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Board of Supervisors Appoints New Chief Administration Operator

From staff reports

The Board of Supervisors voted last week to offer the job of chief administrative officer of Los Angeles County to Thomas G. Mauk. Mauk has accepted the position and will assume his duties on March 12.

Mauk, 63, of Whittier, has served in a similar position as county executive officer of Orange County since 2004. He also has extensive experience in city government and is one of the most respected and distinguished government administrators in California. In all, he is a 35 year veteran of public policy and public administration.

“We believe that Tom Mauk is the right man to lead Los Angeles County government into the next decade, “said Board of Supervisors Chair Zev Yaroslavsky. “He is fiscally responsible while keenly mindful of the county’s mission to help those in need. Our county faces several daunting challenges in the years ahead, and we are fortunate to have a man of Tom’s experience and achievement at the helm.”

While serving in Orange County, Mauk grappled successfully with many of the same issues facing Los Angeles County, overseeing the refinancing of over a billion dollars of debt and negotiating an agreement with labor unions to address the growing liability of retiree medical benefits.

“I was impressed with Tom’s problem solving abilities,” said Chair Pro Tem Yvonne B. Burke. “He has tackled some complex problems in Orange County and elsewhere and has proven himself to be a creative thinker and effective problem solver.”

Mauk is also credited with encouraging an atmosphere of openness and transparency amongst the Orange County bureaucracy’s 21 departments and more than 15,000 employees. In Los Angeles County he will manage 39 departments with nearly 100,000 employees. “Tom believes that county government should be an open, transparent and responsive institution,” said Supervisor Gloria Molina. “All of our citizens will benefit from his approach.”

Before taking the position in Orange County, Mauk served as assistant city manager and city manager in various Southern California cities. He also worked in the private sector on municipal finance issues. He was city manager of Whittier from 1980 to 1999, a period that included the 1987 Whittier Narrows Earthquake that severely damaged the community’s downtown area.

Board members pointed out that Mauk shares the board’s long-held philosophy of prudent fiscal management and living within the county’s means. He is a solid, experienced administrator who has earned the respect of supervisors and city council members, labor union leaders and community organizations.

He will replace David Janssen, who retired on Jan. 16 after more than 10 years as Los Angeles County CAO.

“Tom is an experienced administrator with a strong track record of supporting public safety and vital services,” said Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich. “I look forward to working with him.”