Commerce : City Administrator Hired

Commerce has hired veteran administrator Louis Shepard to be its city administrator. One of the primary responsibilities of the position, which pays $72,500 a year, is to head the Commerce Redevelopment Agency, spokesman Cheryl Bardowell said. Shepard will assume the post on March 11.

The job has been open since August, when former City Administrator Edward Oliva left to become deputy director of San Diego’s building and inspection program. Bob Williams, a former Santa Fe Springs city manager who is retired, has served as temporary city administrator.

Shepard, 54, of San Pedro, has been city manager of Signal Hill since 1985. Shepard also has served as executive director of the Pasadena Redevelopment Agency and as city manager of Delano and San Pablo in Northern California, Bardowell said.