After just two weeks as the county’s fifth chief administrator
in two years, Fresno County transplant Susan Thompson hopes to
bring balance and longevity to a position that has been a
revolving-door by focusing on the future and building stable
relationships with staff.
Hollister – After just two weeks as the county’s fifth chief administrator in two years, Fresno County transplant Susan Thompson hopes to bring balance and longevity to a position that has been a revolving-door by focusing on the future and building stable relationships with staff.
Thompson, who took over for Interim County Administrative Officer Susan Lyons on July 7, spent her first couple weeks on the job getting acquainted with county staff and elected officials while becoming versed on the county’s prime issues and challenges.
Although its been fast paced, the experienced administrator said she’s up for the challenge and is ready to tackle a depleted budget, department head vacancies and a host of other operational issues.
“You bet I’m prepared, I’m ready,” Thompson said. “I took this position after meeting with the Board (of Supervisors) several times, and we made a commitment to each other that we’re looking for some long-term stability. I intend to make a commitment to this community.”
Thompson was hired by the board in May and beat out 40 other candidates for the job. She took over for Lyons, who served as CAO for six months after several people either quit the job or were fired.
Thompson said she has not researched the prior administrators’ decisions or what they did right or wrong because she wants to start with a clean slate.
“I don’t want to have any baggage with this board,” she said. “I want to move forward with this board in today’s issues.”
Registrar John Hodges was impressed with Thompson’s refusal to dwell on any past issues or problems. That’s what he believes the county needs to turn the tide on the rampant negativity that has coursed through some departments.
“I see only good things happening to the county, which is needed, and I’m sure all department heads will get behind her and make her look good,” Hodges said. “She’s got that real positive attitude of ‘we’re starting fresh and no looking back.'”
Thompson, who believes Hollister’s sewer moratorium, San Juan Bautista’s multimillion dollar infrastructure grant, the county’s bleak financial status and a couple county department head vacancies are the most pressing issues facing San Benito County now. Thompson will have to contend with a $72.9 million budget that was balanced with $2 million from the county’s $12 million reserve fund, while searching for a new planning director after the recent firing of former Planning Director Rob Mendiola and a new Public Works Department head, she said.
Thompson’s prioritizing and aggressive attitude to replacing Mendiola and bumping up staffing levels within the planning department are exactly in line with supervisor’s thinking, according to Chairman Reb Monaco.
“Her roll-up-her-sleeves-and-get-to-work attitude has impressed me,” Monaco said. “She gets to work early and has started dealing with the reorganization of the planning department head-on. I think she’s going to be outstanding.”
Monaco also referenced Thompson’s ability to establish comfort levels with staff members, while encouraging a strong work ethic throughout all departments.
“I have nothing but praise for her,” he said.
Thanks to Thompson’s experience working in the Fresno County administrative office for the past 27 years, she’s versed in economic, personnel and development issues, she said.
“I have a lot of years of budget and fiscal-related issues with the board,” Thompson said. “It’s all the same issues, just a different scale.”
Although Thompson started in the midst of budget season, it was Lyons who put this fiscal year’s budget together and Thompson said most of the hard work is over.
“It’s going quite well. It’s not as stressful as you might think,” Thompson said. “We have a very competent budget staff who’ve had a number of years of experience. All in all, I’m looking forward to really good budget hearings.”
Erin Musgrave covers public safety for the Free Lance. Reach her at 637-5566, ext. 336 or em*******@fr***********.com
