Riverside City Council Appoints Donesia Gause as City Clerk
Published: 4/6/2021
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 6, 2021
Contact:
Phil Pitchford
Public Information Officer
951-826-5975
Riverside City Council Appoints Donesia Gause as City Clerk
One of three charter officers in city government, she comes to Riverside from the City of Carson
RIVERSIDE, Calif. – The Riverside City Council has appointed Donesia Gause as City Clerk, one of three charter officers that report directly to the City Council. She starts on April 12.
Gause has 21 years of experience in government, most recently as the elected City Clerk in Carson. She previously worked in Compton, Long Beach, Baldwin Park, and Newport Beach. Her strengths include strategic planning, project management, election oversight, budget administration, records management and community relations.
“The City Clerk’s Office serves a vital function in our local government,” said Mayor Pro Tem Jim Perry, who led the search effort. “Donesia Gause demonstrated throughout the interview process that she is uniquely qualified for this post.”
As City Clerk, Gause will be responsible for leading an office that creates the City Council agenda each week and brings together all reports and supporting documents to inform the public on the actions of its local government. Her office also is the keeper of most city documents and serves a vital role in administering local elections and assisting residents in obtaining passports.
While in Carson, Gause served as Co-Chair of the city’s Innovation and Technology Subcommittee and advocated for open data policies that increased transparency in city departments. She holds the designation of Master Municipal Clerk (MMC), an advanced continuing education program from the International Institute of Municipal Clerks (IIMC).
Gause received her B.S. degree in Business and Management from the University of Redlands and is a graduate of Continued Education for Public Officials (CEPO) Training of Trainers, Leadership, and Professional Development Academy. She mentors other City Clerks who are seeking Certified Municipal Clerk status through the IIMC.
“The City Clerk’s Office plays a very important role in guaranteeing the public has access to information about issues facing our city and ensuring our local elections are conducted in a professional manner,” Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson said. “I look forward to our residents benefitting from Donesia Gause’s leadership on these issues.”
Gause will be one of three charter officers who report directly to the City Council. (The others are the City Manager and the City Attorney). She replaces longtime City Clerk Colleen Nicol, who retired.
Her salary will be $180,000.
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