By Brittany Hanson/Garden Grove Journal
JIm Box
How does a person manage a city? Ask Stanton’s Jim Box and he might tell you something along the lines of patience and a good sense of humor.
And organization.
“I guess I’m a neat freak. Anyone can see that about me,” said Box.
Box is the newly appointed city manager, inheriting the post from Carol Jacobs. Box moved up to the post from being the assistant city manager.
A 11-year veteran of the city staff, Box was formerly the director of parks and recreation.
He is a graduate of the University of LaVerne, where he majored in public administration and received his Master’s degree from California State University of Long Beach.
When he isn’t running around Stanton, he’s at home in Anaheim Hills with his wife Debbie and son Brandon.
“I guess my hobbies are watching college football and watching my son, Brandon, play his sports: football and lacrosse,” said Box.
Box also enjoys spending time outside, working on his home landscaping.
“I could spend hours outside, working in the front and back gardens. It’s relaxing,” said Box.
Box said that the biggest influence for him being in local government came from his grandparents.
“Both my grandparents were involved in city government and they instilled myself and my brothers a great sense of responsibility. That it is very important to give back to the people and your community. That stuck with me my whole life,” said Box.
“Our city manager is a gift that keeps on giving. Jim takes the position of being the second-lowest paid city manager in the county,” said David Shawver, Stanton’s mayor pro tem.
Even while watching the parks and recreation department get cut back, the parks closed and the events shelved Box managed to keep his head above ground and work towards better times for the city.
Now, at a seat on Stanton’s dais, Jim has inherited something thought implausible months ago: a balanced city budget on the recovery.
“I’m going to just try to keep steering the city in the right direction,” said Box,” If it wasn’t for the great work that the last city manager and our council did, we might not have this . . . we have an incredibly dedicated team, team Stanton is awesome.”
Shawver believes that having Box moved up to city manager has been one of the smoothest transitions since he has been with Stanton.
“He’s got really good ties in the community and he’s recognized as a leader in the city in the business community and in the recreation community. He’s very active in our city. He’s able to carry the philosophy with “He’s well respected in the community, gets along with the council and it makes him really great in the position.”
