‘Accomplished’ Official Leaves County Employees Union Post

The general manager of the largest local government union in Orange County has retired, ending his family’s 45-year association with the organization.

John Sawyer quit the Orange County Employees Assn. last week after six years on the job. In 1998, Sawyer succeeded his father, John H., who had served as general manager since 1959. Sawyer joined the union’s staff in 1973.

The union, founded in 1937, represents more than 13,000 county government and court employees and 2,000 employees at 18 cities, including Anaheim, Irvine and Garden Grove. It has 33 paid employees.

Nick Berardino, the assistant general manager of the union since 1998, will succeed Sawyer and begin preparations for bargaining sessions that promise to be challenging because of the budget problems facing state and local government. Berardino has worked for the union since 1978.

Sawyer, 56, is vacationing out of the country and could not be reached for comment. Berardino said Sawyer decided to take an early retirement but declined to discuss Sawyer’s motivation for leaving the union.

“John did an outstanding job for us,” Berardino said. “His strengths [were] in his understanding of county operations and with his understanding of labor relations.”

Robert MacLeod, general manager of the Assn. of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs, said Sawyer will be missed.

“I worked with John for over 30 years. I thought he was a very capable and accomplished professional,” MacLeod said.

“I don’t think you can lose someone with John’s experience and just replace him. It will certainly be a loss to his organization and to all of Orange County labor.”