Health Care Agency’s New Chief Resigns

The county’s top executive in charge of the Health Care Agency resigned Friday after just six months on the job to accept a health care position with Los Angeles County.

Donald R. Oxley’s announcement was met with surprise and mixed emotions.

Supervisor Todd Spitzer said it was not only disappointing, “but unprofessional” after such a brief tenure.

“I’m so disappointed that he treated Orange County in such an unprofessional manner,” said Spitzer who had worked with Oxley in recent weeks on a restaurant cleanliness rating system.

“I never sensed from Mr. Oxley in the beginning that he was truly excited about leading a major department in Orange County.”

Others said Oxley will be missed.

“I am sure he had legitimate reasons for wanting to leave, but it surprised us because of the short tenure,” said Sam Roth, spokesman for the Orange County Medical Assn.

“I know our leadership has been very impressed and excited about the energy and enthusiasm he has brought here. Our concern will be that it doesn’t dissipate.”

Oxley, 53, could not be reached for comment late Friday. He came to the $145,808-a-year job from Cleveland, where he was the vice president and executive director for Kaiser Foundation Health Plan. His resignation is effective Aug. 6.

Spitzer said the resignation underscores the need to revamp the county’s hiring process. He noted that the agency went without a permanent director for two years before Oxley’s hiring.

Under the current system of organization, the hiring of department heads is done by Jan Mittermeier, the county’s executive officer, and not supervisors.

“I feel the board needs to be more involved in the selection process,” Spitzer said. “This needs to be done in public to ask questions and see the applicants’ responses or else we can never expect to get candid answers.”

Oxley’s hiring had been heralded by Mittermeier as bringing stability to a large department rocked by criticism due to the loss of key staff members. The agency has 2,400 employees and a $272-million budget. It oversees areas of public, environmental and mental health.

In a single-page press release, Mittermeier said she appreciated the job Oxley has done, however brief.

“We’re sorry to see Don leave,” Mittermeier said, “but we’re grateful for the many positive changes he’s initiated during his brief tenure with Orange County.”

Julie Poulson, the agency’s assistant director, will serve as interim director until a permanent decision is made.

Also contributing to this article was Times staff writer Peter Warren.