STOCKTON, Calif. —

The city of Stockton found a new city manager, and it's someone the city once fired, but later cleared of any wrongdoing.

Mayor Christina Fugazi on Tuesday announced the appointment of Johnny Ford as the next City Manager.

Fugazi said Ford's hiring comes after a nationwide recruitment effort that drew more than 67 applicants.

The Stockton City Council unanimously approved Ford's appointment in a 7-0 vote.

“After a thorough search, we found that the right person for Stockton was one of our own,” Mayor Fugazi said in a news release.

In 2009, Ford was fired as Deputy City Manager for violating policy. However, a city council committee later cleared him of wrongdoing, saying the investigation was flawed. Ford was then awarded a $250,000 settlement.

Ford brings nearly

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