The phenomenon of Cincinnati city managers being forced out by a disgruntled City Council is one of relatively recent vintage.

        John Shirey's two immediate predecessors were shoved out of office, but the two who served before that left on good terms with council, as did most of their predecessors dating to the beginning of the council-manager government in the 1920s.

        Gerald Newfarmer held the job from 1990 until March 1993, when a six-member coalition of council Democrats and Republicans, led by then-Mayor Dwight Tillery, voted to oust him.

        Publicly, City Council members gave no reason for their decision, but privately, some members accused Mr. Newfarmer of hiring expensive consultants and failing to communicate with council on personnel decisions and development contracts.

        Mr. Newfarmer stayed in Cincinnati working as a management consultant. He is now president of the Charter Committee, the independent political party that created the city manager form of government.

        Scott Johnson was city manager from 1986 to March 1990, when a council majority upset over delays in the Fountain Square West project and put off by Mr. Johnson's low-key management style forced him to resign.

        Mr. Johnson became the first director of Cincinnati's Museum Center and is now Ohio Gov. Bob Taft's director of administrative services, a cabinet-level position.

        He was preceded by Sylvester Murray, the city's only African-American city manager.

        Mr. Murray, who served from 1979 to 1985, was not forced out. He left to become city manager of San Diego. He now teaches at Cleveland State University.

        William Donaldson, who served as city manager from 1975 to 1979, also left on good terms. An avid lover of zoology, he left to take what he called his “dream job” — director of the Philadelphia Zoo.

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