Sheriff, Auditor-Controller to Retire : Government: Both cite health reasons for stepping down early. If they stayed, they might have lost some perks.

Two of Ventura County’s top officials, Sheriff John Gillespie and AuditorController Norman R. Hawkes, have announced plans to take early retirement at the end of this year.

The decisions led to some speculation by county officials Thursday that the moves could be related to proposed cuts of thousands of dollars in financial perks given to the county’s top leaders. But both men cited health reasons.

Gillespie, 52, told his deputies in a letter Wednesday that he is retiring Dec. 31. Hawkes, 58, informed his staff in a meeting Thursday that he also plans to take early retirement at that time.

In an interview at his Oxnard home, Hawkes, who has held his job for 19 years, said the timing of the two retirements was pure coincidence.

He said he has several health problems that are not life-threatening, but that are more difficult to overcome because of the pressures of his job. His decision to retire was not connected to any possible loss of benefits, he added.

“I had it in my mind that I would not run again,” he said. “I decided not to fill out my term because of the reasons I’ve stated.”

On Tuesday, the board will consider a proposal by Supervisor John K. Flynn to scale back a benefit that provides seven extra weeks pay to the supervisors, Gillespie, Hawkes, the district attorney, the treasurer-tax collector, the assessor, the county clerk and the chief administrative officer.

Flynn’s recommendation followed an article in The Times disclosing that top county officials receive large bonuses as part of a lucrative package given to them instead of a pay increase.

The bonuses include a benefit called “in lieu of vacation pay” because the elected officials and the chief administrative officer do not earn a set amount of vacation days a year. They do, however, set their own schedules and take off as much time as they want.

Hawkes and other county officials so far have declined to disclose the exact amount that the county is providing the elected officials and the chief administrative officer in added compensation, contending that the information is private.

However, Dist. Atty. Michael D. Bradbury gave The Times a copy of his compensation figures, which show that he is making $21,519 under the seven-week pay package, on top of his $106,893 annual salary.

He also earns a $6,000-per-year car allowance and an annual benefit of $7,755 for “longevity pay,” because he has served as district attorney since 1978.

According to sources, the county is paying other top officials between $20,000 and $30,000 extra in lieu of vacation pay on top of their base salaries.

The Board of Supervisors voted several years ago to add the perks to officials’ pay. Officials say such perks are common in county governments. They say the added benefits have been needed to keep the top managers from taking more lucrative jobs elsewhere.

But if the board reduces the benefits, this could in turn sharply reduce the retirement packages for officials, which are based on both salary and compensation.

Both Flynn and Supervisor Maria VanderKolk said Thursday that they doubted that a possible cutback in benefits was a factor for either Gillespie or Hawkes. However, Bradbury speculated that the impending cuts may have pushed Gillespie toward a retirement that he was already considering.

“My hunch is that his reasons for retiring are exclusive of cuts in his compensation package, but those pending cuts affected the timing of his decision,” Bradbury said. “I know absolutely nothing about Mr. Hawkes’ situation.”

Gillespie, sheriff for the last eight years, urged the Board of Supervisors to appoint Undersheriff Larry Carpenter to finish out his term, which ends in 1995. If appointed, Carpenter would face election in 1994.

The timing of Gillespie’s departure makes it very difficult for anyone who might want to run for the job because it would give Carpenter a two-year period as the incumbent.

Bradbury confirmed that Gillespie had spoken of declining health in recent years.

“He has told me that his health has suffered in the last few years from the stresses and pressures of his job,” Bradbury said.

Gillespie also preferred to leave early and gracefully, rather than late and seriously ill, Bradbury said.

“So many people stay till they keel over their desk,” Bradbury said. “Once the fire in their belly goes out, the quality people recognize it, and those that don’t become burned out and embittered. John is one of those people who knows it’s time to leave.”

Longtime Assistant Auditor-Controller Tom Mahon is expected to be considered by the supervisors to fill Hawkes’ term, which expires in about two years. He would then have to run for the position in 1994.

Mahon said he was surprised to learn of Hawkes’ decision to retire.

“I was somewhat surprised when he mentioned it. . . . Norm is like an institution here,” he said.

Hawkes, a certified public accountant who holds no college degree, joined the county staff 28 years ago.

Known as tightfisted, Hawkes has kept a close watch on the spending of county officials. He has been known to not allow officials to charge business lunches to the county, but he has been well-liked by many staff members.

Mahon, whom Hawkes is endorsing as his successor, said Hawkes will be missed.

“I’ve worked with him since 1970,” Mahon said. “He is a top-notch individual.”

Hawkes, who said he broke down in tears when telling his staff of his plans, said he was unprepared for the emotions that he felt Thursday when breaking the word to his staff.

“I was quite emotional today,” he said. “I had to get out of there.”

Hawkes, 58, said he also felt that with advances in technology, auditing and labor practices, it was time for someone new to assume his responsibilities.

“You eventually reach a point when you get tired, and want someone else to have the headaches,” he said.

Hawkes said the pension he will receive is less than 5% smaller than if he had completed his term, and described the difference as unimportant.

In the end, Hawkes said he responded to the pleas of his wife, mother and three grown children to retire. He said he plans to do quite a bit of traveling with his wife, Eleanor, and when his retirement is effective Dec. 31, he plans to begin piano lessons.

Times staff writer Mack Reed and correspondent Patrick McCartney contributed to this story.