MURRIETA -- Only a few high-level officials have survived the growing number political assaults in recent years.

Many were driven out or pre-emptively retired to escape that fate.

Then there's Deputy City Manager Jim Holston, a rare pillar of experience in a young city that's still finding its way.

As such, Holston, the head of the city's Community Services Department and supervisor of the Planning and Engineering departments, is the likely choice to take over as temporary city manager when Ron Bradley ends his own interim term at the end of October.

But it's more than his experience that makes Holston the obvious choice, co-workers, council members and observers say: He's a gregarious man, lacking in pretense and generally up front.

"I'm straight up: What you're seeing, you're getting," Holston said. And his loyalty, he's quick to add, is first and foremost to Murrieta, his hometown.

Holston, a former contractor, joined the fledging city of Murrieta in 1993 from the county, where he helped develop many of Southwest County's first parks. He continued in a similar capacity in Murrieta, as he helped shape the city's recreation program.

He quickly rose through the ranks and was appointed one of three deputy city managers several years ago when Lori Moss was named city manager. Bradley recently streamlined the hierarchy, eliminating two of those spots, but Holston survived the change and is now the only deputy reporting directly to Bradley.

But while he is happy to be considered the obvious choice to guide the city temporarily, Holston said he has no intention of applying for the permanent city manager position.

"I'm not afraid of doing (Bradley's) job," said Holston, who counts team-building among his strengths. "I just feel I'm effective at this level."

Bradley, the city's interim leader since late January, said he couldn't envision a better No. 2 than Holston for Murrieta.

"He's absolutely the perfect person to be deputy," Bradley said. "The (new) manager will have a complete confidence in Jim's ability to deal with issues. His breadth of experience is amazing. His dedication and loyalty are truly outstanding."

Some observers, however, have viewed Holston as too close to some of Murrieta's more polarizing officials and leaders over the years. But somehow Holston has avoided the public wrath directed at some of his colleagues.

"It's a tribute to his personality, his integrity and perseverance," Bradley said. "He doesn't get excitable. He's a listener who doesn't snap to quick judgments."

Holston hasn't hidden behind his superiors or shunned media glare -- just the opposite.

Publicly, Holston is painstakingly loyal to his staff, often willing to take the hit on behalf of a subordinate -- especially staffers in the planning and engineering departments who were targeted by residents angry that infrastructure improvements trailed the city's explosive growth.

Holston's support of the staff -- as well as new planning and engineering directors who are more accessible and up front with the public -- has helped stabilize those departments, observers say.

"Jim is a professional who gets the most out of people," said Kassen Klein, a former planning commissioner who is now a consultant to developers. "He gets the most out of people, recognizes their strengths and weaknesses -- and with his ability, manages around those.

"I think people recognize that. So, maybe that's why he doesn't take the hits."

But Barbara Nugent -- a leader of citizens group Rescue Murrieta, which orchestrated a recall of a councilman in 2005 -- believes Holston has been "safely in the background" on many issues, sparing him the criticism directed at other officials.

The engineering director may report to Holston, but it's the public works guru -- not the deputy city manager -- who oversees controversial road and other infrastructure projects.

"And how many people come up against parks?" Nugent asked, referring to Holston's specialty.

Holston may not be outspoken like some of his associates in City Hall -- which undoubtedly explains, in part, why many view him favorably -- but he is probably visible at more public meetings than any other Murrieta official, including the city manager.

And because of his longevity and residency in Murrieta, Holston is often the first official contacted about a problem.

"With Ron … one of his key issues is customer service," Holston said. "We're here to help."

Bradley has promoted accessibility and transparency at City Hall -- objectives met under his watch, though not to the levels sought by all, some critics have said. Still, many observers say City Hall has never been more open -- to residents and developers alike.

"Ron has confidence in his staff and allows them to manage," Klein said. "It moves down, and Jim does the same. Staff clearly … is starting to understand what their roles are and who they are accountable to. That creates a sense of stability."

At 60, Holston is nearing retirement age, but says he won't even begin to contemplate his next phase of life for another three or four years.

Until then, he'll presumably continue as the city manager's guide and community liaison, a role Holston has served under several bosses, including Bradley and the previous city manager, Lori Moss.

And, of course, he'll continue overseeing the development of parks and trails, which he views as his legacy.

The first phase of the sprawling Los Alamos Hills Sports Park opened in July 2006 to raves; now, he's begun planning its next stage of development.

"The parks are the heart and soul of the community," Holston said. "It's where the kids go to stay out of trouble, so to speak."

Contact staff writer Brian Eckhouse at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2626, or beckhouse@californian.com.