Saratoga City Manager Trades in Urban Politics for Hometown Charm
In a move that has left many wondering, Saratoga City Manager Matt Morley is trading in the demands of city politics for a life closer to home. Morley, who took the helm as Saratoga's top administrator just six months ago, has decided to leave behind the challenges and stresses of urban governance to become Gilroy's new city administrator.
For Morley, the decision was a no-brainer. His wife, their parents, and he all call Gilroy home, making it an impossible choice to resist when offered the opportunity to return to his hometown. "It's really that sense of home that drew me to Gilroy," Morley explained in an interview. "I want to be able to get back to the community I grew up in and make a difference."
As he prepares to leave Saratoga behind, Morley is eager to bring his expertise to Gilroy and tackle some of the city's most pressing issues. His priorities include driving economic development, addressing homelessness, and revitalizing downtown areas. He plans to work closely with local nonprofit organizations and county agencies to address these challenges.
One key difference between Saratoga and Gilroy is the level of service provided by each city. In Saratoga, services like police and fire protection are contracted out to neighboring cities, while Gilroy has its own departments. Morley is looking forward to having his own in-house teams to manage these services.
Despite his short tenure as Saratoga's top administrator, Morley made a lasting impact on the city. He helped organize the first "Safe Routes to School" event in years and was instrumental in navigating over 20 builder's remedy applications for housing developments.
As he embarks on this new chapter in his career, Morley is confident that his experience and skills will serve him well in Gilroy. "We're excited to have someone with Matt's experience and knowledge on board," said Gilroy Mayor Greg Bozzo. "And the fact that he's coming home to be the city administrator of a community he grew up in is something that's very promising."
In Saratoga, Morley's departure has left a power vacuum, with his assistant city manager Leslie Arroyo taking over as interim city manager until a new leader can be found. Despite the uncertainty, one thing is clear: Matt Morley is ready for a new challenge and is eager to make a difference in Gilroy.
In a move that has left many wondering, Saratoga City Manager Matt Morley is trading in the demands of city politics for a life closer to home. Morley, who took the helm as Saratoga's top administrator just six months ago, has decided to leave behind the challenges and stresses of urban governance to become Gilroy's new city administrator.
For Morley, the decision was a no-brainer. His wife, their parents, and he all call Gilroy home, making it an impossible choice to resist when offered the opportunity to return to his hometown. "It's really that sense of home that drew me to Gilroy," Morley explained in an interview. "I want to be able to get back to the community I grew up in and make a difference."
As he prepares to leave Saratoga behind, Morley is eager to bring his expertise to Gilroy and tackle some of the city's most pressing issues. His priorities include driving economic development, addressing homelessness, and revitalizing downtown areas. He plans to work closely with local nonprofit organizations and county agencies to address these challenges.
One key difference between Saratoga and Gilroy is the level of service provided by each city. In Saratoga, services like police and fire protection are contracted out to neighboring cities, while Gilroy has its own departments. Morley is looking forward to having his own in-house teams to manage these services.
Despite his short tenure as Saratoga's top administrator, Morley made a lasting impact on the city. He helped organize the first "Safe Routes to School" event in years and was instrumental in navigating over 20 builder's remedy applications for housing developments.
As he embarks on this new chapter in his career, Morley is confident that his experience and skills will serve him well in Gilroy. "We're excited to have someone with Matt's experience and knowledge on board," said Gilroy Mayor Greg Bozzo. "And the fact that he's coming home to be the city administrator of a community he grew up in is something that's very promising."
In Saratoga, Morley's departure has left a power vacuum, with his assistant city manager Leslie Arroyo taking over as interim city manager until a new leader can be found. Despite the uncertainty, one thing is clear: Matt Morley is ready for a new challenge and is eager to make a difference in Gilroy.