Powers to Run Health Agency

Ventura County’s public health system will be left in familiar hands when retiring agency chief Pierre Durand steps down in March.

On Monday, County Executive Officer Johnny Johnston selected Michael Powers, one of Durand’s top lieutenants, to succeed Durand. Powers is the administrator of Ventura County Medical Center, and Johnston cited Powers’ attention to detail, experience in public healthcare and people skills in naming him to the job.

“He had the best training, experience and talent to lead the organization,” Johnston said. “We are fortunate in that we have several top-notch managers in that agency. It was a difficult decision.”

The Health Care Agency operates Ventura County Medical Center in Ventura and the newly acquired Santa Paula Hospital. Through its network of outpatient clinics, it provides services to 325,000 patients a year.

In his new position, Powers will oversee the county’s mental health, substance abuse, public health and coroner’s programs. The job pays $190,000 a year plus benefits.

Durand, 58, announced his retirement last month. A former auditor, he modernized the county’s flagship Ventura hospital, expanded outpatient clinics for the poor and held costs in line even as they were soaring nationwide.The county bought shuttered Santa Paula Hospital earlier this year. The agency expects to reopen it in January to serve residents of Piru, Fillmore and Santa Paula.

Ventura County Supervisor Judy Mikels called Powers a “good fit” for the job.

After graduating from Loyola Law School, Powers became a private attorney, then was hired by the county counsel’s office in 1992 to specialize in healthcare contracts and litigation.

In 1999, he moved to the Health Care Agency to supervise a unit that made sure county healthcare billings were in compliance with state and federal regulations.

He became administrator of Ventura County Medical Center in 2002.

“He’s done a good job as hospital administrator, and is well respected and well liked,” said Mikels, who sits on the Board of Supervisor’s Medical Oversight Committee. “So I think he’s a good choice.”