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County Hires New CAO

They searched far and wide but ultimately decided to hire someone down the hall. The County Board of Supervisors promoted its public works director to the County Administrative Officer job, and will now have to find a new public works director.

Wade Horton was unanimously named the new CAO, apparently hired during a closed session meeting on Nov. 7. Supervisors had put the call out nationwide to replace Dan Buckshi, who left last May for a better job in Walnut Creek after 5-years as CAO and 15 years total with SLO County.

“Wade is the clear choice to lead us into the future,” said John Peschong, Dist. 1 Supervisor and chairman of the Board. “Even with our Board’s diversity, Mr. Horton’s ability to obtain a 5-0 vote clearly demonstrates the confidence the Board has in his leadership.”

Horton’s contract was slated to go before Supervisors on Nov. 14 for approval. His base salary will be $223,900 with benefits — medical insurance, retirement and more — totaling $107,800, according to the Whitney Szentesi with County Administration.

Horton has been the County’s Public Works Director since coming over from the City of SLO in 2014. He was deputy director of utilities/water for the City of SLO for many years, and has a total of 19 years experience in the public and private sectors.

As CAO, Horton will oversee an annual budget of $590 million and a staff of 2,800 that provides a wide range of services including public safety and emergency preparation, road maintenance, environmental protection, health and human services, planning and building, and more. Horton was to start his new job on Nov. 15.

“I’m looking forward to serving with an exceptional leadership team focused on service and improving quality of life for our fellow County residents,” Horton said in a news release.

Horton’s tenure with County Public Works has been productive, as the County successfully worked with agencies and stakeholders on the State-required sustainable management of groundwater basins; brought in 80 new people that were incorporated into Public Works after the General Services Department was eliminated; and he was also in charge of completing the Los Osos Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Prior to working in government, Horton was a project manager for Penfield & Smith; a construction field engineer for Modern Continental; and an associate engineer for URS Corp. He earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering from Cal Poly, and is a registered civil engineer in the State of California.

He is also a Navy veteran and has served was a reserve officer for 13 years in the Navy Civil Engineering Corps.

As the new CAO, Horton will be tasked with hiring a new public works director. Szentesi said that Horton had not yet (as of Nov. 9) named an interim director.

– By Neil Farrell

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