David C. Roberts, Jr. brings a lifetime of service and leadership to his role as City Manager of Carson. A former non-commissioned officer in the United States Army at the rank of Sergeant, he has built extensive experience across federal, private and public sectors.
He joined Carson as Assistant City Manager and was later unanimously appointed City Manager, overseeing municipal operations with a focus on financial stewardship, policy implementation, public safety, economic development, community engagement and legislative monitoring. Known for his hands-on, bridge-building approach, he unites complex city functions to ensure the mayor and council’s vision translates into meaningful outcomes for the community.
A Journey Rooted in Service
Service has been the defining thread throughout my life.
I was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, into a deeply faith-centered family. My grandfather served as a Pastor overseeing churches, and my father served in the United States Army while also pastoring our congregation as a youth. Our family moved to California when I was young, and those early lessons stayed with me.
Faith and service were never abstract ideas in our household. They were living principles.
That environment shaped my belief in selfless service, placing others’ needs ahead of my own and leading with compassion rather than conflict. When my time in the United States Army concluded, continuing in public service felt like a natural progression.
Leadership, in my view, has always been about unity. It means working shoulder-to-shoulder with others, not standing above them. The professionals I work alongside in Carson exemplify that spirit every day. Their dedication turns challenges into shared victories and strengthens our collective impact.
Leading with Vision and Community Trust
The role of a city manager sits at the crossroads of policy, administration and public expectation.
Every decision must balance long-term strategy with the realities of daily operations. Over the years, I’ve relied on a proverb that has guided my leadership philosophy: “A false balance can become an abomination to your lifestyle.”
For me, that message speaks to the importance of equilibrium. Employees perform best when their professional and personal lives are balanced. Communities thrive when governance is transparent, ethical and accountable.
“If there’s one guiding principle that defines my tenure, it’s that I believe in building bridges, not barriers.”
Listening plays a central role. A city manager must absorb input from multiple directions—mayor, city council, residents, businesses and internal departments—while ensuring those perspectives converge into clear action.
Leadership, in my view, has always been about unity. It means working shoulder-to-shoulder with others, not standing above them.
I often describe leadership as standing beside others rather than standing in front of them, ensuring no department is overlooked and no issue is ignored.
When strategic direction, operational discipline and community alignment come together, cities move forward with momentum.
Driving Growth Through Smart Innovation
Economic vitality is essential to a city’s long-term sustainability.
Early in my tenure as city manager, the plan check process for businesses quickly stood out as a key concern. Carson relied on Los Angeles County to review construction plans, but the county manages projects across a massive region. Local businesses often waited up to 24 months for approvals.
After evaluating the process, I proposed bringing in a dedicated third-party partner, Transtech, to manage plan reviews exclusively for Carson. The shift transformed our timeline. Approvals that once took months now happen within two weeks or less.
Businesses could open sooner, begin generating revenue faster, and contribute to the city’s economic ecosystem.
That experience reinforced an important lesson. Cities must be proactive in removing operational barriers. Being business-friendly is not simply about attracting investment. It is about creating an environment where businesses can thrive.
Fiscal discipline remains equally important. Long-term planning must remain flexible enough to navigate both economic growth and downturns.
Residents Driving Community Progress
Modern governance depends on active participation from residents.
In Carson, communication is intentionally multi-layered. We engage the community through digital platforms, social media, local television, digital billboards and direct messaging systems. At the same time, we recognize that not everyone interacts digitally.
For that reason, we continue to distribute our quarterly Carson Magazine, delivered to more than 35,000 homes. The publication ensures every resident, regardless of technological comfort, stays informed about city programs, events and services.
Communication alone, however, does not build trust.
Trust emerges through consistency and follow-through. Residents participate in digital engagement campaigns that allow them to influence city budgeting decisions, and we demonstrate how their feedback directly shapes outcomes.
While many municipalities see voter participation rates of 10 to 15 percent, Carson consistently exceeds 30 percent.
Modern Technology Empowering Every Resident
Technology has been a cornerstone of our strategy to modernize Carson. Last year, we launched a major municipal fiber network, a $27 million initiative designed to close the digital divide. High-speed internet is no longer a luxury. It’s as essential as water or electricity.
This fiber network ensures every student can access online learning, every senior can utilize telehealth services and every business has equitable opportunities to thrive. By owning the infrastructure, we can offer services at lower costs and with greater reliability, turning Carson into a premier destination for tech-driven industries.
This investment also aligns with Carson’s role in preparing for global events such as the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, further strengthening its infrastructure for the future.
Alongside the fiber network, we introduced the Carson 311 app, giving residents a 24/7 channel to report concerns, submit requests and receive timely responses. Internally, technology adoption is incremental. New tools are piloted in small groups first, with ongoing training and support, ensuring staff are never overwhelmed. Technology is a partner, not a replacement.
Carson’s forward-thinking initiatives earned the city second in the nation and first in California among cities of similar population size in the 2025 Digital City Survey, highlighting national recognition for innovation and management excellence.
Additional efforts, such as providing free Wi-Fi across city parks, further extend digital access into everyday community spaces.
The Firefighter Without a Fire Suit
Being a city manager often feels like being a firefighter without a fire suit.
One defining moment was the Dominguez Channel odor incident. Hydrogen sulfide was released from the growing vegetation and affected thousands of residents, causing headaches and respiratory distress. Immediate action required relocating over 10,000 residents to temporary accommodations, bypassing standard bureaucratic processes.
This experience reinforced that city leadership extends beyond administration. It demands protecting quality of life in real time, with preparedness, adaptability and decisive action.
Employees as the City’s Core Asset
No city can succeed without its workforce.
One of my earliest priorities was strengthening support for Carson’s employees. Over the past six years, city staff have received cumulative pay increases totaling 31.5 percent, making Carson employees the highest-paid municipal workforce in the South Bay region.
Benefits have expanded as well. The city provides full medical coverage for employees and their families, comprehensive dental and vision plans, and tuition reimbursement through California State University Dominguez Hills, located within Carson.
Employees also benefit from a four-day workweek, generous leave policies and extensive professional development opportunities.
These investments have reduced turnover, strengthened morale and preserved institutional knowledge. When employees feel valued and supported, they deliver better service to residents.
Shaping Leadership for Future Generations
The future of city leadership will require broader perspectives.
Traditionally, most city managers come from economic development or finance backgrounds. My professional foundation is different. I come from human resources. That experience has shaped how I view leadership.
Human resources touches every part of an organization. It connects people, processes and policy, revealing how each function influences the whole system.
I often compare organizational health to a plant. It may appear strong above ground, but if the roots are weak, the entire system eventually fails. Sustainable leadership begins by strengthening what lies beneath the surface.
That perspective led me to adopt what I call the triangle method, a leadership model I first encountered during my military service.
The model begins with employees, where internal strength forms the foundation for everything else. It then shifts to the business community to support economic vitality, and finally to residents, where that strength and growth translate into tangible community impact.
Each year, the cycle repeats. Returning to employees first ensures the organization remains strong enough to support the next phase of growth.
Cities that adopt broader leadership perspectives, embracing candidates from diverse professional disciplines, will be better equipped to navigate the complexities of modern governance.
A Legacy of Bridges, Not Barriers
If there’s one guiding principle that defines my tenure, it’s that I believe in building bridges, not barriers.
From fiber networks to improved plan check processes, every initiative aims to empower residents, businesses and staff alike. Additional initiatives include the deployment of over 200 advanced license plate readers for public safety and a city rebranding as the Jewel of the South Bay, embracing a tech-forward ‘Gig City’ vision.
Leadership is about courage, empathy and vision. It’s about recognizing the invisible infrastructure, the fiber under the streets and the trust in the community that allows the next generation to thrive. With faith, a strong team and a commitment to service, we have positioned Carson to face the future with confidence and purpose.
