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Porras takes over as Gustine Human Resources Manager and Deputy City Clerk
Desirae Porras
Desirae Porras, pictured during last Tuesday’s meeting, was named the city’s Human Resources Manager and Deputy City Clerk after officials approved her employment contract. She has been with the city since 2020, starting out as an administrative assistant. - photo by Navtej Hundal

Desirae Porras was named the Human Resources Manager and Deputy City Clerk for the City of Gustine after city council members approved her employment contract on Feb. 17.

Porras’ promotion comes nearly two months after the city began a search for three vacancy positions, with it now being down to a public works director. She joins Melanie Correa, the previous deputy city clerk, as the recent individuals who climbed up the ladder within the city staff. Correa was appointed as the city manager in December 2025 and took over on Jan.1

Porras, a Gustine native, joined the city staff as an administrative assistant in 2020. She later became the acting deputy city clerk within the last six months.

“I just want to say thank you guys for the approval and I’m very excited for these next steps in the next few weeks,” Porras said to the council members.

While starting a new role is worth celebrating, Porras said that guidance from staff at different departments within the city on how to be effective and efficient. “We have a lot of department heads [in] the city, and I feel like I can learn from each of them and take it in,” she said. “So I would say just kind of leaning on everyone here has helped me gain all those qualities.”

Porras will serve a three-year term in the role, ending on June 30, 2029, according to the agenda’s staff report. Additionally, she’ll make $66,950.00 annually following a 3% cost of living salary adjustment on Aug. 16 and will receive a yearly 3% increase in the following two years, 2027 and 2028, per the agenda’s staff report.

Three candidates interviewed for the positions, according to Gustine Mayor Pat Nagy. Nagy said he looks forward to working with her and has confidence that she’ll fit seemingly in her new role.

“[Porras] has been a good [and] steady employee, of course, she’s a good employee,” he said. “She always goes above and beyond and fills in.”

Nagy previously told the Westside Connect that it’s important for the city to hire people who are not only qualified for the position, but familiar with the idea after some former staff members had left Gustine for opportunities at other cities. Former City Manager Soknirorn Than resigned last October to become the city manager in Los Banos.