“I would like to keep Orange stable for the long term,” says City Manager Jarad Hildenbrand.  “Part of the job is to look at what’s happening today and try to look into a crystal ball at what will happen in six months, 18 months, five years from now, and charting that path.” 

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Jarad Hildenbrand, Orange City Manager

When Jarad Hildenbrand walks into Orange City Hall each morning, he’s not just managing a city, he’s serving the place he has called home since age three.  Appointed City Manager in August 2025, he oversees 710 budgeted positions and a $250 million annual operating budget, including a $150 million general fund.

“I am the CEO of the city,” he says.  “The City Council sets the policy, and it’s my job to figure out how to accomplish it.  My role is taking their vision and turning it into results that improve people’s daily lives.”

His responsibilities span Public Safety, Community Services, Economic Development, Public Works and Finance.

“There is no typical day,” he says.  “One phone call can completely reshape the priorities.  When there’s an emergency or a sink hole, that becomes the focus.”

Known for his openness, Hildenbrand hands out his cell number freely.  “If someone in Orange needs help, I want them to feel they can reach me directly.”

Hildenbrand’s roots in Orange run deep.  He attended St. Paul’s Lutheran, Cerro Villa, Villa Park High School and Santiago Canyon College.  Originally aiming to become a firefighter, he completed the fire academy at 20.  But then an internship at the City of Villa Park changed his path.

“I never applied to the fire department after that,” says the father of three and an avid outdoorsman in his free time.  “City government clicked for me.  I realized I could help shape the future of a whole community.”

He spent 12 years in Villa Park, becoming City Manager at 28, followed by similar roles in La Habra Heights, Stanton and Laguna Hills.  But returning to Orange was always his goal.

“He has a true love for Orange because he was raised here,” says Pat Buttress, Executive Assistant Field Representative for OC Supervisor Don Wagner.  Buttess has known Hildenbrand since his Villa Park internship.  “He brings that younger perspective to a very stayed government in a city that has been around 130 years,” she says. “His knowledge of a city’s inner workings combined with his ideas enable him to face the city’s issues and help the community as a whole.”

Today, Hildenbrand is focused on long-term financial stability and public safety.

“I’m a numbers nerd,” he says.  “Strong finances are the foundation for everything else a city provides, especially the ability to deliver reliable public safety and core services.”

Hildenbrand is prioritizing efficiency, reducing plan review times, streamlining development processes and increasing budget transparency.  Even as he pushes for thoughtful growth, he notes preserving the city’s character and keeping residents safe remains essential.

“I want to roll out the red carpet for businesses,” he says.  “It’s the new Orange way: we are open for business.”

Jarad Hildenbrand, City Manager, City of Orange
300 East Chapman Ave., Orange, CA 92866  /  714-744-2222