Government

Supervisor Roberts Chosen as Board Chairman for 2012

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County supervisors unanimously chose Supervisor Ron Roberts Monday to succeed Supervisor Bill Horn as the board’s chairman during their first meeting of 2012.

“It is an honor to assume the chairmanship of one of the nation’s best run counties,” Roberts said at a break in Monday’s meeting. “The languishing economy and dysfunction in Sacramento will continue to vex us in 2012, but I expect my colleagues and county staff to remain up to the challenge.

“Great opportunities await us and I look forward to a year of accomplishments for the residents of San Diego County,” Roberts said.

The board traditionally rotates the chairperson’s position each year and the chairperson is recognized as the board’s official spokesperson.

In addition to becoming the voice of the board, the chairperson’s main jobs are to preside over the board’s meetings, appoint other supervisors to various committees, field requests from other supervisors to place items on the board’s agenda, and to outline goals in the annual State of the County address.

Roberts is scheduled to hold the State of the County Address Feb. 8 at the San Diego Hall of Champions in Balboa Park.

Horn thanked the rest of the board Monday and said it had been an honor to serve as chairman again.

Horn said he was especially proud of the fact that the County had retained its AAA bond rating — one of the goals he set for his chairmanship — despite the still-struggling economic recovery statewide and nationally.

“If you look at the state of California, and you look at other states in the country,” Horn said, “we are a leader. Year after year we receive awards; in fact, we receive so many awards that we take it as normal procedure.”

Horn also cited the board and County’s prudent fiscal policies and healthy reserves that have allowed the County to pay for needed capital improvements such as the County’s planned waterfront park downtown, the new Medical Examiner’s building, the County Operations Center development project, and new libraries that were opened in Fallbrook and Ramona in 2011.

Horn praised the County for:

  • Doing a good job of dealing with Assembly Bill 109, a “huge” state mandate that shifted thousands of prisoners from state prisons to County jails and which local officials fear the state will not fuly fund.
  • For convening a Red Tape Reduction Task Force that provided “great suggestions” to improve County land-use processes.
  • Working together with the Rincon Band of Luiseno Indians to reach an agreement that would allow “millions of dollars from gaming facilities” to stay in San Diego County to be used to improve traffic, fire and emergency medical services and other issues.
  • Continuing to concentrate on improving public safety and emergency services.
  • Working with the San Diego Veterans Coalition, the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce and other agencies to improve services to, and the quality of life of, veterans.
Gig Conaughton is a communications specialist with the County of San Diego Communications Office. Contact