Don Ashton appointed CAO for El Dorado County

Don Ashton, the El Dorado County Director of Health & Human Services, was appointed Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) during the Board of Supervisor's meeting in Placerville Tuesday.

When Sue Novasel, the South Shore representative on the Board of Supervisors was asked why Ashton was chosen, she said his 23 years of experience in the public sector is extensive, and he'll know how to take the county to the next level.

"Don interviewed the best out of all the finalists, " Novasel told South Tahoe Now. "He has many strengths, including the budget, and knows that the mid-level managers at the County need a culture change and he knows that it starts from above."

Ashton was backed by several elected officials and staff, many of who were present during the announcement at the BOS meeting.

"The seven elected department heads are unanimous in supporting Don Ashton as the person to provide this stable administrative leadership," those officials said in a April 5 press release.

"I’ve worked with him on the Mental Health commission, SLT Senior Center, CSA-3 (ambulances)," said Novasel. "He's been in Tahoe working on a lot of issues and I look forward to working with him."

She said he knows and understands the issues facing the east slope of the county.

Ashton and his wife spend a lot of time in Tahoe and in his current role has been in town at least twice a month (he was over the Senior Center and Mental Health).

"I am appreciative to the board for their support," Ashton said. "I look forward to working with them, the department heads and the community stakeholders."

The community, County Staff and elected officials have been without a permanent CAO in El Dorado County Terri Daley was ousted by the Supervisors on November 4, 2014. Since that time there have been two interim CAOs, Pamela Knorr and Larry Combs. Knorr was hired for with a temporary one-year contract. Combs, who held the top spots in Sutter County and Merced County before his retirement, has been leading the county on the interim basis since replacing Knorr in June, 2015. He was close to not being able to serve any longer due to PERS restrictions on jobs after retirement.

Ashton's salary will be just under $215,000 a year plus benefits. He starts in his new position tomorrow, May 25, 2016.