Mayor Jerry Sanders Tuesday introduced Tracy Jarman as his choice for chief of the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department, a position not previously held by a woman in the city.
"I can tell you with all sincerity that I will sleep a little sounder on Monday knowing that Tracy is the chief of the San Diego Fire Department," Sanders said.
The City Council will consider the nomination on Monday.
"I expect a swift approval," Councilman Brian Maienschein said.
Jarman, a 22-year veteran of the department, was assistant fire chief under Jeff Bowman, who resigned earlier this month, alluding to insufficient money and resources for the 1,259-person SDFRD.
Jarman, who has been interim chief since Bowman's departure, said she was "honored" and "excited" about the opportunity.
"This is one of the proudest moments of my career," she said. "I can't imagine a better place to be fire chief."
Jarman said she is looking forward to moving ahead, saying the selection of a new chief has been a "big issue" for the department.
"We have a lot of work to do," she said. "It's about caring for the public, customer service and getting out there to do what we do best."
Sanders said he offered Jarman the job Monday.
Jarman, 50, had been planning to retire this month but changed her mind when Bowman announced his pending resignation.
"When Chief Bowman made his decision, I rethought mine," Jarman said. "This is a great organization, and they need the leadership. It was the right thing to do and the right time to step up."
If the nomination is approved as expected, Jarman will become one of two dozen female fire chiefs in the country.
Of the 24 female fire chiefs in the United States, only one, Joanne Hayes-White of San Francisco, runs a department larger than San Diego's.
Jarman, who was raised in Escondido, lives in the city of San Diego with her domestic partner, Marcia Bonini, according to the mayor's office.
She started with the SDFRD 22 years ago as a recruit, steadily being promoted up the ranks to assistant chief in 2003.
According to Jill Olen, deputy chief operating officer for public safety, Jarman was chosen from a field of 30 applicants.
A five-member committee narrowed the candidates to two finalists before voting unanimously in favor of Jarman, Olen said.
"It was a very hard-won contest," she said. "Tracy emerged as the leader of those 30-plus candidates."
Her salary will be between $155,000 and $165,000 a year, according to mayor's spokesman Fred Sainz. Bowman earned $173,000.
Jarman said her biggest challenge will be addressing the department's deferred maintenance issues and securing new fire apparatus.
"We have solutions in place," Jarman said. "We just need to get to work to make it happen."
Sanders said he has asked Jarman to prepare a "plan of action" for the department within the next six months.
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