By Manny Otiko | IVN
The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors voted to approve Christopher Wilhite as interim assessor-recorder during its meeting last week. Wilhite was previously assistant assessor.
Board members interviewed five people for the position during the meeting. The interview process took almost half of the meeting. Some supervisors quizzed the applicants on the importance of diversity and their views on the ability to retain staff.
Supervisor Col. (rtd.) Paul Cook relied on his military background to make a choice. He said it was important to select someone who had the training and background to go right into the position.
“I would go with the person next in line,” said Cook.
Wilhite replaces Bob Dutton, who died in July. He fills out a term that ends in January 2023. Board chair Curt Hagman advised the applicants to reapply for the position when it becomes open again.
Wilhite will also serve as county clerk.
In other related actions:
- The supervisors also recognized Dan Mejia and Thomas Marshall, who retired from the county after several decades of service. They also recognized May Farr, who retired after 26 years on the Behavioral Health Commission.
- Board members also heard a presentation from Luther Snoke, the county’s chief operating officer. Snoke talked about the construction of an EV charging station at the County Government Center. Cook directed county staff to see if they could find grant money to help support the program.
- In public comments, Matthew Clifton complained about the water quality in Mentone. He said the customers had “red water running out of their taps.” And county resident Jane Hunt-Ruble praised local law enforcement for cracking down on off-road vehicles and street racing in Muscoy. She thanked Supervisor Joe Baca Jr. for his work on the situation. She also complained about the quality of the roads after flooding and feared it was causing accidents.
The Inland Valley News coverage of local news in Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties is supported by the Ethnic Media Sustainability Initiative, a program created by California Black Media and Ethnic Media Services to support minority-owned-and-operated community newspapers across California.
