Sharon Ranals
The South San Francisco City Council has appointed Sharon Ranals as the city’s permanent manager, having served as an interim member since late December 2022.
She previously served as the city’s director of parks and recreation. The only other woman to hold a similar post in the city was Patricia-Eve Martel, who was deputy city manager in the 1990s and served as acting city manager from February 1993 to December 1994.
“What an exciting time for our city and how appropriate that we announce the permanent hiring of a female city manager during Women’s History Month,” South San Francisco Mayor Flor Nicolas said in a press release. “Having been in town for more than 40 years, she brings a wealth of institutional knowledge to the position and inspires future generations of women leaders.”
Ranals secured grants and undertook several significant projects and programs, including the construction of the Centennial Way and the Joseph Fernekes Recreation Building in Orange Memorial Park. As Parks and Recreation Director, Sharon led an award-winning team of more than 400 full- and part-time city employees responsible for park maintenance and operations, recreational programs, services for seniors including senior center operations, pre-K and after-school programs at six school campuses and Building maintenance for all municipal facilities.
Ranals will show their involvement in the planning of the new Community Civic Campus, the implementation of ballfield and park improvements, the general plan update, renovations at the Oyster Point Marina, city beautification and efforts to combat graffiti and illegal dumping, among a host of others problems continue.
Ranals holds a bachelor’s degree from Reed College in Portland, Oregon, and a master’s degree in public administration from San Francisco State University.
