Sunnyvale City Clerk Comes On Board

SUNNYVALE, CA — City Manager Kent Steffens hired David Carnahan as the new city clerk.

Carnahan was last serving as the deputy city clerk for the city of Palo Alto. He is replacing retiring City Clerk Kathleen Franco Simmons. He started last week.

“David’s diverse city experience and five-year tenure as deputy city clerk for the city of Palo Alto has given him the breadth of skills he needs to step into this essential role and hit the ground running,” Steffens said. “We wish Kathleen well in her retirement and know that she’s leaving David with a solid foundation in the City Clerk’s Office.”

Carnahan has been with Palo Alto since 2014 and previously worked for the city of Menlo Park
for seven years in a variety of capacities, including as library assistant and intern in the City
Manager’s Office. Prior to that, he was a research assistant for San Francisco State University.

“I’m looking forward to learning the ropes in Sunnyvale and serving the city council, boards,
and commissions as well as helping the community take an active role in their local
government,” Carnahan said.

Carnahan holds a Master of Public Administration from San Francisco State University and a
Bachelor of Arts from U.C. Davis. He is a member of several professional associations, including the International City/County Management Association, City Clerks Association of California, and the Municipal Management Association of Northern California.