Johnson sheds interim title, named county CEO




Sevet Johnson

Sevet Johnson

Despite a national search for a new CEO that produced nearly 200 applications, the Ventura County Board of Supervisors ultimately never had to leave the ZIP code.

Supervisors voted 5-0 Tuesday in closed session to name Sevet Johnson, 41, to the county’s top administrative seat. The 13-year county employee had been serving as acting CEO since March, when her predecessor, Mike Powers, resigned before he could be fired.

Powers is now the subject of a lawsuit filed by a former employee accusing him of sexual harassment, discrimination and defamation; the county is also named in the suit. An outside investigation completed in February found that a “preponderance” of evidence supported the woman’s claims.

Johnson was working as head of the county’s behavioral health department when the board tapped her to take the reins of the county’s $2-billion budget and 10,000-person workforce.

After six hours of speaking to job candidates, supervisors emerged from closed session Aug. 2 to announce their decision. Supervisor Linda Parks told the Acorn last week that the county conducted an extensive nationwide recruitment and received almost 200 applications.

“The Board of Supervisors, by unanimous consent, selected Dr. Sevet Johnson as the county executive officer,” board chair Carmen Ramirez said.

The decision is subject to final approval of an employment contract, upon which the board will vote at its Sept. 13 meeting, she said.

Board members, following the announcement, said Johnson’s leadership over the past months helped tip the vote in her favor.

“I think everyone we met with had such great strengths, but I think Dr. Johnson has done such an exceptional job the last five months leading us through this transitory time,” Supervisor Matt LaVere said.

“When I think about the future of Ventura County and where I want to go, I really see her as somebody who can shine in this role, guiding us into the future,” LaVere said.

Now responsible for overseeing 27 agencies and departments, including sheriff and fire, Johnson began working for the county’s behavioral health department in 2009 and had led the department since 2018. She also served as deputy director of the Ventura County Health Care Agency when she was tapped for the interim CEO position in March.

“I do not take this responsibility lightly at all,” Johnson told the board after the announcement. “I am just absolutely honored to have been able to work with you in the capacity I have for the past several months and it is a true joy to know I will be able to continue in that capacity.”

Until Johnson’s contract is made public, her salary and benefits will remain unknown, but for her time serving as interim CEO, she was receiving an annual base salary of $335,554 plus ancillary compensation such as a car stipend and 401(k) benefits.

Johnson is the second woman and the first Black administrator to serve as county head since its 1873 incorporation. County officials said Johnson is believed to be the first person of color to hold the CEO position, though there may have been a Latino administrator in the 1800s leading the county before the job title was CEO.