Hollister
– Lisa Rheinheimer, the new executive director of the county’s
Council of Governments, is far from a stranger to San Benito’s
transportation issues.
Hollister – Lisa Rheinheimer, the new executive director of the county’s Council of Governments, is far from a stranger to San Benito’s transportation issues.
That’s because Rheinheimer’s first job after she graduated from the University of New Hampshire was as a COG intern. From 1999 to 2004, Rheinheimer – who is in her mid-30s – rose through the COG’s ranks before departing to work as a senior transportation planner at the Transportation Agency for Monterey County. She took over in late January as COG’s executive director.
Rheinheimer said that although the intervening two-and-a-half years haven’t caused any dramatic changes in San Benito, she’s still trying to get up to speed on where COG’s projects currently stand.
“We keep talking to her like she should know what’s happened,” said Mary Dinkuhn, COG’s transportation planning manager. Dinkuhn also started as a COG intern in 1999.
Rheinheimer’s appointment ends a tumultuous period for COG leadership. Tom Quigley, COG’s previous permanent executive director, ended his controversial three-year tenure last year. Bob Davies, a retired commander with the Gilroy-Hollister California Highway Patrol, had served as the interim director since Quigley’s departure.
According to Dinkuhn, Rheinheimer’s short time at the helm has already caused an increase in energy among COG’s staff.
“It’s nice to have the leadership to guide us a little bit more,” Dinkuhn said.
Rheinheimer said she hopes to move the county’s numerous highway projects forward, increase ridership on county transit and to train staff so there will be a smooth transition if and when she moves on to another agency. Rheinheimer hopes to develop a more specific set of goals in the coming months.
She also said her time in Monterey has given her a broader perspective on transportation issues. For one thing, Rheinheimer hopes to make COG meetings and reports more understandable to the general public.
“I’m going to war on acronyms,” she said.
Anthony Ha covers local government for the Free Lance. Reach him at 831-637-5566 ext. 330 or ah*@fr***********.com.
