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Berkeley City Manager Weldon Rucker stunned city workers and councilmembers Thursday when he announced his retirement—saying he wanted more time to manage himself than his “24-hour, seven-day-a-week job” could offer. 

While Rucker’s announcement sparked concerns about his health—he suffered a heart attack in 1994 and almost rejected the city manager job in 2000 to get away from the grind of City Hall—the well-liked official insisted he’s in good shape. 

“My health is OK, I just think it’s time” said Rucker, 62, a Los Angeles native who has lived in Berkeley for forty years. 

His 32-year career at City Hall will end officially Nov. 1. 

Colleagues described Rucker as the perfect fit for Berkeley. In a city fraught with disparate political divisions and entangled constituencies, Rucker won the respect of nearly every faction and steered clear of personal and political rivalries. 

“People were crying today,” said Councilmember Kriss Worthington. “It’s hard to find someone who was so loved and had so many people committed to him.” 

Rucker worked his way up the ranks from the Young Adult Project to the head of the Department of Health and Human Services, and finally to the city manager’s office as a deputy in 1987. He served as Interim City Manager from 1993-1996 and took over the job permanently in 2000. 

Rucker assumed the role after his predecessor Jim Keene left amid council grumbling. He was picked for the post partly because, as a Berkeley veteran who understood the city’s idiosyncrasies, the council hoped he could soothe tensions and build morale in City Hall. 

“Berkeley is a unique place,” he said. “People here are committed to the democratic process, and that involves a great deal of dialogue and competing interests.” 

In dealing with City Council—which until this past year was beset by partisan bickering—Rucker’s people skills were put to the ultimate test. Instead of getting caught in the crossfire, Rucker stayed above the fray.  

“I never felt that tension,” he said. “I don’t know how to explain it, it’s weird. I just tried to stay out of their politics and keep an objective perspective.” 

His straightforward problem solving style won him friends across the Council divide. 

Councilmember Linda Maio said Rucker was “like a dad.” 

Betty Olds, who often tangled with Maio and her City Council allies also praised Rucker’s style. “Weldon knew the tone of the city,” she said. “He knew how to keep it on an even keel.” 

As city manager, Rucker focused on customer service, improving efficiency so that city agencies could better serve the public. He also tried to get city officials—many of whom live outside Berkeley—face-to-face with residents. He transformed National Night Out from a purely police activity to a city-wide event in which department heads and other employees toured neighborhods to meet residents. 

“What we’ve attempted to do is energize the city,” he said. “We don’t want that stereotypic view that we’re just government workers. We want to instill a real concern about solving problems and issues.” 

Rucker acknowledged Berkeley still had problems to solve. Staff turnover remains high and the planning process is often combative. 

“Some people have a difficult time functioning here,” Rucker said. “In Berkeley fit is the X-factor. If you don’t understand how to deal with commissions and residents and Council and a union environment, it doesn’t work.” 

In the Planning Department, Rucker hopes he has found his man in Dan Marks, after a revolving door of Planning Directors left the city under fire. Rucker said he is working on bridging the divide between planners and residents to get citizen input at the beginning of the planning process instead of having the sides battle it out before City Council. 

City officials say they are not worried about life after Rucker. Like most cities in the region, Berkeley is staring at a big budget deficit next year—which Rucker estimates will be about $8-10 million—but Berkeley remains in better fiscal shape than many of its neighbors and retains a high bond rating. 

“It’s a testament to Weldon that the city can function without him,” said Worthington. “When he came in there were gaping holes that required immediate attention He brought staff together and built a much better structure.” 

City officials expect an interim city manager to be named while a nationwide search is conducted. Some Councilmembers expressed preference for another Berkeley veteran to get the post. Worthington already declared his preference for Deputy City Manager Phil Kamlarz, if he is interested.