In the rough and tumble world of politics, it’s hard to find anyone who hasn’t made a few enemies along the way. One of the exceptions to the rule was Gene Albaugh, who retired as the City Manager of Nevada City a little over a year ago. I have never heard one person say an unkind word against Gene.
Sadly, Barry Pruett is reporting that Gene passed away on Sunday. He will be missed.
After I established the Nevada City City Hall as the Starship Citihall, I started drawing Gene as Yoda, the all-seeing wiseman guiding the ship through the asteroid fields of small town politics. Gene loved it, and everyone at City Hall started calling him by that name. When he retired (for the third or fourth time) last year, someone remarked that now that he had time to travel the world, where would he like to go?
“Downieville, ” he said with a straight face.
Rest in peace, Gene, the force is with you.
RL, it is Albaugh.
Gene was the CEO when I was elected in 1984. Our new majority BOS liked his style, he was tight with the people’s money and made people accountable. He hired good people and we all got along well. At the end of my tenure the BOS members Jim Callaghan, Jim Weir and G.B. Tucker wanted to boot Gene and with three votes they did. Bill Schultz and I were opposed. But Gene was always a first class man and never whined or sought vengeance. He just went into consulting and made four times the money. A smart, nice guy.
I talked to Gene twice over the last couple of months and I know he is in heaven.
Spelling corrected. Thanks, Todd.
Bob,
That is one of your sweetest cartoons.
How perfect it seems at the moment.
I did not know Mr. Arbaugh well, but one day, as he passed me on Broad Street and took the time to compliment me on a bit of window dressing I was doing in town.
I had wondered if anyone noticed.
His comment made my day and encouraged me to keep on with it, that’s community.
What a nice gentleman.
Condolences to his family, friends and the community he served.
When I was trying to get some details on the APPLE Center Worm Farm and who was paying the rent on Center’s building, Gene came up with answers, and when I was trying to understand the Nevada City solar economics, Gene again answered my questions straight up and gave me the documentation I was looking for.
I grew to appreciate Gene’s honesty and straight forward approach to problem solving.
My condolences to his family and friends.