Costa Mesa hires new public information officer

Costa Mesa city officials have named a public relations professional and former journalist as the city’s new public information officer.

Tony Dodero will be responsible for media relations and public awareness of city events, programs, services, policies and projects, according to a news release Monday. He begins Tuesday.

Dodero, a Cal State Long Beach alumnus, is a former Daily Pilot editor who began working for the publication as an intern in 1989. He worked at the Pilot and related publications, save for a short stint in Long Beach, through 2008.

After leaving journalism, he worked in various communications posts and had his own business.

Dodero, 54, replaces Bill Lobdell, who left the job in March for another communications position with the Irvine Co. Dodero said he will earn a base salary of about $117,000.

“In addition to his nearly two decades as an editor and reporter, Dodero also has an extensive background in print, digital and social media, as well as public affairs and internal communications,” city CEO Tom Hatch said in a statement. “We are looking forward to him joining our already strong management team and being a top contributor.”

Dodero has also taught at Orange Coast College and served on the Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce’s board of directors.

“I do have tons of respect for Costa Mesa and the people who run the city there,” Dodero said in an interview Monday. “Costa Mesa has been a big part of my life for a long time. I’m really looking forward to being back in Costa Mesa and helping tell the story.”

“People have a lot of bad things to say about government, even though government does a lot of good things,” he said. “I want to shine a light on all the good things the city does for them.”

Dodero lives in Fullerton with his wife and three children.

—Bradley Zint

Twitter: @bradleyzint