Cal Poly alum picked to be SLO County’s new top administrator
The San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors has picked a new top administrator, five months after firing its previous executive over inappropriate workplace behavior.
On Tuesday, the board will vote to appoint Cal Poly alum Matt Pontes as the county administrative officer, according to a county news release.
The administrative officer oversees the county budget and staff, and Pontes comes to the job with related experience in Shasta, Santa Barbara and Kern counties.
“It’s imperative that we work together to address pressing issues such as homelessness, affordable housing, infrastructure improvement and longterm financial stability,” Pontes said in the news release. “By standing united, we can build a stronger, more vibrant future for our community.”
The county embarked on a nationwide search for a new CAO after the board fired John Nilon from the position on Nov. 17, 2023, following reports from numerous women who accused him of “uncomfortable touching” and messages.
Nilon was hired as the interim CAO on May 1 after Wade Horton resigned from the position in March.
Assistant county administrative officer Rebecca Campbell temporarily filled the position when Nilon was removed.
WHO IS THE NEW CAO?
Pontes most recently served as the director of wildfire and forest ecology at Sierra Pacific Industries, “where he worked with private, tribal, state, and federal agencies to combat destructive wildfires and safeguard ecosystems across California, Oregon and Washington,” the news release said.
Before that, he was the executive officer for Shasta County, where he focused on public safety, emergency management response, mental health services, and infrastructure development.
In Santa Barbara, he was a key player in developing a rehabilitative jail facility model, and he ran the Emergency Operations Center during the Thomas Fire and led the recovery from Montecito’s debris flow.
Pontes earned a degree in forestry and natural resources at Cal Poly.
The board offered Pontes the job, and he accepted. The board will officially vote to approve his contract at its regular Tuesday meeting.
If the board approves his contract, he will start work on April 29.
“Matt’s extensive background in county leadership, coupled with his genuine understanding of our community’s challenges and the innovative solutions he presented, made him a standout choice to lead San Luis Obispo County,” Supervisor Debbie Arnold said in the news release.
Stephanie Zappelli: 805-781-7816