Alex Terrazas, who has been serving as interim city manager since the August departure of Tom Westbrook, has been extended a conditional offer of employment for the permanent position.

Terrazas was chosen after a nationwide recruitment and selection process. The terms of the employment agreement need to be nailed down and he must pass a background check in order for the council to make the hiring official.

If ultimately hired, he brings more than 27 years of municipal government experience to the role.

“I am very happy and very pleased for the opportunity to become the next city manager of Ceres,” said Terrazas. “I look forward to the opportunity to serve this great community and am excited about working alongside the council and staff.”

Ceres Mayor Javier Lopez said he is “very excited” about Terrazas being selected, “especially during such an important and historical moment in our city’s history as we continue in our growth and prosperity. He is exceptionally qualified and will be a tremendous addition to our city and to our community.”

Terrazas previously served as city manager of Los Banos in Merced County.

Terrazas’ government experience includes a stint as a legislative intern with Congressman Vic Fazio, as an analyst for the Mountain View city manager’s office, California League of Cities, and assistant city manager of Truckee.

He is a 1980s graduate of California State University, Sacramento, where he studied government and government journalism. He also received a master’s degree in government.

Terrazas is scrambling to fill a number of key city positions which have become vacant in the past year. The city needs to hire a city engineer, a public works director and economic development manager.

“I’m hopeful on a number of slots but we’re working hard to try to fill those slots,” said Terrazas. “HR is very busy right now.”

In his spare time, Terrazas enjoys riding his mountain bike, and snowboarding. He recently restored a vintage Scamp travel trailer as a family project.