New city manager ready to roll
Henry Lawrence says city finances will be a priority
By Katie Pizza
Argus Observer
Sunday, June 22, 2008 5:59 AM PDT
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| Ontario Police Chief Mike Kee (left) and new city manager Henry Lawrence stand outside of Ontario City Hall Friday. Lawrence started as Ontario’s top appointed official Monday. |
Ontario - New Ontario City Manager Henry Lawrence said one of his top priorities will be the financial health of the city.
“I’m a fan of long-range financial planning,” he said.
One key step, he said, will be to review the city’s expenses.
“I’m working really hard to get my arms around the city budget,” he said.
One short-term goal for Lawrence is spending his first few days in the office interacting with staff and touring the city. He said he is working on getting to know city staff members on a first-name basis.
“Being that it’s my fourth day, I’m doing pretty well,” Lawrence said Thursday.
However, Lawrence did not limit his introductions to city staff.
“I met a few new folks,” he said. “I met some people at lunch. I took my shirts down to the dry cleaners and introduced myself.”
Lawrence’s tour of the city began before he was selected to serve as city manager. A few days before his interview, he said he went around Ontario to get a better idea of the town.
“I went all over the place,” he said. “I thought it was important to get a good sense of the city.”
Lawrence said exploring the city was important because it gave him a sense of whether or not he really wanted to interview for the position. He said he went into City Hall unannounced and spoke with then-Interim Ontario City Manager Mike Kee, who showed him the fire department and equipment. Lawrence said he also spoke to Ontario Chamber of Commerce Executive Director John Breidenbach.
“I asked questions, historical questions, about the chamber to see how active they are,” he said.
Lawrence also said he believes a healthy chamber of commerce is important to the health of a community. Lawrence said these questions helped him decide that he wanted the city manager position.
“When I interview, I go at the job to win,” he said. “That’s what I decided to do. I’m here by choice. It’s not an accident.”
He also said he plans to be in Ontario for the long-term and that he is not at a point in his career where he wants to use a community as a stepping stone.
He said he was attracted to Ontario because of its small-town feel.
“It reminds me of the town I grew up in,” he said.
Lawrence said he grew up in Guadalupe, Calif., which he said had a population of around 2,500. According to the United States Census, the city had a population of 5,659 in 2000.
“You knew everybody,” he said.
He also said the town was agriculturally-based, similar to Ontario. Lawrence’s first day was Monday, which included his first City Council meeting since taking the position. At the meeting, Lawrence said he had only been on the payroll for four hours.
“I’ve been here a whole day, and you can ask me anything,” he joked.
Lawrence then spoke about more serious matters.
“I’d like to thank the mayor and council for putting their trust in me,” he said Monday night.
He then said it would be up to him to earn that trust.
He then stressed the importance of teamwork in city government, stating he prefers the pronoun “we” rather than “I.” He concluded his introduction with a quote by former President Harry S. Truman.
“It’s amazing what we can accomplish if we don’t worry about who gets the credit,” he said.
However, in his free time, it’s another former president who continues to leave him interested: Abraham Lincoln. Currently, he is reading a book called “A Team of Rivals” by Doris Kearns Goodwin. In the book, Goodwin details the road to Lincoln’s presidency and his time in office.
“I just enjoy it,” he said. “I think he’s probably our best president.”
Lawrence, who was the former city manager of Edgewood in Washington state, is married to Lyn Lawrence, a personal trainer.
Lyn Lawrence, he said, is still in Washington state.
“She will be joining me later this year,” he said.
Lawrence also has two sons, Marcus and Matthew Lawrence.
As for his time spent in office now, Lawrence said he is considers himself to be a sponge, soaking up information about the city.
He said he has been on a tour of the water treatment plant and wastewater treatment plant.
Lawrence said he enjoys working as a city manager because of the positive impact he can make on the community. He also said he likes seeing the results of his work, both short and long range.
In order to illustrate that point, Lawrence said while in Guadalupe he helped to revitalize some older buildings in the downtown area, such as an art-deco movie theater. He also helped to establish a Boys and Girls Club.
Lawrence said he became interested in the public sector after spending time as a lawyer. He said the constant litigation involved in being a lawyer burned him out.
“I did a mid-life change to the public sector, and it’s been fun ever since,” he said.
