Santee Welcomes New City Manager, Maggie Kaserman
Santee’s new City Manager, Maggie Kaserman, officially began her role in recent weeks, bringing with her a wealth of experience from her tenure in Poway. Kaserman was selected to lead Santee following the promotion of the previous city manager, with the position becoming vacant and prompting her appointment.
Kaserman previously served as Assistant City Manager in Poway, a role she held after overseeing a diverse range of departments including human resources, finance, and community services. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she also temporarily assumed the responsibilities of community Services Director for approximately 18 months.
While the Poway City Manager position opened in 2019, Kaserman opted not to apply, stating she “wasn’t ready” given her relatively recent transition to Assistant City Manager. She explained her career approach centers on finding the right institution and building experience for future advancement. “When the timing seemed right and the organization seemed right,that’s when I would go for it (a city manager role),” Kaserman said. “It has been a long-term career goal, but I am picky. I was very happy in Poway.”
Kaserman actively monitored opportunities, waiting for a position that aligned with her goals. She found that fit with Santee, and was hired at a base salary of $290,000. She noted the similarities in council philosophies and organizational structure between Santee and her previous role in Poway would ease her transition. “as the organization is similar to other cities I’ve worked for, that helps make the transition easier, because I wasn’t going to an organization with different values and priorities then what I was used to,” she stated.
She also highlighted the benefits of working in a smaller community like Santee, where staff can build strong relationships with residents and gain a deeper understanding of their needs. Interestingly, Kaserman observed that both Poway and Santee share the same incorporation date – December 1, 1980 - a detail she took as a positive sign.
In her initial weeks, Kaserman has focused on familiarizing herself with city staff and touring each council member’s district alongside them. As City Manager, she will oversee council members and the implementation of their legislation, aiming to proactively stay informed. “I think you can tell when you’re watching other city council meetings if staff is hearing about it for the first time,” Kaserman said. “Then you watch things go sideways,real rapid.”
Currently, Kaserman is adopting a “listen and learn” approach, with no immediate plans for changes. Looking ahead, she identified key areas for future focus, including traffic congestion, homelessness, road quality, and emergency response times. She acknowledged that addressing issues related to State route 52 and the San Diego River will require collaboration with other jurisdictions.
Kaserman also recognizes the need to balance new housing development with the concerns of long-term residents who wish to preserve Santee’s existing character. “There’s a rich history here, you have the dynamic of residents who’ve been here for a really long time and want Santee to remain what it has been forever, and then you also have newer residents coming to the community who have different things that they’re looking for,” she explained.
