Pasadena Appoints New Acting General Manager for Water and Power, Assistant City Manager

In a reshuffle within Pasadena’s administration, City Manager Miguel Márquez announced the appointment of David Reyes as the Acting General Manager of Pasadena Water and Power and Matthew Hawkesworth as Acting Assistant City Manager on Friday. These appointments follow the recent departure of Sidney Jackson, the former General Manager of Pasadena Water and Power.

Jackson served as the General Manager of PWP for just 15 months. Pasadena Now learned of his resignation in early February. According to an online article, Minnesota-based Connexus Energy has hired Jackson as its new chief executive officer.

Reyes, who previously served as Pasadena’s Assistant City Manager, will temporarily lead PWP, overseeing the utility’s operations and projects.

Reyes’s extensive experience in city planning and development, coupled with his direct involvement in PWP’s initiatives under Jackson’s leadership, positions him as a fitting successor to maintain the utility’s momentum, a City statement said.

Reyes joined the City of Pasadena in 2012 and has held significant roles, including the Planning and Community Development Department’s Zoning Administrator, Deputy Director, and Department Director, before being appointed Assistant City Manager in 2023.

Hawkesworth, currently the City’s Director of Finance, will step into the role of Acting Assistant City Manager while continuing his duties as Finance Director, a position he has held since 2015.

Hawkesworth brings a wealth of experience from his previous roles, including eight years as Assistant City Manager for the City of Rosemead and three years as Finance Director/Treasurer for the City of Claremont.

Márquez expressed confidence in both Reyes and Hawkesworth to effectively lead their respective departments during this transitional period.

Márquez highlighted Reyes’s close collaboration with former Pasadena Water and Power General Manager Sidney Jackson on major policy initiatives and projects, underscoring Reyes’s capability to guide Pasadena Water and Power forward. Similarly, Hawkesworth’s extensive background in finance and city management is expected to bolster the city’s administrative functions.

These acting appointments are part of Pasadena’s strategic efforts to ensure continuity and progress in its city management and utility services. The city will launch a recruitment process to find a permanent Pasadena Water and Power General Manager.

Pasadena Water and Power is a community-owned utility that serves over 65,000 electricity customers and nearly 38,000 water customers in Pasadena and surrounding areas.