County’s Treasurer to Retire

Acknowledging an 18-month struggle with a disabling disease, Ventura County Treasurer-Tax Collector Harold S. Pittman announced Tuesday he will not seek reelection next year and will retire after 14 years as administrator of the county’s $1-billion investment portfolio.

Pittman, 62, endorsed top assistant Larry Matheney as his successor, praising the former county government lawyer as “highly qualified.” Matheney, 55, said he will formally declare his candidacy soon.

Because of Pittman’s announcement, the filing deadline for the $112,000-a-year tax collector’s post has been extended three work days to Dec. 12.

Pittman, a former Navy lieutenant commander, joined the treasurer-tax collector’s office about two decades ago, was appointed tax collector in 1988 and has won three full terms while running unopposed.

He had hoped to run one more time, but in June 2000 he was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis, a neuromuscular ailment in the same group as multiple sclerosis and lupus. In the worst of times, he could not speak or swallow because of involuntary muscular contractions.

“I thought someone’s whispering in my ear that the time has come: 20 years is long enough,” Pittman said.

His disease is treatable, he said, but not curable.

“It’s really frustrating, because the medication I have to take doesn’t do a lot for your attitude,” Pittman said. The powerful mood-altering steroid also elevates his blood sugars and reduces his ability to withstand diseases. So he has been plagued with other ailments.

Amiable and towering at 6 feet 5, Pittman is known for roaming the tax collector’s counter at the County Government Center in Ventura, facing the jibes of taxpayers with grace as they turn over their property tax payments.

“I’ll be there again next week [for Monday’s tax deadline],” he said.

Bruce Bradley, the county elections chief, said Pittman will be missed.

“He’s just like he looks, big and stable,” Bradley said. “That’s what you need for that job, stability and strength. And he’s the type of guy who doesn’t publicize this kind of stuff; he just keeps doing his job. So I think it will surprise a lot of people that he’s been battling this for so long.”

Pittman’s announcement will probably result in a wide-open campaign to name his successor, Bradley said. Unlike district attorney, sheriff or auditor, for which a special professional skill is required, there is no such qualification for tax collector. A candidate needs only be a registered voter.

Pittman’s pending retirement--he will serve through 2002--continues a changing of the guard that has altered the top ranks of county government in recent years.

In September, Dist. Atty. Michael D. Bradbury said he would not seek another term and retire after 24 years. A year ago, veteran county Auditor Tom Mahon retired to care for his ailing wife. And in 1998, Sheriff Larry Carpenter retired, as did Assessor Glenn Gray.

Matheney ran unsuccessfully for Gray’s seat in 1998, then was recruited by Pittman to help run the 43-person tax collector’s office. Matheney had specialized in property tax law while working as a lawyer for the tax collector and assessor. He took a $20,000 cut in pay, he said, to change jobs.

“I was interested in doing something different in my life, and Hal made the pitch to me that he was probably not going to run again,” Matheney said. “This is not the way I would have picked to learn his job. But it is more important for him to get well than to have him hold my hand.”

Since his initial attack, Pittman has been in the office as often as possible, he said. But he has had several health problems, including a severe relapse a few months ago. He returned in the last month and now works at least a few hours a day.

Pittman said his chief enemy is the stress of his job.

“With this disease, stress is a major factor, because stress changes your reaction to your medicines,” Pittman said. “This disease affects the voluntary muscles. It affected my swallowing and speech. Aristotle Onassis had it with his eyes. They taped his eyes open.”

After realizing he could not work much longer, Pittman had only to decide how to call it quits. For years, he had criticized other top elected officials for hand-picking their successors, then turning over the job during midterm, so their successors could run as incumbents.

“I promised voters that I wasn’t going to do that,” Pittman said. “I’ve kept that promise. I’m giving the voters the choice.”

But Pittman is also making it clear that he thinks Matheney is highly qualified.

“This is a special position: You manage the county’s investment portfolio. And you know what happened with the bankruptcy down in Orange County,” Pittman said. “The position needs somebody who knows what is going on. And I’m offering the voters a good, viable alternative with Larry.”

Pittman said his goals are to regain his health while relaxing at his Camarillo home, and to travel with wife, Bobbie, a retired Navy computer systems analyst.

When he retires, Pittman will have served 20 years with the county after 20 years with the Navy.

“That’s two good careers,” he said. “You need to stop while you’re ahead.”