“Marysville DPS chief Hami to wear manager's hat”

Marysville DPS chief Hami to wear manager's hat

Posted: 06 Feb 2011 07:19 AM PST

By Kim Huxhold, Voice Reporter

Living in America really does give you the opportunity to make your dreams come true.

Jason Hami, Director of Public Services/City Engineer, will add Marysville City Manager to his job description as city council Monday evening unanimously ratified his appointment as city manager effective Feb. 28. Longtime City Manager Jack Schumacher announced his retirement last month. Hami received a five-year contract.

"How do you fill the shoes of a guy who's been here 27 years?" Mayor Gary Orr said of Schumacher's departure. "The knowledge base and the strength and authority he brings to the table.

"You (Hami) have the confidence of this city council. We are a council with the spirit of promoting from within."

Council member Robert Sheehy expressed concern over the fact that council was asking Hami to do a lot, serving as city engineer and public services director while running day-to-day city hall operations as city manager, a role Hami will fill for at least the first several months of his new job.

"I had a long conversation with him and we had a meeting of the minds. He assured me he can do this job," said Sheehy.

Hami was born in Iraq to parents who emigrated to the United States. An aunt and uncle had come to the U.S in the 1920s, and were living in California. In preparation, Hami was sent to an American school in Iraq where he learned English and the principals upon which our county was founded.

Hami graduated from university with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering. There was the lure of doing big jobs and making good money in Iraq, but he was uncomfortable with changes taking place there so he opted to remain in America.

"I'll never forget the date I got here (California), July 4, 1974," said Hami. "I came at a very tough economic time. I was very lucky and was selected for a civil engineering job in Battle Creek, Michigan. The only thing, I had no relatives in Battle Creek, but I made the move and it was perfect."

Hami had the opportunity to become Trenton's city engineer but he wasn't a U.S. citizen, a job requirement. He had only been in the country 4-1/2 years at the time and an alien had to be here five years before they could apply for citizenship. Once the application is completed the process takes over a year before the applicant finds out if they have received citizenship. Continued...

Hami had a friend who also happened to be the son of Congressman John Dingell, who worked on his behalf to speed the process along. Hami became a U.S. Citizen on April 21, 1980.

"The day I became a citizen, I led the Pledge of Allegiance at the Trenton council meeting," said Hami.

Hami has also worked in the private sector as a consultant designing subdivisions, shopping centers, condominiums, automotive malls, and landfills. When the economy went south he sold his shares in the business before the bottom dropped out.

At that time, K-Mart was expanding rapidly and they hired him as a crew manager of real estate and site design even working internationally in Thailand, Mexico, Trinidad and the Caribbean. Eventually K-Mart went bankrupt and the writing was on the wall so Hami decided to move on.

He wanted to live closer to his future wife, who resided in the area, so when he saw an ad for part-time city engineer in Marysville he applied and was selected.

"I've traveled oversees many times since I came here. I'm serious, when I get back I want to kiss the ground. This is the best government in the world," said Hami, who will soon be part of that government as Marysville city manager -- living his American dream.

Under the deal, dated Jan. 17, Hami will be paid an annual salary of $89,000. That figure increases to $94,000 after six months and $99,000 in January, 2012. An auto allowance of $450 per month is also granted with use of a city vehicle allowed for out-of-county business.

Kim Huxhold is a freelance reporter. She can be reached at huxhold4@hotmail.com.