Few Female City Managers In California

A new report out today finds women make up just 19 percent of city managers in California. Additionally, women in those positions tend to make less in salary and benefits than their male counterparts.

Mike Madrid is with Grassroots Lab, which conducted the survey. He says people tend to think mayors or city council members are the most influential figures in their city governments.

"That’s overwhelmingly not the case," he says. "In most instances it is the city manager who is the hired administrator of the council to actually implement, and frankly develop and craft the city’s vision."

California does do slightly better than the national average of about 13 percent. But the public sector falls behind private business where women make up about 27 percent of all chief executives.