He Gave Board Exactly What It Asked For

Re “Wanted: A County CEO, Not Too Hard or Soft,” Jan. 24:

It is unfortunate that CEO Michael Schumacher must end his long county career on such a negative note, the supervisors having faulted him on his “laid-back” style. Now they want more “pep.”

Isn’t “pep” what they had with William Popejoy and Jan Mittermeier? The board didn’t seem to like that either. As a former 26-year employee of the Probation Department, I and many of Schumacher’s staff would hardly have described his style then as “laid-back.” Especially if he thought you weren’t doing your job.

I wonder if the style the board now finds unacceptable is Michael’s fault or simply a reflection of what the board wanted when he was appointed, after six years of the Popejoy/Mittermeier autocracy.

Jeanette Fratto

Laguna Niguel