McCauley eyes permanent county manager job

VANCOUVER – Mark McCauley, who has worked in relative anonymity as Clark County administrator, is about to get prime time viewing on a more public stage.

With passage of the Home Rule Charter, he will assume the position of interim county manager beginning Jan. 1, 2015. The position will be high profile because McCauley will assume executive duties traditionally handled by county commissioners.

McCauley said in an interview with The Reflector this past week that he hopes to get the job on a permanent basis in January 2016 when the county’s three-member board of commissioners becomes a five-member council.

“Everything that goes to the board comes through me, so I touch everything anyway,” he said.

The Charter defines the manager as Clark County’s chief executive officer with the power to supervise all administrative departments, execute and enforce ordinances and state laws not assigned to other elected officials, prepare a county budget, conduct collective bargaining on behalf of the county, and other tasks.

Commissioner David Madore considers McCauley a top choice for the manager job, calling him “a man of character.”

“Mark McCauley has earned the trust and respect of the 1,600-plus member team that he has been leading since his appointment last year,” Madore said. “He has demonstrated excellent judgment and a diligent commitment to see each employee succeed while finding smarter more efficient ways to serve citizens.

“Mark gives credit to others when things go well and looks in the mirror if they don’t,’’ Madore added. “I’ve never known him to honk his own horn. Mark works to build a culture that focuses on making our customers – citizens – successful while finding savings that have enabled our county staff to improve services while keeping a lid on taxes.

“I have the highest respect and confidence in Mark McCauley that he will continue to wisely manage the day to day business of the county and competently include the extra responsibilities defined by the newly passed Charter.”

McCauley joined the county staff in January 2001 after a 20-year Army career. He has served as finance manager, administrative services manager for public works, director of the General Services Department since 2006, and was appointed county administrator in September 2013.

A certified public accountant, McCauley, 58, currently earns $145,000 per year. He has bachelor’s degrees in business and accounting from Washington State University and a Master of Business Administration degree from Syracuse University.

The Oak Harbor native said that, besides having good relationships with current commissioners, “I have super relationships with the department heads. They are all strong horses.”

Clark County is enjoying “modest growth” that should continue during 2015-16, he wrote in his recommended budget document for those years. Regional economist Scott Bailey of the Washington Employment Security Department agreed the county’s economy is humming.

Clark County added jobs at a faster rate than the state of Washington, Portland, and the state of Oregon during the 12-month period ending in August, Bailey said. The county’s employment numbers grew by 5,800 full-time jobs, or 4.2 percent, during that period.

“Job growth in the county has been gangbusters (and) we keep providing services without raising taxes,” McCauley said. “The people of this county should know we are wired tightly.”

He believes there are several reasons why Clark County is attracting more residents and businesses. The infrastructure is in fine shape, there’s no state income tax, and schools are good, McCauley said, adding that waiving development fees is another factor.

“Certainly that has been part of it,” he said.

The budget for the next two years has enough revenue to allow hiring 10 “custody” deputies in the sheriff’s office and a legal assistant in the prosecuting attorney’s office. McCauley credits the county staff for maintaining a positive economic climate.

Madore explained that the money will allow the county to open a wing with about 45 beds that has been closed for years. He said the funding, which is all state money, will allow hiring of jail employees to oversee the wing. The funding for those positions will be ongoing, Madore said.

“Our jail will finally be operating at 100 percent,” he said.

Meanwhile, McCauley lauded county employees for fiscal efficiency.

“Today, Clark County has a lean and highly productive staff,” he wrote in the budget message. “We have developed a strong finance team to leverage our combined experience and expertise.”

One of the issues he believes the county must tackle is mental health, which McCauley called “a big one.” How to properly care for the mentally ill is a growing problem because many of those with mental illness end up in jail where they are housed with criminals.

“The entire nation has work to do in this area,” McCauley said.

When he’s not working, cars occupy McCauley’s thoughts. He has models of two sports cars in his office, and said, “I’m a car nut. I like German cars.”

His boyhood dream was to become an Air Force pilot, and McCauley enjoyed putting together model airplanes. His eyesight prevented him from qualifying to fly, so he went into the Army.

His office also show McCauley’s military side. There’s a foot-high bronze statue near his desk that depicts an everyman soldier known as “Iron Mike.” It’s a replica of a full-sized statue at Fort Benning, GA, where he spent part of his Army career.

“I’ve always loved the military,” McCauley said.

While there’s excitement transitioning into life under the Charter, and the possible county manager post, McCauley is looking forward to family related mileposts, too. He and his wife, Elizabeth, will welcome their fourth grandchild in the spring.

“I’m thrilled about that,” McCauley said.

AT A GLANCE

Mark McCauley

Job title: Clark County administrator

Tenure with county: Hired in January 2001; appointed county administrator in September 2013.

Among his duties: Formulating the county budget, presenting it to county commissioners, and executing the budget after commissioners approve it.