Housing Panel, Top Pick to Talk Salary

The San Diego Housing Commission voted unanimously Monday to begin salary negotiations with a Norfolk, Va., housing administrator who is the agency’s first choice for its executive director.

Evan Becker, assistant executive director for development of the Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority, was not formally hired for the post Monday, but there appear to be no “major obstacles” blocking his appointment, chairman Ron Roberts said after a closed-door session of the seven-member commission.

Roberts said he and a consultant will immediately begin talks with Becker on salary, benefits and relocation expenses in hopes of bringing Becker to San Diego by late July or early August. The commission is offering an annual salary of slightly less than $85,000.

The commissioners are scheduled to confirm Becker’s appointment later this month after negotiations are completed, Roberts said.

Becker said Monday that he did not foresee difficulties over the terms of his contract. “Nothing has changed. I’m still very much interested and planning on coming,” he said.

Becker became the agency’s top choice after Roberts and fellow City Councilman Wes Pratt spent May 3 and 4 in Norfolk interviewing him and his colleagues.

Impressed with Becker’s management skills and willingness to commit himself to a long stay in San Diego, housing commissioners decided not to visit Berkeley for a similar look at their other finalist, Vicki Elmer, that city’s assistant city manager for planning and community development.

Becker would inherit an agency that has been headed by Acting Executive Director Elizabeth Morris since February, 1987, when then-Executive Director Ben Montijo was ousted after news accounts raised questions about his handling of a bid to renovate the 122-unit Island Gardens Apartments in Southeast San Diego.

Roberts said Morris will stay with the Housing Commission as a deputy director.