Steve Williams, a retired captain with Turlock Police Department, has been hired as Ceres’ interim city manager after Doug Dunford retires at the end of the week.

Williams has been serving as the interim city administrator of Angels Camp which just hired a permanent manager in Michael Hodson.

Dunford announced last week that he is retiring due to a family medical emergency. He has served in that position since May 2023 after the council dismissed City Manager Alex Terrazas the previous month.

Dunford said he was acquainted with Williams from the time they both served in Turlock PD but noted that since “our paths have crossed very infrequently.” But he noted that Williams has a reputation as a professional and integrity.

Williams retired from the city of Turlock in 2022 after more than 30 years of experience in public service. In Turlock he served as the interim Assistant City Manager and interim Police Chief. He also served as Turlock Rural Fire Department’s assistant chief for a time. He was appointed Angels Camp interim city manager on Sept. 17, 2025.

Williams earned a master’s degree in business administration (MBA) from California State University Stanislaus and is a graduate of California POST Command College and the FBI National Academy.

He is a member of the International City/County Management Association (ICMA).

Williams will be leaning heavily on department heads as he steps into his new role and takes on an uncertain budget situation. Assistance will come from newly appointed Finance Director Vanessa Portillo as well as Human Resources Director Delilah Vasquez, City Engineer Michael Beltran, Police Chief Trenton Johnson, Acting Public Works Director Josh Casas and City Clerk Fallon Martin.

Dunford said it will likely be a while before the City Council is able to recruit and hire a permanent city manager, noting that when he was appointed interim in May 2023 it wasn’t until December 2023 that he was the chosen Terrazas’ replacement.