Follow or Lead?

The Board of Supervisors unanimously selected Airport Director Jan Mittermeier to be county’s first full-time chief executive officer. This is what some supervisors and others have said in the past about the job’s requirements.

JAN. 25, 1995

“There’s a craving for someone who’s unattached to the thing that got us here.”

--Louis G. Masotti, professor at UCI’s management school

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“We need a fireman to come in here and put out the fire.”

--Buck Johns, Lincoln Club member and political activist

JULY 15

“To me, a CEO is a county official who is the chief administrator of county government and ensures that the day-to-day function and policies are carried out as approved by the Board of Supervisors. I am a CEO proponent. We are looking for someone who has experience with a CEO form of government and with a strong financial background.”

--Board Chairman Gaddi H. Vasquez

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“Someone who has an intimate knowledge of how government works but has a private-sector business mentality.”

--Supervisor William G. Steiner

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“We have to have . . . someone who is incredibly talented in management, who works well not only with employees but also with the community. . . . We’re looking for a visionary, someone who can work with people over time.”

--Supervisor Marian Bergeson

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“You don’t get to sit back and make decisions and second-guess people. In government, the board sets policy to be carried out. In business, the CEO sets policy. This is government, a democracy.”

--Supervisor Jim Silva

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“I can’t imagine they’re going to get anyone in their right mind to take this job. You can’t pay anybody enough money to take the crap they’re going to have to take. Not any quality person, anyway.”

--Local city manager speaking on condition of anonymity

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“Whatever they call it . . . they can call it God, but it’ll be a watered-down job. It’ll be a glorified executive coordinator.”

--William J. Popejoy, previous CEO

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“It’s a chief executive officer. The question of how, specifically, the relationship is going to evolve may depend on the individual. I don’t think that in the industry, among people that are seeking this job, it’s as ambiguous or confusing as it might seem. The type of person that would want to come in and be CEO of a large county would come in with a plan.”

--Jan Walden, county personnel director

Source: Times reports