After initially remaining tight-lipped about the sudden dismissal of County Manager Mark McCauley, members of the Clark County council have offered more reasons for his ouster.
On Friday, the Clark County council held a special meeting and voted to not renew McCauley’s contract and to terminate him from the position immediately. During the meeting, Council Chair Marc Boldt said that the council would offer few details on McCauley’s dismissal and councilors only spoke vaguely of wanting a “different” direction for county leadership.
On Saturday, Boldt gave more of an explanation on an episode of the Unfiltered Podcast, a podcast on local issues hosted by Jeff Angelo and Mike Dalesandro, a member of the Battle Ground City Council who ran against Boldt for his position.
When asked about McCauley’s dismissal, Boldt said that the county is facing an increasingly difficult regulatory and financial environment, and the county needed someone who will “actually lead” and not just manage.
“We feel Mark got us through the tough times, but we didn’t think Mark could bring us into times that are extremely challenging,” said Boldt.
When contacted by The Columbian, Boldt further explained that McCauley didn’t move fast enough on county initiatives (he didn’t give examples). With the county facing a structural deficit, Boldt said, the county needs a manager who will proactively find ways to consolidate services with other jurisdictions.
The Clark County Home Rule Charter, which was passed by voters in 2014, states that the county manager takes direction from the council and will perform specific functions. Boldt said he couldn’t disclose the details of McCauley’s performance reviews, but he said that the council wanted someone who had a sense of “vision” in addition to being able to perform day-to-day managerial tasks.
Boldt praised McCauley for his leadership during a period that was marked by a “foxhole mentality” from deep divisions on the council. But he said that with those days over, it’s time for a different leadership style. He said that there was no scandal that caused McCauley’s termination.
Councilor Jeanne Stewart said that while McCauley was personable and open, she said he had a tendency to make presumptions. She also said that she had heard concerns expressed about him on a range of issues (she didn’t give specifics).
“There has just been a good consensus that we needed leadership for the organization as a whole,” said Stewart, echoing Boldt’s comments.
Calls to McCauley and the rest of the council were not returned.
Betty Sue Morris, who served as a Clark County commissioner for 12 years, said that while she didn’t know the circumstances surrounding McCauley’s dismissal, she said that when a local government council sees turnover, it’s not uncommon for it to seek a new manager. Last year, Councilors David Madore and Tom Mielke, who feuded with county staff and the rest of the council, were replaced by Councilors John Blom and Eileen Quiring, respectively. Both new councilors have sought more conciliatory approaches.
“There is a proper balance,” Morris said of the county manager job. “They have to be a leader for the staff, but they have to be a follower of the board. It’s a difficult, horrible job. I don’t know why anyone would want it.”
Stewart said she voted against immediately terminating McCauley’s contract because it was damaging to his dignity and would raise suspicion and concern.
The council had the option of not renewing the contract and allowing McCauley to stay on until it concluded in December. But Boldt said it would have been unfair to him and county staff by leaving him as a lame-duck manager.
“Once we decided not to renew the contract, we shot the gun,” he said. “You can’t un-shoot it.”
Boldt said that Deputy County Manager Bob Stevens will serve as county manager until an interim can be appointed. He said that the county will hire a search firm and that a permanent replacement will be found in six months.
