WeHo council chooses David Wilson as new city manager

Independent Staff Report

WEST HOLLYWOOD — The City Council has selected Assistant City Manager David Wilson to replace retiring City Manager Paul Arevalo when the latter retires later this year.

The council made the appointment at its May 17 City Council meeting.

“I am excited to welcome David Wilson as our next city manger,” Mayor Lindsey Horvath said. “He’s someone who not only performs under pressure, but is also someone that his team can rely on. “Professionally, he began his service to our city as an intern and has made his work in West Hollywood the focus of his career. His demonstrated understanding of City Hall’s day-to-day operations as well as our city’s finances give all of us confidence in his abilities as we face the transition ahead.

Wilson has served the city for more than 20 years. He has been assistant city manager since 2018.

Prior to that he was the director of finance and technology services, overseeing general accounting, revenue management, and information technology, as well as acting as the city treasurer and risk manager.

He also has served as budget and compensation manager, senior management analyst and project development administrator for the City’s redevelopment and housing functions.

“I am honored to have been selected by the City Council to serve as the next city manager,” Wilson said. “West Hollywood is an extraordinary place to live, work and play and I look forward to my new role working collaboratively with the City Council, West Hollywood’s various communities and city staff. “Some of my initial priorities will be recovery from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, reopening city facilities to the public and moving forward with the visioning process for the next 30 years of cityhood,” he added.

Horvath had praise for Wilson’s work at City Hall.

“His commitment to equity and excellence is exactly what’s needed in this moment,” Horvath said. “He is the right person at the right time and I am personally committed to doing all I can to help him succeed. I hope everyone at City Hall and in our community will do the same.”

Wilson holds a bachelor’s degree in political economy of industrial societies from UC Berkeley and a master’s degree in planning from USC. He also holds certificates of completion from: Harvard University’s Leadership Decision Making Program; the International City/County Management Association’s Leadership ICMA Program; and the University of Virginia’s Senior Executive Institute.

Arevalo announced in March he would be stepping down sometime this summer. He has served as city manager since 1999. He was hired by the city as director of finance in 1990.