Lawndale Employees Vote No Confidence in City Manager

President Jamie Rodriguez and the Lawndale City Employees of AFSCME Local 1895 voted 'No Confidence' in City Manager Kevin Chun.

Lawndale, California - Lawndale employees gave a strong ’No Confidence’ vote against City Manager Kevin Chun. The declaration of no confidence, along with reasons for the vote, was delivered in a letter to their City Council. 

On Monday night (Nov 8) a special City Council meeting was called to review Chun’s performance. However, no reportable action was taken. City Council could not comment on the matter, either. “The Brown Act prohibits any of us from providing any additional information at this time, but when the matter is resolved it will be reported as such in open session,” said Lawndale Councilwomen Bernadette Suarez.


Jamie Rodriguez, president of the Lawndale employee union, AFSCME Local 1895, explained some of the back story on the vote.  “Kevin is one of those city managers who didn’t take input from staff, and who made people feel ineffective,” said Rodriguez.


The letter mentions several complaints and concerns about Chun’s management practices and approach with his staff. The letter reads, “It’s been made clear to us that upper management, who have the most interaction with Mr. Chun, have been increasingly frustrated with his poor decision making and don’t feel that he values or supports them as department heads. He frequently discounts input from staff and in so doing minimizes their roles tot he point that the majority feel ineffective.”


There are also unconfirmed reports about unethical financial practices, like asking employees to move finances around.


According to the No Confidence letter, several employees have already left the City because of Chun’s management style, including two directors: a Finance Director and a Community Development Director.  There are reportedly two more department heads that are possibly seeking to exit the City, according to the letter.


Prior to the No Confidence vote, the Finance and Planning Directors filed a formal complaint about the City Manager berating staff in front of the employees they managed.  “It was embarrassing and unprofessional in a meeting setting,” said Rodriguez. The City Attorney hired an investigator but there were no findings.


After the City Attorney’s investigation, the two directors resigned.


Chun has been City Manager for almost two years.  He was actually recommended by a previous City Manager named Steve Mandoki, who served for many years and retired as a well respected City Manager.


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