News Summary
Jennifer Carey has resigned as deputy city manager of Huntington Beach to become chief of staff for Republican state Senator Tony Strickland. Carey, who developed a strong working relationship with Strickland, expressed excitement about her new role. She has been recognized for her effective leadership and crisis communication skills during her tenure. This transition is expected to bring changes to the city as it seeks a new spokesperson to fill her position. Strickland has praised Carey’s contributions and talent as they embark on this new chapter.
Huntington Beach – Jennifer Carey has announced her resignation from her position as deputy city manager of Huntington Beach, effective Tuesday. She will be stepping into a new role as chief of staff for Republican state Senator Tony Strickland, who serves California’s District 36.
This transition marks a significant career move for Carey, who developed a close working relationship with Strickland during his tenure as mayor in 2023. Prior to this, she did not know him before his election to the Huntington Beach City Council in 2022. Carey expressed enthusiasm about the opportunity to work alongside Strickland, citing trust in his leadership.
Carey holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in communication from Arizona State University. She began her career with the city in 2021, initially serving as the public information officer for the Huntington Beach Police Department. In January 2022, Carey was promoted to public affairs manager, a role where she honed her skills in communications and community engagement.
In January 2023, she was officially appointed as deputy city manager after serving as acting deputy manager for six months. Her final day with Huntington Beach will be followed by an immediate transition to her new role with Strickland, where she will be based at his district office in Huntington Beach.
Carey described her decision to leave as a challenging one. However, she firmly believes it is the right choice for her career path. She highlighted that her departure does not mean she is fully leaving Huntington Beach but will now serve the community in a different capacity through Strickland’s office.
Earlier this year, Strickland resigned from the City Council before successfully winning a special election in District 36. This district encompasses parts of coastal Orange County and several cities in Los Angeles County. Strickland won the election by avoiding a runoff, securing more than 50% of the votes during the primary election.
Strickland has publicly acknowledged that he feels fortunate to have Carey join his team. He praised her talent and her contributions while serving the city, particularly her effective leadership in various city improvement initiatives which she undertook while on the City Council.
During her tenure in Huntington Beach, Carey received notable recognitions, including being a FEMA-certified public information officer. Additionally, she was honored with the California Association of Public Information Officials Crisis Communicator of the Year award in 2022, underscoring her capabilities in crisis management and public communications.
As the city navigates this transition, Huntington Beach is in the process of onboarding a new city spokesperson to fill the vacancy created by Carey’s departure. This change comes at a time when the city continues to advance its initiatives and improve communications with the community.
The city government and its leadership team are expected to prepare for the impact of Carey’s exit while also welcoming her new role in state politics and community service.
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Additional Resources
- LA Times: Jennifer Carey Takes Position as State Senator Tony Strickland’s Chief of Staff
- Public CEO: Huntington Beach Names Jennifer Carey Deputy City Manager
- LA Times: Jennifer Carey Named Huntington Beach Deputy City Manager
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- NBC Los Angeles: Vigil for Missing Huntington Beach Swimmer
- Wikipedia: Huntington Beach, California
- Google Search: Jennifer Carey Huntington Beach
- Google Scholar: Jennifer Carey Huntington Beach
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Huntington Beach
- Google News: Huntington Beach
