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closeBy his own reckoning, Ken Hampian has had his pedal to the metal since his father died. Hampian was 14 at the time and thrust into overseeing the family’s Fresno farm.
He worked through college on his way to getting a degree in radio and television broadcasting, skills he uses in shaping public policy, as well as when he’s a presenter and trainer in seminars dealing with city management issues from budgeting to public safety.
He later went back to school while working as a personnel and staff analyst for Fresno County and earned a master’s in public administration.
In full-speed mode, he then worked his way to Washington, D.C., where, as a select presidential management intern, he worked in the Office of Budget and Management and Departments of Labor and Agriculture. Following a stint in Oxnard city government, he was hired by then-San Luis Obispo City Manager John Dunn. That was 20 years ago. He’ll be leaving public service by the end of the year, seeking a “new phase” in life.
One can’t blame him. Thirty-five years in municipal service has to be wearying, especially in a time of limited resources. As he noted in a July 8 letter to the mayor and City Council: “There has been a downside to my approach to work: My other life experiences have been very limited and always deferred: travel, hobbies and unhurried family time. Some might do this job with more so-called ‘work-life balance,’ but that is not my nature. I can only do it one way: all the way. And with today’s technology and expectations, the job is only growing more demanding.”
While trying to keep the gush factor within tolerable limits, it’s understandable why Mayor Dave Romero teared up when Hampian announced his new life phase: He’s been a remarkably able administrator — a decent guy with an engaging wit and sense of humor. Some of his magazine articles reflect that humor: “The Art of Staffing A Public Meeting (or ‘How to Hold a Dove’),” “How to Cure (or at Least Treat) the Video Monitoring Heebie-Jeebies” and “Staff is From Mars, Council is From Venus.” He’s been a friend and mentor to an incredibly professional staff.
Perhaps the most lasting of his legacies is how he helped guide successive City Councils in what he calls “Merging the Yin with the Yang” when it comes to city economic development while maintaining a high priority on natural resources and open space programs.
On his watch, San Luis Obispo built soccer fields, parking garages, a public safety center and bike paths. He’s leaving the city with a balanced two-year budget, union contracts have been inked, and the city is regularly ranked in national publications as one of the most livable cities in the country.
Thanks for the excellent stewardship, Ken. It’ll be enlightening to see where you next direct your talents.
Bill Morem can be reached at bmorem@thetribunenews.com or at 781-7852.
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