The City of Walnut Creek is pleased to announce the hiring of Charles Ching for the position of Assistant City Manager.
Charles is currently the Director of Economic Development, Housing and Sustainability for the City of San Pablo. A national search was conducted for the position, with more than 220 applicants. A thorough review process followed, including four rounds of interviews for final candidates.
“I am thrilled Charles is joining Walnut Creek,” said City Manager Dan Buckshi. “We had a very competitive recruitment and he stood out amongst a field of impressive candidates. Charles will be a positive addition to our City team, and his leadership and ability to connect with people will enable him to help our organization and the City flourish.”
As the Assistant City Manager, Charles will be part of the City’s Executive Team, and will be responsible for overseeing the Economic Development, Communications, City Clerk, Sustainability, Emergency Management and Risk Management divisions of the City Manager’s Office. Additionally, he will oversee projects of citywide significance and help manage major development issues.
“I am deeply honored and excited to be part of the Walnut Creek team,” Ching said. “I am committed to serving our community with dedication, transparency, and integrity. I look forward to collaborating with our City Council, staff, and residents to achieve our shared vision for a thriving and inclusive City.”
Charles began working at the City of San Pablo as an Assistant to the City Manager in 2014. Subsequent positions there included Community and Economic Development Director, and Assistant City Manager. He managed a large portfolio of responsibilities and projects, including leading the City’s budget team, DEI efforts, and major capital projects, including a new City Hall and Police Headquarters and Training Facility. He previously managed many Economic Development programs and services in Fairfield. He has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Applied Economics and Management from De La Salle University in the Philippines, an MBA from Saint Mary’s, and is a graduate of the Senior Executive Institute for State and Local Government at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.
Walnut Creek Recognized for Excellence in Financial Reporting
The City of Walnut Creek has been honored for its governmental accounting and financial reporting. The Government Finance Officers Association granted Walnut Creek a Certificate of Achievement, its highest form of recognition for government agencies.
The Association also presented the City with its Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for the budget covered by the fiscal years 2024 and 2025. The Distinguished Budget Presentation Award reflects the City’s commitment to meeting the highest principles of government budgeting. Both awards represent significant accomplishments by the City and its management.
The award relates to the City’s annual comprehensive financial report for the fiscal year that ended in June of 2023. Walnut Creek Mayor Loella Haskew notes that this is a testament to the City’s careful management of taxpayer dollars. “Walnut Creek has long been known to be a good steward of finances,” Haskew said. “Residents can trust that we are using their tax money to bring the best programs and services to them, and that we are transparent in how we spend the funds. That has become even more important since our residents passed Measure O, the half-cent sales tax increase. We already have established an oversight committee comprised of Walnut Creek citizens to ensure our financial reporting on Measure O spending is accurate.”
City Manager Dan Buckshi is proud that this isn’t the first time the City has been recognized by the Association. “This is the 12th time in the past 15 years that Walnut Creek has received this honor,” Buckshi said. “The consistency of high standards in financial reporting demonstrates the professionalism and dedication of our City team.”
The City’s financial report was judged by an impartial panel and noted that it demonstrated a constructive spirit of full disclosure in communicating the City’s financial story. The City’s budget can be found on our Walnut Creek website.