Health Director to Promote Assistant

The director of the county’s Health Care Agency said he plans to name his 26-year-old assistant as administrative director of the Public Health Department.

Phillipp K. Wessels said he plans in August to name Paul Lorenz to the position, which has been vacant since public health officer Lawrence Dodds retired from the post in February.

Calling Lorenz a “good team player,” Wessels said he chose his assistant for the job because “Paul will always protect the integrity of the public health mission along with fiscal responsibility and accountability.”

Lorenz, who graduated from the University of San Diego at age 20 with a bachelor’s degree in business, worked as a facilities manager for a large corporation for two years before assuming the job as facilities manager at Ventura County’s health department three years ago.

“For me, it’s been a long road,” Lorenz said. “I’m looking forward to working with public health.”