Raul L. Mendez, a former county administrator, has been hired as Hughson's new city manager by the Hughson City Council.

Mendez will start June 17 at an annual salary of $113,175. He will be introduced to the public at the Hughson City Council meeting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 28.

Hughson has been without a permanent city manager since Feb. 4 when Bryan Whitemyer left to become Oakdale's city manager. Retired Modesto Police Chief Mike Harden has been the interim city manager since March 4.

Mendez has spent nearly 16 years with the city of San Jose and has worked for the past 12 years as a Senior Management Consultant in the Chief Executive Office of Stanislaus County. He has provided technical support to county departments, including Environmental Resources, Parks and Recreation, Planning and Community Development and Public Works. Mendez has extensive work history working collaboratively with the Board of Supervisors on many initiatives in the unincorporated communities in Stanislaus County.

"After an exhaustive city manager recruitment process that attracted over 35 applicants from across the United States, we found the very best city manager candidate right in our own backyard," said Mayor Matt Beekman. "Mr. Mendez has an accomplished track record of creative solutions for the many issues facing local communities and we are excited to have him lead the city of Hughson now and into the future."

Mendez holds a bachelor's degree in Computer Information Systems from California State University, Stanislaus, and a master's degree in Public Policy from the University of Michigan.