule change; the council will continue the external recruitment for a permanent city manager.