LAFCO Chief Rejects L.A. County Post
Ventura County’s annexation commission chief has declined an offer to take a similar job in Los Angeles County, prompting the neighboring county to begin a new search for a top administrator.
The decision by Stanley Eisner to refuse the executive director job at the Los Angeles County Local Agency Formation Commission, known as LAFCO, is a setback for the agency, which is empowered to create cities in the unincorporated areas of the county.
Eisner, who is Ventura County’s LAFCO executive director, did not explain why he no longer wanted the Los Angeles job, which pays up to $75,000 a year, officials said.
Two other job finalists were disqualified earlier this week for conflicts of interest because, until a few days ago, they had been serving as LAFCO panel members. Officials disclosed Friday that one of the two candidates--West Hills resident Larry Calemine--had also been disqualified for the job two years ago.
“We’re going to have to reopen the matter,” said Thomas Jackson, chairman of the Los Angeles County panel.
Jackson said Eisner, who has headed the Ventura County LAFCO since 1992, was offered the Los Angeles County job this week and faxed a proposed contract. But Eisner responded Thursday by faxing his letter of withdrawal.
“We were all very surprised,” Jackson said. The letter offered no explanation, he added.
Eisner’s Ventura County office was closed Friday, and calls to his home were not returned.
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