Clarkston is trying to fill two important city staff positions after its city manager announced he’ll be leaving his post and the city clerk recently retired.
Robin Gomez, who has been Clarkston’s city manager since January 2019, will leave his position Sept. 17, he confirmed to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Shawanna Qawiy, the city’s director of planning and development, will be promoted to the interim city manager, pending a review of her contract.
Gomez’s upcoming department was announced during Clarkston’s City Council meeting on Tuesday. According to documents first obtained by the Tucker Observer, Gomez will get a severance of $61,800. He declined to comment further about why he’s leaving his position.
“Mr. Gomez was separated from employment with the City by mutual agreement,” Mayor Beverly Burks told the AJC in an email. “The City and Mr. Gomez wish one another well in all future endeavors.”
Tracy Ashby, a Clarkston employee since 1998, retired at the end of August, leaving her role as city clerk vacant. The city aims to hire a new clerk in time to supervise this November’s elections, where three council seats are up for grabs. The mayor’s seat will also be on the ballot, but Burks is running unopposed.
During Tuesday’s meeting, City Attorney Stephen Quinn mentioned the DeKalb Board of Elections could provide an election supervisor if Clarkston is unable to hire a replacement clerk in time.
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