Hollister
– After holding multiple government posts – including a stint as
the county’s top administrator – Susan Lyons said good-bye to San
Benito County this week to split her time between her grandchildren
and pursuing her hobbies.
Hollister – After holding multiple government posts – including a stint as the county’s top administrator – Susan Lyons said good-bye to San Benito County this week to split her time between her grandchildren and pursuing her hobbies.
During her two years with the county, Lyons, 63, has been a management analyst, acting county administrative officer and, most recently, assistant CAO. Those who have worked with Lyons say that they’re sorry to see her go.
“She was really an asset,” Supervisor Reb Monaco said. “I think we were really lucky to have her for a period of time. I’ll certainly miss her.”
Less than a year after she was hired as an analyst in April, 2004, Lyons was thrust into the CAO position when the Board of Supervisors appointed her to the post after it had been left vacant by Gil Solorio. Lyons, who took the reigns of the county administration during a turbulent period, said that she relished the challenge of the post.
“Essentially I like the challenge,” Lyons said. “It’s kind of an adrenaline rush.”
Throughout her five months as CAO, Lyons said she faced several challenges, especially the county’s bleak financial situation. But her chief preoccupation was forcing the reorganization of the county planning department through firing long-time planning director Rob Mendiola – a decision that received heavy criticism.
“Making the changes in the planning department was probably the most challenging thing I ever did. Difficult, but important,” she said.
While she said that the public criticism resulting from Mendiola’s termination was “denigrating and hurtful,” Lyons stands by her decision, which had the support of supervisors, saying that there were widespread complaints from people having difficulty working with the planning department while it was being run by Mendiola.
Monaco agreed with that things needed to change in the planning department, and terminating Mendiola was the right thing for Lyons to do.
“We supported her on that. She’s really to be commended on that tough call. She got abused in the press,” he said. “It was a tough decision and she made it. She stood up like a real trooper and did it.”
In May, supervisors hired Fresno County administrator Susan Thompson as San Benito’s permanent CAO, and Lyons became assistant CAO. Lyons was never a candidate for the permanent CAO job.
Throughout her career in county government, which has spanned nearly 17 years, Lyons has also worked for Mariposa and Monterey counties. There are many aspects that attracted her to working in government, she said.
“I love political science. I love politics,” Lyons said. “I like people.”
She said that the high point of her time at San Benito was watching county departments become more professional and work with one another better and more efficiently.
“I think we’ve moved into the 21st century,” Monaco said. “(Lyons) was certainly instrumental in fostering that.”
Lyons, who lives in the Central Valley, said that she looks forward to spending time with her five grandchildren and pursuing her pastimes like raising draft horses and showing classic cars.
Luke Roney covers local government and the environment for the Free Lance. Reach him at 831-637-5566 ext. 335 or at
lr****@fr***********.com
