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SLO County Administrative Officer Wade Horton resigns

March 21, 2023

SLO County Administrator Wade Horton

By KAREN VELIE

San Luis Obispo County Administrative Officer Wade Horton resigned amid an evaluation request, County Counsel Rita Neal announced following a Board of Supervisor closed session on Tuesday. Horton agreed to lead the county until May 1.

A member of the new majority on the SLO County Board of Supervisors called for a performance review of Horton several weeks ago. County officials are not disclosing which of three county supervisors – Bruce Gibson, Jimmy Paulding or Dawn Ortiz Legg – requested the review.

Under Government Code 54957, during the evaluation the supervisors had the option to discipline or dismiss Horton.

While the board agenda refers to an “annual performance evaluation” of Horton, this was the first performance review scheduled since he was appointed as head of the county in 2017.

During Tuesday’s closed session, the board accepted Horton’s resignation in a 5-0 vote.

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This bums me out. I think the man did a good job. Others may disagree, and that’s fine. But I’m very apprehensive now about what sort of person we’ll get as a replacement. I don’t have much confidence in the current majority on the Board of Supervisors. We’re going to find out….


37

I’m waiting for CCN to report the rest of the story as there has to be much more to this resignation.


32

For fiscal year 2021, as County Administrative Officer at San Luis Obispo County, Wade Horton made $377,404 in salary and benefits. Wade may be excellent but his compensation is too high.


22

When he was hired, could they have found anyone better for cheaper? Just asking…


9

Elect’d folk are the worst fiduciaries on the planet. Brain dead when it comes to spending. Somebody has to pay for their flagrant misuse of public funds.

WHO PAYS?

The worker, the renter, the small fee land holder, the consumer feeding their family THAT is who pays these unjust salaries and benefits!


10

As people, I’d welcome wade to my home. I would not welcome any members of the current board. Character POV only.


28

He was there for 6 years and got a new board majority. But maybe it was the supreme arrogance and inability to follow board direction that cemented the issue of the board accepting his “resignation”. Perhaps he can take his PW director with him who has a similar issue with superiority and arrogance.


-18

Can you provide a specific example of that? I’m not saying you’re wrong, but I have not seen that.


26

Cambria is looking for a GM –


3

God help our County. With this new board “majority”, we’re going to need it. Badly.


35

His golden parachute contains????? Likely 6 to 9 months salary plus benefits.


6

Agreed, people complain about trash rates, sewer rates, water rates, the overall cost of gov’t BUT neither “side” controls salaries and benefits, particularly administrative, executive and supervisorial salary and benefits.


19

seriously !!!! If he gets retirement benefits he will be getting over 200,000 a year until he dies, starting now


5

Nature of the job. The wax wings melt the higher one gets to the sun. Thank you Mr. Horton for your service. New board, new administrator, will be interesting to follow and see if they hire internal or external – both have their downsides and appeal.


16
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