Santa Barbara County CEO may leave
Santa Barbara County’s top official may be leaving her post after just three years on the job. Chief Executive Officer Chandra Wallar is being considered for a similar job in Orange County.
Chandra Wallar could be the new CEO of Orange County, if she’s approved by the Board of Supervisors there.
Most Santa Barbara County supervisors were surprised by the announcement. They received an email just five minutes before their regular meeting Tuesday. The message came after an Orange County media source broke the story.
“When I saw that yesterday, I was frankly shocked by that,” Supervisor Janet Wolf said.
The news came the same day Santa Barbara County supervisors were scheduled to evaluate Wallar’s performance.
Bruce Corsaw, executive director of SEIU Local 620, who represents most union workers in Santa Barbara County tells NewsChannel 3 that Wallar is a competent CEO, but workers don’t like everything she’s done.
“Our members have sacrificed a lot, for a lot of years. We don’t like her philosophy on contracting out people,” said Corsaw.
Wallar’s employment contract requires her to give 60 days notice. Supervisor Janet Wolf says the board will have to make a lot of decisions if Wallar leaves, including an interim CEO and permanent replacement. It’s a hiring process that could take months.
