Board Disagrees About New County Executive

Days after they drafted a plan to fill the post of chief administrator and get the county’s finances back on track, county supervisors are already disagreeing over what kind of candidate they want.

Supervisor John Flynn said Friday that he will recommend his colleagues immediately drop their outside search for a short-term administrator whose job would be to make potentially difficult cuts to get the county out of its current financial bind.

“I’ve reconsidered,” Flynn said. “We don’t need a hatchet man. We have some very outstanding people inside and we shouldn’t have to go outside for anybody.”

If Flynn’s suggestion were to gain support, it would be an about-face from the strategy agreed upon in an emergency closed session this week, when officials were scrambling in the wake of county manager David L. Baker’s resignation after only four days on the job.

But Supervisor Frank Schillo said it is absolutely essential to bring in an outsider who is not afraid to make quick and painful decisions.

“We need somebody to get the downhill slope changed, to take strong action and get us turned around right now,” he said.

Supervisor Kathy Long said she agreed with Schillo. Supervisors Susan Lacey and Judy Mikels could not be reached for comment.

Among the possible candidates for a job that would probably last a year are six retired chief administrators from throughout California who have been recommended by the California Assn. of Counties.