Administrator Goes Back to His Former Job

Ventura County’s short-lived chief administrative officer was back at his old desk Tuesday morning, just moments after San Joaquin County’s Board of Supervisors voted 4 to 1 to reappoint David L. Baker as top manager.

After the board members cast their votes, applause erupted from the audience welcoming Baker back to the job he left last month to come to Ventura County.

“It feels fine, just fine,” Baker said in a telephone interview from his Stockton office Tuesday. “I’m glad to be back doing good things for San Joaquin County.”

As part of his new contract, Baker worked a deal that would make it very difficult to be fired--changing the vote necessary for removal from a three-fifths to four-fifths majority.

“It gives more stability to the position,” Baker said. “I believe it’s in the best interest of the county to keep that a stable relationship.”

Ventura County officials said they wished Baker well in his reappointment.

“I would imagine he would have a difficult time getting a job,” Supervisor John K. Flynn said. “Doing what he did to Ventura County would not go over well with other counties. So I’m happy he got his job back.”