Hiring from within: Interim Shasta County CEO selected

REDDING, Calif. — Shasta County Supervisors are hiring from within for an interim chief executive officer.

Seldom do they vote 5-0 on anything, but they were unanimous in a closed session vote to select retiring public works director Pat Minturn as the Interim CEO.

Minturn says the timing was perfect. He was set to retire as Public Works director when CEO Matt Pontes resigned. He says he's familiar with all county departments and priorities.

“I think the county is working on a jail, that’s a high priority and that’s certainly something with my Public Works background I can bring to the table. And the county’s looking at the cost of the jail and operational costs—and these are things that we’ve visited before. So, it’d be a shame for me to leave, and leave the county without a CEO, at this critical moment. So, the board saw this as an opportunity; Chair Baugh saw the potential—and I’ve worked with Chair Baugh for many years so it’s a very easy transition.”

Board meetings have been contentious at times in the last two years, but after 21 years as Public Works director, he's familiar with dealing with strong opinions.

“Shasta County’s got a very 'activist' public and they always have. I remember back in the 90s it was, really, no different. So, I anticipate that this is going to be a continuity of that," said Minturn. "I’m here to assist the board. And if things are 'activist' at certain points, I think I’m comfortable with that as well.”

He should be officially appointed as county CEO at the next Board of Supervisors meeting on June 14. He plans to serve the rest of this year. By then, a new permanent CEO should be hired.

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