Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf names choice for city administrator

Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf has named Sabrina Landreth, Emeryville’s city manager, as her choice for the next city administrator.

“This is the single most important decision I will make as mayor,” Schaaf said in a statement Friday. “Restoring stability to the City Administrator’s office is vital to achieving sustainability in Oakland. Given the importance of this role, we were committed to conducting a robust search of top-notch professionals to identify a candidate that would bring competence, integrity and energy to City Hall — Sabrina is that person.”

Landreth formerly served as Oakland’s deputy city administrator, working to restructure the budget during the 2008 housing market crash.

“I am honored to have been tapped by the mayor of my hometown to help implement her vision in this time of incredible excitement and opportunity for Oakland,” Landreth said Friday.

The announcement comes a month after a former Emeryville city manager, John Flores, was named interim city administrator. He replaced Henry Gardner, who had been in the post since Fred Blackwell stepped down in June.

The Oakland City Council will have to approve Landreth’s appointment and contract before she can take over the position. According to the mayor’s office, Landreth will begin her duties in Oakland after a replacement is found for her in Emeryville, but that will happen no later than July.

Vivian Ho is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: vho@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @VivianHo