Black Picked for City Post in Wake of Bias Protests

After months of protests by the NAACP that blacks are not represented in top administrative posts in Carson city government, City Administrator Jack Smith has chosen a black woman, Lorraine A. Oten, as finance director.

Smith said Oten, whose salary range in her new job is $60,000 to $77,000, “was selected solely on her experience and skills.” But he added that he is pleased that Oten, who is leaving a position as finance director of Lynwood, will add balance to Carson’s administrative team.

“It does something to appease a segment of our community who were crying out for more representation,” he said.

In Carson city government, four white men and an Asian man are the other appointed department heads. Smith is white and the deputy city administrator is an Asian man. The elected city clerk is an Asian woman, and the elected city treasurer is a white woman.