HALFWAY TO CONCORD » chief administrative officer

CAO salary comparisons

admin — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 21:25:13 +0000

Executive compensation abuse being in the news these days, it is no wonder there is some grumbling in our fair County over the new salary for David Twa, the new Contra Costa County Chief Administrative Officer (CAO). Twa will receive a base annual salary of $250,000. Below see a comparison to other CAO salaries around the Bay Area and California.

$260,004 to run Martinez?

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- Mr. Twa will have a five+ year employment contract that my be extended. His contract will include pay-for-performance provisions (+5/-5).

- Mr. Twa will receive benefits granted to management and elected department heads including auto allowance ($600), deferred comp, professional training dues and expenses. Additionally Mr. Twa will receive a vacation and sick leave plan allowance, relocation assistance ($20,000), and a housing allowance ($2,500) for six months to help with his relocation from Minnesota.

- Data courtesy ABAG and sfgate.com salary database

New County Chief Administrator gets $250,000 base salary

admin — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 20:34:14 +0000

David Twa, the County’s new Chief Administrator will receive a base salary of $250,000 per year, according to the contract signed yesterday by Supervisor Federal Glover on behalf of the County and Board of Supervisors. Twa will begin working for Contra Costa County September 8, and will replace John Cullen, who is expected to retire. Twa will also be credited 20 days of vacation and 20 days of sick leave. He can earn 20 hours per month going forward.

Twa will also receive a $20,000 moving allowance to help ease the sticker shock of moving from the frozen tundra of Minneapolis to sunny California. And the County has offered $2,500 per month housing allowance for six months. He can receive up to a 5% percent increase or decrease in compensation per year based on performance, as well as receive cost of living adjustments (COLA) to his salary the along lines of any COLA given to other department heads.

Contra Costa Supervisors select new Administrative Officer

admin — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 23:15:52 +0000

The Board of Supervisors says it has appointed David Twa to be its new County Administrative Officer (CAO) to assume responsibilities as the manager of the county when current CAO John Cullen retires this fall.

Mr. Twa will join Contra Costa County from Ramsey County Minnesota, where has served as the County Manager for the past five years. He has served as the County Administrator in three Counties in Minnesota for over twenty years. In addition to these assignments, Mr. Twa also served as an Elected County Attorney, Interim Property Records and Revenue Director, Executive Director of Housing and Redevelopment Authority, and Interim Director of Public Health and Long-term Care. Mr. Twa received his Juris Doctor from the University of Minnesota, as well as a degree in accounting, and is also a Certified Public Accountant.

Under David Twa’s leadership Ramsey County has maintained a AAA credit rating, one of few counties in the country to achieve this distinguished ranking. He also has overseen his county’s efforts to institute a Strategic Planning Program, address Health Care Cost Liability, started a two year budget process, work with community partners to improve public services in the Minneapolis- St. Paul Region, and, institute significant redevelopment projects. “David has demonstrated the creativity, initiative and personal commitment necessary to positively address many issues that confront local government,” said Glover.

Twa was named the County Manager of the Year (2007) by the Minnesota Association of County Administrators, for his innovation in public service. Mr. Twa is married and has three adult children. He is also an avid runner who regularly takes part in marathons.