Local News RSS Feed
Print Story
E-mail StoryNatural allies fill ranks of Maggard staff
| Wednesday, Dec 27 2006 10:05 PM
Last Updated: Wednesday, Dec 27 2006 10:09 PM
New third district county Supervisor Mike Maggard will be sworn in today.
Our readers recommend:
Loading Stories
Photos:
Mike Maggard
But his staff has already been identified and is ready to start work next week.
"I tried to find a team that would be committed to serving the people of the third district as well as people who demonstrated the ability to solve problems," Maggard said.
His chief of staff will be Russell Johnson, a young city of Bakersfield planning commissioner who once pondered a run for the Bakersfield City Council seat Maggard left to run for supervisor.
"He is a great people person, with a servant's heart," Maggard said. "If anything were to describe my staff, it's that they all have: servants' hearts."
Johnson, like Maggard, is a leader in the local conservative wing of the Republican party, which has often clashed with the moderate segment of the party and its leaders, former Congressman Bill Thomas and consultant Mark Abernathy. Johnson worked as a staffer for conservative state Sen. Roy Ashburn, R-Bakersfield for three years.
Johnson, who is working as a catalog sales manager for a uniform company, said Maggard's job offer came as a surprise.
He said he took the job because Maggard will be a great supervisor.
Maggard has also hired Stephanie Griffing, another Ashburn staffer, as one of two full-time district representatives.
"She was a great resource for me during my campaign," Maggard said.
Griffing, who worked for Maggard political consultant Jimmy Yee before joining Ashburn's staff, coordinated the volunteer and walking programs for Maggard's campaign.
Former Bakersfield City Councilman Mark Salvaggio, who now works as staff for Supervisor Michael Rubio, said Griffing and Johnson are each a "natural ally" for Maggard.
"Obviously there's that link; Yee, Ashburn, Maggard," Salvaggio said.
The other full-time field representative for Maggard will be former businessman and local off-highway vehicle leader Dick Taylor.
Taylor worked closely with Maggard trying to develop a California State Vehicular Recreation Area near Bakersfield.
That effort fell through last week when the state killed a proposed location for the park north of Bakersfield.
Taylor, an ex-Marine, also owned and operated Taylor Tire and Brake in Bakersfield.
Maggard called Taylor "very motivated, engaging, and a problem solver."
Salvaggio said Taylor may be a bit of a liability for Maggard with the environmental community that opposed the off-highway park and could cause conflicts if the park does ever come before the Board of Supervisors for a vote.
Maggard's fourth staff pick, a part-time district representative, is retired Kern County Farm Bureau manager Loron Hodge.
"He has such credibility in our community and he is a very caring person, I just thought he'd be a great advocate to help people get their problems solved," Maggard said.
Salvaggio said Hodge is a well-known name with strong experience in ag and water issues.
A short swearing-in ceremony for Maggard will be held at 10 a.m. today in the Kern County Board of Supervisors' chambers, 1115 Truxtun Ave.