LaneCo Tweet: 3-2 'You're hired!' for new admin

By Katie Boer KVAL News Published: May 18, 2011 at 12:55 PM PDT Last Updated: May 19, 2011 at 4:33 PM PDT

This just in from the KVAL Newsroom on Thursday, May 19, 2011

Lane Co. Commish voted 3-2 (handy & Sorenson dissenting) to select Liane Richardson as new Co. Administrator.

Tweet from @LCBoard | KVAL News First report | Press release below

Following high remarks from community partners, staff and peers, the Lane County Board of Commissioners selected Liane Richardson as Lane County’s new Administrator.

Richardson was unanimously selected by the Board last year to fill the post of Acting County Administrator, a position she’s held since December 2010. The Board voted 3-2 for Richardson to continue serving at the helm.

The Board directed the Human Resources Director to begin final negotiations with Richardson and to prepare a final contract for Board consideration at a date to be determined.

Richardson’s review evaluated several key areas including leadership and teamwork, decision making and problem solving, communication effectiveness, innovative thinking, and customer focus. In all rankings Richardson was rated as “exceptional” exceeding all performance standards.

Her calm, honest, approach to leading Lane County was among the noted comments of Richardson’s performance. Richardson has also been praised for her focused efforts to help Lane County adapt to meet residents needs while guiding the County to a sustainable level of operations.

“I’ve been absolutely, incredibly impressed with her passion for this position and for this organization,” said Board Chair Faye Stewart during today’s discussion.

Richardson is looking forward to her permanent role.

“I have enjoyed my time as Acting County Administrator and am very excited and honored to be allowed to continue in this capacity for Lane County,” she said.

Richardson has served as Lane County Counsel since 2008. Prior to that, her extensive experiences includes senior litigator for Lane County, assistant dean for Student Affairs at the University of Oregon School of Law, city prosecutor for the City of Eugene, chief deputy district attorney for Benton County, deputy district attorney for Benton County, and assistant district attorney for Lane County.

Richardson earned a Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Oregon School of Law and a Certificate of Completion in Criminal Law in 1995. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology in 1992.

Additionally, Richardson is an active member in many community and professional activities, currently serving as chair of the Lane County Local Professional Responsibility Committee, on the Oregon State Bar House of Delegates, and as a volunteer for Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA). Past community service includes Eugene Active 20-30 Club president, and Child Advocacy Center board member, among other activities.

Initial report from Wednesday, May 18, 2011 >>> Video

EUGENE, Ore. - After a glowing and very public performance review, the Lane County Commissioners are moving forward to make acting County Administrator Liane Richardson a more permanent fixture.

Since December 2010, Richardson has filled the role of overseeing the $534.6 million county budget, replacing County Administrator Jeff Spartz.

Since then, she's met her share of opposition, butting heads with current commissioners Pete Sorenson and Rob Handy regarding possible illegal meetings held by the two.

In a motion that was rejected by the commission, Handy proposed that rather then offering Richardson the job, the commission evaluate other possible candidates.

Handy moved "that human resources conduct an open hiring process for the position of Lane County Administrator that can be funded through the HR budget and advertised throughout the western United States, up to and including the Rocky Mountain regions so that Lane County can have the most qualified and diverse pool of candidates for consideration."

The motion was also supported by Sorenson but was shot down by the three remaining commissioners who said they opposed opening up a potentially costly search when a successful and passionate candidate was already in front of them.

"I believe that we're moving in a direction right now that I would be very comfortable appointing Liane as a permanent administrator," said Commissioner Sid Leiken, former Mayor of Springfield. "I think what she's done her in six months, I think that the evaluation is glowing...and it would said the taxpayers a tremendous amount of money."

Leiken said he thought opening a public hiring process would be a waste of taxpayer's money and that in his experience on the commission, Richardson has met his expectations.

"Why disrupt this position right now when ultimately thats where the board may go in the first place?" Leiken questioned? "You can save potentially $60,000 of taxpayers money."

"Based on the absolute glowing evaluation - that's a very good evaluation - and I'm comfortable right now to appoint Liane as the permanent administrator," said Leiken, "Why disrupt this position right now when ultimately that's where the board may go in the first place and you can save potentially $60,000 of taxpayers money?"

"We could use some permanence moving ahead," Commissioner Jay Bozievich agreed. A majority of the commission supported his motion that the human resource's director negotiate a contract with the acting county administrator to make Richardson the county administrator.

"I will look forward to Ms. Richarson having success on behalf of all of us," he said.

But Handy said he disagreed. "We've got a lot of work to do, and I won't be supporting the motion and we'll just keep working on things."

The performance review was positive reinforcement for Richardson, who opted to have her review done in an open public session rather then a private executive session.

"People are still recognizing that I'm making decisions and trying to move us forward," said Richardson following the review, "It was nice to hear that all of my hard work and trying to get this organization moving forward is recognized."

Still, Richardson told KVAL News she expects she'll face opposition from Handy and Sorenson, two of the five county commisioners she reports to.

"I would imagine that most people at times have difficulties working with their supervisor and it makes it more difficult when it becomes public--but we'll work through it," said Richardson. "We worked through the Dumdi matter and all the issues that surrounded that, and we'll work through this one as well."

Once a contract is negotiated, the job will go back to the county commission for final approval.