A change of leadership in Hanford.
An interim City Manager was appointed Tuesday night.
It comes after the abrupt resignation of the former Hanford City Manager on Sunday.
The vote was unanimous by the city council to appoint Ron Hoggard as interim City Manager.
Hoggard retired from the City Manager's job in Corcoran in June.
Members of Hanford's police union had called for former Hanford City Manager Hilary Straus to be fired.
The union had delivered a vote of no confidence in Straus a year ago. In turn, a study recommended 20-percent of the police force be fired. The union felt it was retaliation.
Hoggard knows he's coming to Hanford at a delicate time.
"It deserves to move forward in a very positive way and we want to do that. And I think people will recognize that and want to be on board," said Hoggard.
Some at the meeting asked the council to leave the position vacant.
"You may actually do without and you all don't have to feel stressed about picking someone right away," said Hanford resident Robin Mattes.
Noticeably absent from the meeting was councilman Dan Chin. The mayor said she received a call that Chin had a medical procedure the day before and had not recovered.
Chin is the subject of a complaint forwarded to the Kings County Grand Jury. It accuses him of working with a woman to file a claim against the city and then urging the city to settle with her. They did not settle.
Mayor Sorensen says it's time for the city to focus on the future. "I think it's an opportunity for us to use 120 days to help our city and our community to heal a little bit and to start looking at what we'd like to be our next step," said Sorensen.
Hoggard will work for four months, or 120 days. His time in Hanford could be shorter if the council selects a permanent replacement before that. Hoggard will earn about 13-thousand dollars a month.
The conditions of Straus' settlement and severance with the City of Hanford will be discussed at the next council meeting in two weeks, on February 21st.