OC supervisor candidates seek ethical county CEO

Orange County supervisor candidates said they want the county’s next permanent CEO to be ethical, experienced and able to run the county’s $10 billion bureaucracy independently, according to Voice of OC.

The comments come as Orange County has gone nearly three years without a permanent CEO, a position that oversees daily county operations and helps shape the annual budget.

Voice of OC reported Oct. 9 that candidates in the Fourth and Fifth supervisorial districts answered questionnaire questions about what they want in the county’s next CEO, how the job should relate to the Board of Supervisors and whether the county should consider structural changes.

KC Roestenberg is currently running the county and has said he plans to retire after supervisors choose a replacement, according to Voice of OC. Michelle Aguirre served as CEO for two years after initially agreeing to serve for one year, and Frank Kim held the job for nine years before leaving in July 2024.

The candidates broadly described the CEO as a professional administrator who should carry out board policy while managing county departments. Dixon, a Fifth District county supervisor candidate, said the county needs a leader who can handle complex budgets, a large organization and difficult decisions.

Foley, a Fifth District county supervisor candidate, pointed to transparency, financial judgment and experience managing a large California county, Voice of OC reported. Shaw, a Fourth District county supervisor candidate, emphasized integrity, financial management and administrative experience.

Traut, a Fourth District county supervisor candidate, said the CEO should be able to give supervisors independent advice. “The CEO should be the County’s professional chief administrator, not a sixth supervisor,” Traut said.

Several candidates also said the board should set clearer expectations before another CEO search, according to Voice of OC. Candidates expressed caution or skepticism about making the CEO an elected position, with concerns that the role could become more political.

Voice of OC reported that the next CEO will inherit a central management role in a county government serving more than three million residents.