City Manager Whitney McDonald Resigns Effective January
San Luis Obispo's city manager will leave the post in January to pursue a career change, and the City Council will begin planning her replacement.
Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in City Hall
San Luis Obispo City Manager Whitney McDonald announced her resignation at Tuesday night's city council meeting, with the departure taking effect in January. The City Council will meet in closed session to develop a short- and long-term plan to fill the position.
Why it matters
The resignation opens leadership of the city's day-to-day administration in San Luis Obispo at a time the council is also seated after recent re-elections. How quickly the council identifies a successor will shape continuity in city operations.
McDonald has served as San Luis Obispo's city manager for three years and previously led the City of Arroyo Grande as its city manager. The announcement does not identify who will succeed her or set a date for selecting a replacement.
The players
Whitney McDonald
Whitney McDonald is a licensed California attorney who has served as San Luis Obispo's city manager and previously led Arroyo Grande's city administration.
Erika A. Stewart
Erika A. Stewart is the mayor of San Luis Obispo, re-elected in the most recent election.
San Luis Obispo City Council
The San Luis Obispo City Council is the five-member governing body that sets city policy and appoints the city manager.
The details
McDonald announced her resignation at a city council meeting on Tuesday night, and the city issued a press release with statements from her and from Mayor Erika A. Stewart. She is a licensed California attorney who earlier worked in private practice at a law firm before joining the city.
Timeline
2010 to 2016: McDonald worked as Deputy City Counsel for San Luis Obispo.
Tuesday night (November 10, 2026): McDonald announced her resignation at a city council meeting.
Early November 2026: Voters re-elected Mayor Erika A. Stewart, Councilmember Michelle Shoresman, and Vice Mayor Emily Francis.
January 2027: McDonald's formal resignation takes effect.
Political Context
San Luis Obispo operates under a council-manager form of government, in which the elected council sets policy and hires a professional city manager to run daily operations. McDonald's departure places the council in the position of selecting that professional administrator again, a recurring task under this structure.
Residents will see the city's administration led by a new city manager once the council completes its search, which could affect how city services and budgets are managed. Until a successor is named, the city's operations continue under the current leadership structure.
The takeaway
Leadership transitions in city government depend on how quickly a council can reach agreement on a successor and a plan. Watching the council's closed-session outcomes will show how the city intends to maintain continuity through the changeover.
What happens next
The City Council will meet in closed session to develop a short- and long-term plan for filling the city manager position, and McDonald's resignation formally takes effect in January 2027.
Further reading
For more on how local leadership decisions are made, see City Hall coverage of San Luis Obispo.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KSBY.
