Lemon Grove selects Tony Winney as its interim city manager

City leaders in Lemon Grove have reached agreement on who will act as the city’s top administrator while they search for a permanent city manager.

Tony Winney was selected as the city’s interim city manager, according to a staff report.

Winney has served as interim deputy city manager of Rancho Cucamonga since February 2025, and previously served as assistant city manager for Coronado and National City.

The position opened when former City Manager Lydia Romero departed Dec. 31.

Romero’s contract was set to expire Jan. 1, but no action was taken by the City Council to extend it, thus terminating her employment, according to her separation agreement. Despite the contract lapsing, a staff report said a formal separation agreement will “reduce risk of exposure for the City to potential unknown employment claims from the former city manager.”

Romero’s separation agreement includes a lump-sum payment of about $63,923.

City leaders met twice in closed session since Romero’s exit to interview candidates for the interim position. They met again in closed session on Wednesday to finalize their selection and extend an offer of employment to Winney, City Clerk Joel Pablo said.

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