Devereaux To Leave As SBC County CEO

San Bernardino County Chief Executive Officer Greg Devereaux, who has been in that position for seven years, announced yesterday, January 19, that he will retire, most likely in June, and move into the post of a management consultant with the county for three years thereafter.
The exact timing of his departure as chief executive will depend on the county’s ability to find his replacement and transition him or her fully into position.
Devereaux, whose age is given variously as 59 and 65, was provided tremendous latitude and power when he was hired in January 2010, following the forced departure of his predecessor, Mark Uffer. The title of the role he filled was changed from county administrative officer to county chief executive officer. He was also provided with what is referred to as a superbonus, which prevented him from being terminated on a bare majority 3-2 vote of the board. Instead, four votes were needed to bring about his departure.
Devereaux was hired largely on the strength of his performance as city manager first in Fontana, where he was instrumental in guiding that city out of the financial straits it found itself in during the 1990s. He was subsequently hired by the City of
Ontario and he transformed that city into the most dynamic economic engine among the county’s 24 incorporated municipalities, with a total budget greater than two thirds of a billion dollars when counting all of the money into its various funds by the time he left there to become county administrative officer.
As the county’s chief executive officer, Devereaux was earning a salary of $318,909 annually plus benefits that put his total compensation package near $400,000. He was given a contract extension three years ago that guaranteed him ten years employment with the county. Accordingly, he will spend the next three years as a consultant to his successor, at an annual compensation of $91,000.
Devereaux had sometimes testy relations with county employees and their union advocates. Immediately upon becoming chief executive, he had to deal with the downturn in revenue into the county brought on by the lingering national, state and local recession that started at the end of 2007. He sought and obtained the reluctant concessions of unions to allow the freezing of salaries and reducing benefits.
“I was hoping to work with Greg throughout my chairmanship,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman Robert Lovingood. “Greg’s knowledge and ability to work with the board to address the county’s challenges will be missed. He is well respected in the local government and business communities.”
“Greg Devereaux is a man of integrity and intelligence who has served the people of this county admirably,” said Second District Supervisor Janice Rutherford. “His fiscal discipline and eagerness to tear down unproductive bureaucratic silos have allowed the county to return to its core functions as well as lead regional conversations about education, the economy and much more. As a board member, I will miss his daily presence and as a friend, I wish him and his family the very best.”
“Greg’s contacts in Sacramento and Washington and throughout Southern California and his knowledge of government have served the board and the county well,” said Board of Supervisors Vice Chairman Curt Hagman. “Greg played a key role working with me and other local leaders to return Ontario International Airport to local control. As the newest member of the board, I had been looking forward to working with Greg as CEO throughout my time on the Board. “I am glad he will still be available to us in an advisory role.”
“Greg has been a trusted and knowledgeable advisor through the years and he has worked effectively to help the board of supervisors achieve its goals,” said Third District Supervisor James Ramos.
The board of supervisors will discuss the finding of Devereaux’s replacement in closed session on Tuesday.

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