Placer County Board of Supervisors appoint new CEO

The Placer County Board of Supervisors appointed acting County Executive Officer Jane Christenson as the county's new CEO. The appointment follows a five-month recruitment process, which Christenson described as "quite the gauntlet," and the termination of former CEO Todd Leopold in June, following a discrimination and harassment complaint filed by a county employee on May 25. According to the staff report, the recruitment process attracted applicants across California and other states. The board's selection of Christenson was announced following the closed session of its Nov. 8 meeting. District 2 Supervisor Robert Weygandt pulled the item from the consent agenda to congratulate Christenson on her appointment. "Jane, I think, has a unique set of skills and traits that will serve us extremely well," he said. "As I look to my retirement, I know the county is going to be well served with her leadership in the county exec's office." District 1 Supervisor Bonnie Gore and Board Chair and District 5 Supervisor Cindy Gustafson echoed Weygandt's comments. The board's appointment of Christenson also approves her employment agreement, which has a base salary of $272,875.20, for a two-year term beginning Nov. 29. Christenson has served as Placer's assistant CEO since 2019. According to a county news release, Christenson holds a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial and labor relations from Cornell University and a Master of Arts degree in public administration from UCLA. Following the unanimous approval, Clerk of the Board Megan Wood presented Christenson with her new name plate on the dais as the board applauded her appointment. Christenson said she was honored to serve the county in this role and shared a quote from her father: "From President Theodore Roosevelt, it says, 'Far and away, the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing,' " she said. "And I'm grateful to have the opportunity to serve Placer County in this capacity."