On Wednesday afternoon Lane County commissioners appointed Jeff Spartz as the new county administrator, the county government’s highest non-elected position. Dec. 31 will be the first day of his new career here in Eugene.
“I look forward to the challenges … and at the end of the day, when I leave the position, I want to be able to look back and say I left (the county) better than when I started,” Spartz said.
His résumé consists of a variety of government positions, including the Hennepin County (Minneapolis) Administrator and the Hennepin County Medical Administrator. He also served as an elected official when he won a county commissioner post in Hennepin County.
Spartz was born in Wenatchee, Wash., but moved to St. Cloud, Minn., where he graduated high school. Spartz went on to finish his undergraduate and graduate work at the University of Minnesota.
The 61-year-old West Coast native has spent 28 years in Minnesota government. However, he finally found a way to get back home, Spartz said.
“The farther west I am, the better I feel about the world,” he said.
Spartz will be walking into a possible financial crisis for Lane County, as the federal government has yet to renew a package of timber funds that account for approximately one-third of the county’s revenue.
Current Lane County Administrator Bill Van Vactor believes Spartz’s history will serve him well in dealing with the possible difficulties in the county’s budget.
“The most important thing is that he is very experienced,” Van Vactor said. “I think what he’ll bring to the community and to the (county) commission is lots of new ideas. He’ll look for efficiencies and new solutions that we haven’t even thought of yet.”
Van Vactor has officially retired, and is currently serving in a temporary capacity until December 31. The county administrator position will receive an annual salary of $145,000.
New Lane County administrator appointed
Daily Emerald
November 30, 2007
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