LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors took action on Tuesday to appoint a longtime county employee to be the next county administrative officer.
Following a closed session discussion at the end of its regular meeting, the board emerged on Tuesday to vote unanimously to appoint Social Services Director Carol Huchingson to succeed County Administrative Officer Matt Perry, according to Board Chair Rob Brown.
Perry's retirement begins at the end of business on Friday, April 1. Huchingson's appointment becomes effective the following day, Brown said.
Since Oct. 13, Huchingson also has been serving as the Valley fire long-term recovery coordinator for the county, a position the board appointed her to a week after the fire was reported to be fully contained.
Reached by phone on Tuesday afternoon as she was working on the set up for the After the Fire Rebuilding Summit and Open House in Middletown, Huchingson told Lake County News, “I'm just excited to have the opportunity and look forward to guiding the county through the complete recovery process while also maintaining the county's financial solvency and much more.”
Huchingson started with the county in June 1993.
In her role as Social Services director, she has overseen one of the county's largest and most complex departments.
Social Services includes adult and child protective services, housing, the In-Home Supportive Services Public Authority, CalWorks, food stamps, foster care, the public guardian and much more. Revenue comes from sources including the state and federal governments.
“We have every bit of confidence in her ability to do it,” said Brown of Huchingson's appointment to the county's top administrative position.
He said he has worked with Huchingson throughout his nearly 16 years on the board. Watching her perform as recovery coordinator during the last four months has made him even more confident in her ability to manage the county's government.
“She's a tremendous asset to the county and will continue to be in this role,” Brown said.
In November Perry announced his retirement, with the recruitment for his successor beginning that same month, as Lake County News has reported.
Perry, who was appointed in 2012 after the retirement of Kelly Cox, said he would begin the process of preparing the 2016-17 fiscal year budget before he retired.
Brown said seven individuals applied for the county administrative officer job. The candidates went through interviews on Jan. 25, with three or four finalists interviewed by the board on Jan. 26.
As she moves into her new role, Huchingson expects to transition out of the long-term recovery coordinator role.
“I anticipate continuing to lead the task force but in terms of coordination our intention really is to, as issues and concerns come up, to pass them to the departments that would respond to them,” she said.
As the coordinator, she's been more directly involved in recovery-related issues, but while she would still have a hand in those matters after she becomes county administrative officer, she expects to no longer take the lead but to let the department heads take over.
The county must now start the recruitment process for a new Social Services director, a process that Brown said is expected to start soon.
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Huchingson appointed new county administrative officer
- Elizabeth Larson
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