2 Area Men Among Finalists for County CAO

Veteran government administrator John Johnston has emerged as the leading candidate to replace retiring chief executive Lin Koester, gathering crucial support from several Ventura County supervisors and powerful union officials, sources said.

Union representatives and some county officials say Johnston has an edge over the only other remaining local candidate--Capt. Stephen Beal, a 26-year military officer with no experience in public administration.

Although both candidates are gregarious men with a reputation of having good people skills, Johnston has worked in county administration for 12 years, during which time he forged strong ties with Koester and Supervisor John Flynn.

The pool of candidates being considered has been pared from 65 to fewer than 10, who are scheduled to be interviewed by supervisors Sept. 23.

One of Koester’s top assistants, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Bert Bigler, and Probation Director Cal Remington were cut from the list of finalists for the $150,000-a-year post last week.

“I’m disappointed, but I’m not upset by any means,” Bigler said Wednesday. “I plan on staying right here and whoever the new CAO is, hopefully, they will want me to stay on.”

The two remaining local candidates have vastly different backgrounds.

Johnston, 56, moved to Ventura County from Los Angeles County in 1971 to become Ojai city manager. Three years later, he was hired to run the county’s Support Services Agency, which provides computer training, telecommunications and other services for county administration. He held that position for 11 years, then left public service for several years to work in the building industry.

In 1991, he become deputy executive officer for the Los Angeles Superior Court. He returned to Ventura County government last year when Koester hired him to manage the Parks Department. In February, he was promoted to his current post overseeing the 270-employee General Services Agency.

Beal, 48, who recently retired from the Point Mugu Naval Air Station, presided over the 12,000-person station during tumultuous times, when it was flooded by El Nino storms and was threatened with closure. He transferred to the area in 1995 from White Sands, N.M.

Beal is also considered a good fiscal manager, credited with transforming Point Mugu from a financially strapped base into a rapidly growing military operation by cutting costs and bringing 16 E-2C radar planes to the base to keep it vital.

So far, however, Johnston appears to be the most popular choice. The president of the Service Employees International Union and longtime county managers are pushing for his appointment.

“I’m the one who encouraged him to apply,” said Public Works Agency Director Art Goulet, who has known Johnston for 22 years. “Johnny is an extremely articulate fellow. Being from inside the organization, he knows all of the issues.”

Union President Barry Hammitt said Johnston, a friend for 25 years, is well liked by unionized employees.

“John has always been, from my vantage point, one of the brighter stars,” Hammitt said. “He can get the job done, and do it with good employee morale. . . . He has a good track record.”

Hammitt said Beal is unfamiliar with county government.

“It would be difficult for anyone who doesn’t have government experience to be successful,” he said. “It’s nothing against them, it’s just alien to their training.”

He and others said familiarity with Ventura County government is especially important now while the county tackles its worst financial fiasco in its history.

Last month, federal officials ordered the county to repay $15.3 million in Medicare reimbursements as a result of years of faulty mental health billing practices. The resulting financial burden, which is expected to grow, could result in cuts in crucial services and programs.

Beal emphasized the similarities between the military and county government. In his post, he worked to balance a budget and often dealt with community members and elected officials.

“I’m very excited about it,” Beal said of the possibility of replacing Koester, who is set to retire Sept. 10 but agreed to stay up to a month longer. “There are other very talented individuals who have applied. So I’m doing my homework.”

Both Beal and Johnston said they would welcome the challenge of leading the county out of financial turmoil.

“Why does a doctor visit sick patients?” Johnston said. “To heal and make things better. That’s the job. You need a general when there’s a war to be fought.”

Flynn and Supervisor Frank Schillo said they would reserve judgment until the interviews in three weeks.

“I’m not favoring anyone just because they work for the county,” Schillo said. “That would be foolish. Then why even recruit from outside?

“And I’m not giving anyone a leg up just because they live here. My criteria is that they have proven ability in leadership and working with a diverse group of people.”