Countywide : Analyst to Head League of Cities

William E. Hodge, a senior county staff analyst, has been named executive director of the Orange County Division of the League of California Cities, a league spokeswoman said.

The organization, which includes representatives from all of the county’s cities, seeks to coordinate public policy on issues that cross municipal boundaries, such as traffic and hazardous-waste disposal.

The league also names representatives to agencies such as the Orange County Transportation Commission, the Orange County Transit District, the Southern California Assn. of Governments and the South Coast Air Quality Management District.

Hodge, who previously worked as an administrator at John Wayne Airport, is a former aide to Supervisor Harriett M. Wieder and before that was a reporter for the Daily Pilot based in Costa Mesa.

He replaces Robert Dunek, who became city manager of Los Alamitos in October, according to Janet M. Hester, the league’s executive assistant.

Hodge’s recent duties in the county administrative office included work with the City-County Coordinating Committee, which has been studying ways to establish a new regional planning agency that would coordinate land-use, environment and transportation decisions.

“I’m real excited about it,” Hodge said of his appointment. “The league has tried to take a leadership role in some of the issues we’re facing right now. The cities need to coordinate with each other and with the county.”