San Luis Obispo County’s current public works director, Wade Horton, has been named as head administrator of the county, with the title County Administrative Officer, or CAO.
At Tuesday's board of supervisors meeting, county attorney Rita Neal announced the board voted unanimously to approve Horton’s contract.
Over the past few years, Horton has climbed the municipal administration ladder. Prior to leading the county’s public works department, he managed the city of San Luis Obispo Utilities Department. Before that he worked as an engineer for private companies.
According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, Horton served in Iraq as a member of the Civil Engineer Corps, and is a 1998 Cal Poly graduate.
Horton's first day as CAO is November 15.
