David Boesch, the current San Mateo County manager and former Menlo Park city manager, will resign the county post Dec. 31, the county announced Friday (Nov. 4).
The announcement followed a closed session of the Board of Supervisors. According to the county statement, "Boesch said it was clear that he and the Board had different philosophies and that in the best interest of the organization he tendered his resignation."
Boesch's last day in the office will be Nov. 15. Between then and Dec. 31, Boesch will help in the transition to an interim county manager not yet chosen.
"It has been an honor and a privilege to lead this organization during especially challenging times," Boesch said in the statement. "I will forever treasure this experience and the many fond memories and friendships."
Boesch managed Menlo Park between July 2000 and February 2007, when he was named assistant county manager, taking the top job in the county in late 2008, about the time that economy started down into a recession that has not yet ended.
"I have a real passion for working on problems that on the surface seem intractable," he said in the statement. "What I have learned in my career in public service is that almost any problem is solvable if you bring together the people involved and demonstrate a genuine commitment to working in partnership toward a solution."
Boesch has a master's degree in public administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and previous served as community development director in Nashua, New Hampshire, and in Sunnyvale.
Board President Carole Groom, noting Boesch's many contributions, said the board will look nationwide for a new manager.
Comments
Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Nov 5, 2011 at 6:20 pm
on Nov 5, 2011 at 6:20 pm
These kinds of dismissals, without any kind of supporting information as to why the top level manager was shown the door, hardly give the public any sense that anyone at the top really knows what they are doing.
Just recently, David Boesch negotiated the 2011-12 San Mateo County budget through their "process":
Web Link
The budget called for about 1.7B in expenditures, and a reduction in spending via employee headcount reduction. So, what exactly did Boesch do "wrong"? Was his dismissal a result of the Unions pulling the strings of the Supervisors demanding that no jobs be lost? Did the Supervisors think that the headcount reduction should be greater?
For those of us in Palo Alto who see the kinds of low-level corruption that goes on at our City Hall, do people in San Mateo County see the same ineptitude and corruption at the County government level?
It's so frustrating not to know what is going on when billions of taxpayers' dollars are at risk from ineptitude, fraud, or just poor administration of governments, that are often the largest employers in the region.
It's way past time for a change.
another community
on Nov 5, 2011 at 8:19 pm
on Nov 5, 2011 at 8:19 pm
David Boesch was fired.
This is part of the reason. He was against the huge Jail.
“I’m not yet persuaded that we need to build a new jail facility either to replace the women’s facility or address some of the crowded conditions in Maguire to the order magnitude the Sheriff is recommending,” Boesch wrote in an email to The Daily News.
He was one of the best things going for the Taxpayers of San Mateo County.
note: David was not a member of Service League of San Mateo County.
Carole, Adrienne, Rose, and Don wanted him gone.
Wake up San Mateo County
Menlo Park
on Nov 21, 2011 at 12:14 am
on Nov 21, 2011 at 12:14 am
Bottom line, the gutless, good-old-boy network in San Mateo County is alive and well. Until the good-old-boys (and girls) are voted out, things will continue to be the same-old-same-old. I have no opinion either way about David Boesch, but I would like to call to the attention of everyone that, when he was appointed, the County was already heavily in debt; something Boesch had nothing to do with. That they would bring back former County Manager, John Maltbie, as Interim County Manager, just floors me; Maltbie played a major part in making poor management and financial decisions when he was County Manager, and is one of the people most responsible for the financial mess the County's in. And, now he's back?!?!? A shining example of the good-old-boy (and, girl) network at it's very working best!!! Rots a ruck, folks!!!