LAKEPORT – Lakeport's city manager said Tuesday that the military is sending him back to Iraq this July – a year ahead of schedule – and that the city's police chief is the likely candidate to take over his duties during the yearlong redeployment.

Jerry Gillham, a 35-year veteran of the Army National Guard, made the surprising announcement at the beginning of a Lakeport City Council workshop Tuesday afternoon which looked at the police department's proposed budget.

"I have been called back to active duty,” said Gillham, 53.

While he's gone, he's proposing that Police Chief Kevin Burke act as interim city manager.

As Lake County News first reported in March, Gillham – who had served a year in Iraq from 2005 to 2006 – had received notice that he might be redeployed in June of 2009.

At the time, however, he had questioned if he actually would end up going. Gillham, a Chief Warrant Officer 3 in the Oregon National Guard, recently underwent back surgery and wasn't sure if he would pass the physical requirements.

At the Tuesday workshop Gillham said he received word on Saturday that he was going this July, and would be gone a year.

After the workshop he told Lake County News that another unit about to be deployed needed his services, so he was reassigned to accompany them.

The city is currently in the midst of creating its 2009-2010 fiscal year budget, which is expected to be done before Gillham's July departure.

Lakeport is facing a daunting budget process, with expenses currently running about $1 million more than anticipated revenue.

While Gillham is on active duty, the city won't be required to pay his salary, which Gillham said will save about $110,000 and can help deal with the budget shortfall.

In his absence, Gillham has proposed that the council choose Burke to oversee city operations.

Burke, who has a law degree from UC Berkeley's Boalt Hall School of Law and a master's degree in management from Johns Hopkins University's Police Executive Leadership Program, is qualified to take the role, said Gillham.

Having the chief acting in another capacity will require Lakeport Police's staff to fill in for him, Gillham added.

Gillham said he has been trying to create an "accession plan" for when he leaves the city, and Mark Brannigan has been targeted for the city manager's position in the future.

Under the city reorganization plan, Brannigan – formerly city utilities superintendent – now holds the title of utilities/community development director.

In a recent interview with Lake County News Brannigan, a nine-year city employee who previously was chief of infrastructure at Edwards Air Force Base, indicated his interest in eventually becoming a city manager.

However, Gillham said the council has said that they don't want redevelopment, annexation and community development plans backsliding, so it's necessary to leave Brannigan where he is.

"If I pull him out I essentially cost us in the long run,” said Gillham, adding, "Chief Burke drew the short straw."

Having a current city employee fill the position will prevent having to hire an interim manager, and will save money, Gillham said.

He suggested that his absence and the savings in his salary can help the police department maintain its current staffing, and will put off the department's budgetary "day of reckoning."

Burke said he appreciated Gillham's confidence.

He told the council, "I'm sure I'll make some mistakes but I'll always do what's in the best interest of the city."

Gillham said after the meeting that the council is expected to meet in closed session in the near future to discuss appointing Burke as interim city manager.

Burke, 41, joined the city in March 2006 in his first chief's position after spending many years at the Los Angeles Police Department.

Asked if he could face a third redeployment in the future, Gillham said he expects he'll retire from the Army National Guard once he returns home next year.

E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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