Daniela Rivas has been appointed Newton’s new city manager. The Newton City Commission approved her contract Tuesday evening.
“We were blessed to have several excellent candidates,” Mayor Leroy Koehn said. “Daniela rose to the top of our list with her experience in local government administration and finance and her obvious passion for public service. We think she will be a great fit for our community and a wonderful leader for the organization.”
Rivas has been the assistant city administrator/finance director in McPherson since March 2022. She previously served as city administrator in Columbus and as finance director in Park City and in Winfield.
Rivas was selected after a months-long search process that included interviews by the City Commission, City department heads, and community leaders.
She has a master’s degree in public administration from the Hugo Wall School of Public Affairs at Wichita State University and a bachelor’s degree in finance from the W. Frank Barton School of Business at WSU. She is a 2017 graduate of the Certified Public Manager program at the University of Kansas and is a Credential Manager by the International City/County Management Association (ICMA).
Rivas grew up in Wichita and has family in Newton, and her familiarity with the community is one of the factors that drew her to the job.
“Having spent my summers in Newton growing up, I know what a special community it is,” Rivas said. “I’m honored and excited to contribute to the growth and success of such a wonderful city.”
Rivas’ term with the City of Newton will begin Jan. 8, 2024, at a base salary of $142,813, plus a $5,000 annual vehicle allowance and $5,000 contribution to a deferred compensation plan. The contract also requires that Rivas move to Newton by Aug. 1, 2024.
City Attorney Chris Towle has been serving as acting city manager since the departure of Kelly McElroy in mid-October.
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