Francis Davies Named Interim Auditor-Controller Of Orange County

ORANGE COUNTY, CA — The Orange County Board of Supervisors has appointed a new auditor-controller. Francis Davies, who worked in the Auditor-Controller's office before his retirement, will finish the term of former Auditor-Controller Eric Woolery, 53, who died in August.

Davies has pledged not to run for re-election when the term is up on Jan. 2, 2013.

The auditor-controller is responsible for providing the county's accounting services, frequently thought of as the county's watchdog. Upon Woolery's death, it fell to the Orange County Board of Supervisors to determine his replacement.

Davies has nearly 34 years of experience working in the office. He is a CPA with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and his MBA.

"Mr. Davies exceeds the statutory qualifications for the office of Auditor-Controller," Chairwoman Lisa Bartlett said in her report. Bartlett recommended Davies as the interim Auditor-Controller for the duration of Woolery's unexpired term.

Woolery, who was first elected to the post on June 2014, was serving his second term when he died, suddenly, over the summer. The cause of his death has not yet been released, though his family has said he died of natural causes.

The supervisors voted 3-2 to appoint Davies to the post, with Supervisors Don Wagner and Michelle Steel in opposition.

Wagner proposed seeking applicants from the public and then selecting a successor, which he noted the board did in picking a new sheriff and clerk-recorder in recent years.

"Let Mr. Davies or anyone else out there who thinks they can run this office step forward," Wagner said. "And let's see who is the best candidate. And then the voters get their say in 2022."
Steel added, "I understand the desire to fill the position quickly, but I also believe in transparency and openness in government."

Wagner's motion failed on a 3-2 vote.

Supervisor Andrew Do said a recruitment process could take six months. Do said it was important to fill the position quickly, characterizing some of the leaders of the office as "Team Fluff," who he said have no accounting experience or credentials and often show up to work between 11 a.m. and noon, with many often absent from the office.

Do said he did not want to "dig up dirt" on Woolery, but when Wagner kept pressing the point, Do told his colleagues that Woolery "showed up for work the last three months of his life just nine days: three days in May, four in June and two in July" and had apparently moved to Kansas.

"He put together Team Fluff, who are responsible for nothing more than PR," Do said.

Do also accused Woolery of "leaking" audits to the media to embarrass some supervisors.
"When Mr. Woolery did not like certain members of this board in the past, what he would do is withhold expense (reimbursements)," Do said.

Board Chairwoman Lisa Bartlett said Davies was recommended to her.

"I found he has shown himself to be a consummate professional showing sound judgment," Bartlett said.

Supervisor Doug Chaffee said Davies was an "outstanding candidate who wants to step in and take the office. I don't think we'd find anyone better."

Chaffee added, "I'm not so concerned with the past as I am having an outstanding person to take over the office and moving on from there."

California state law dictates that county supervisors will determine appointments for vacancies of the: county sheriff, District Attorney, auditor-controller, clerk-recorder, and treasurer-tax collector. Three of the five supervisors can carry the appointment.

City News Service contributed to this report.