It saddens us at the California City Management Foundation (CCMF) to once again hear reports of a personal attack on one of our own colleagues in the city management profession. This past week, Laguna Beach city manager Shohreh Dupuis’s home was smeared in sewage or feces in what seems likely to be an act intended to intimidate or punish the public servant. It comes on the heels of being heckled at several city council meetings by members of the community.

CCMF is a member-based organization that advocates for and supports the City Manager profession throughout the state. As many of the City Managers, Town Managers or Chief Administrative Officers of California’s 480+ cities and towns can attest, the job requires political acumen and thick skin. Regardless, there’s nothing to prepare for this type of alleged targeted attack on a professional simply doing her job. A person’s residence should be sacrosanct and these actions are reprehensible.

We applaud Mayor Whalen’s quick response to condemn this act of vandalism. The Laguna Beach Police is still investigating the incident and CCMF stands by ready to support.