Hollywood Commission appoints Dr. Wazir Ishmael as Interim City Manager

 

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The Hollywood City Commission agreed to name Dr. Wazir Ishmael as interim City Manager during a meeting. Ishmael will begin serving in the position at 3:00 p.m. December 1. This is the time that City Manager Cathy Swanson-Rivenbark and the Commission agreed that she would leave her positon. She will be taking a position as City Manager for Coral Gables.

Commissioner Peter Hernandez wanted Swanson-Rivenbark to stay in her position longer t
o answer criticisms regarding her handling of some contract positions. 

Dr. Ishmael joined the City of Hollywood as Assistant City Manager for Sustainable Development in August 2014.  He has been providing oversight and coordination for several key departments including: Planning, Building, Community & Economic Development, Public Works, Public Utilities and Parking & Intergovernmental Affairs.  He has also acted as liaision to the City’s Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA). 

Dr. Ishmael has more than 30 years of experience as a local government administrator, planner, educator and international business executive with the City of Miramar, Broward County Planning Council and other municipalities. He worked for Miramar for 16 years and served in a number of positions including Deputy City Manager and Interim City Manager. He holds a doctorate in Urban Studies from Portland State University, Oregon and Masters of Urban Regional Planning from the University of Miami.

Mayor Peter Bober is pleased that Dr. Ishmael will be serving as interim city manager. “He understands our city and works well with the Commission and the staff respects him,” said Bober.

The City will begin the process of searching for a new permanent city manager.

Author: Amanda Jones
Author: Amanda Jones

Amanda Jones specializes in social media marketing. She holds a Master's degree in Social Media Management from the University of Florida and a Social Media Professional Certificate from the University of Miami.

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