City of Riverside Appoints Thomas R. Hatch Interim City Manager

Published: 7/28/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

July 28, 2026

Contact:

Phil Pitchford

Public Information Officer

951-826-5975

[email protected]

City of Riverside Appoints Thomas R. Hatch Interim City Manager

Hatch will serve until permanent City Manager is hired

RIVERSIDE, Calif. - The Riverside City Council today (7/28) appointed veteran municipal executive Thomas R. Hatch to serve as Interim City Manager, overseeing the operations of one of the largest and fastest-growing cities in Southern California.

The Council unanimously approved a resolution appointing Hatch and authorizing the Mayor Pro Tem to execute an employment agreement for Interim City Manager services. Hatch will begin serving on Friday (7/31) and will remain in the position until a permanent City Manager is hired.

The appointment represents the second phase of the City's leadership transition. Immediately following the departure of the City's previous City Manager, the Council asked Assistant City Manager Edward Enriquez to temporarily serve in the role while a search firm was engaged to recruit and place a professional interim city manager to guide the City through the transition.

Following interviews with interim candidates in closed session, the Council determined that Hatch was exceptionally well qualified to lead the organization during this transition period. His appointment marks the next phase of ensuring organizational stability while the permanent City Manager recruitment is open. This action also enables Enriquez to return to his full-time duties as Assistant City Manager, Chief Financial Officer/Treasurer.

"The Council would like to thank Assistant City Manager Enriquez for his willingness to assume the role during the first phase of this transition," Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson said. "He did an outstanding job during this initial phase and will now be able to resume his role as Assistant City Manager, providing critical oversight of the City's finances."

Last month, the City Council appointed Councilmember Steven Robillard to work with the Mayor and Council in coordinating the City's executive leadership transition, including the recruitment of both the interim and permanent City Manager.

Tonight's action marks another important milestone in ensuring a thoughtful and orderly leadership transition for the City. The Council has remained united in its commitment to conducting a deliberate, transparent, and professional transition process that serves the best interests of Riverside.

"Our responsibility was to find someone who could provide immediate stability while also preparing Riverside to attract an outstanding permanent City Manager," Robillard said. "Tom Hatch has earned a reputation throughout Southern California for strengthening organizations during periods of transition. He understands that an interim city manager's role is not simply to maintain operations, but to build confidence, implement the Council's direction, and position the organization for long-term success. We are confident he is the right leader to guide Riverside through this important chapter."

Hatch brings 36 years of local government experience, having served the cities of Walnut, Brea, South Pasadena, West Covina, El Monte, Costa Mesa, Orange, Santa Ana, Santa Fe Springs, and Placentia, as well as the County of Orange. He served as Costa Mesa's City Manager for more than seven years after serving five years as the City's Assistant City Manager. He also served as the County of Orange's Chief Human Resources Officer, overseeing a workforce of approximately 16,000 employees. Most recently, Hatch has served as Interim City Manager for the cities of Orange, Santa Fe Springs, Santa Ana, and Placentia.

Hatch holds an Associate of Arts degree from Mt. San Antonio College, a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from California State University, Fullerton, and a Master of Public Administration from California State University, Fullerton.

Under the terms of the employment agreement, Hatch will be paid an hourly rate of $195.05. As a retiree under the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS), he may serve in the position for no more than 960 hours during a fiscal year and will not receive any additional City benefits or compensation, including paid vacation, sick leave, or holidays.

To comply with California law governing retired annuitant interim appointments, the City has opened recruitment for the permanent City Manager position, marking the third phase of the transition process. The City Council will create opportunities for community input regarding the leadership profile and qualities that are most important for the City's next chapter.

Councilmember Robillard will continue coordinating the transition process with the City Council as the recruitment for the permanent City Manager moves forward, including community engagement, candidate recruitment, and the Council's selection process.