Board of Supervisors Pick Replacement for Parrish
The Board of Supervisors has tapped a 26-year Riverside County employee to succeed Larry Parrish as county executive officer, county officials announced today. William G. Luna has served as assistant county executive officer since 2007 and will assume his new duties when Parrish retires on July 30.
The county began a search for a new executive officer after Parrish announced in April that he planned to retire. The executive officer oversees general operations in a county with more than 20,000 employees and an overall annual budget of $4.7 billion.
Board Chairman Roy Wilson said each of the finalists the Board of Supervisors interviewed this week was well qualified to succeed Parrish but that Luna emerged as the unanimous choice for several reasons.
“The Board zeroed in on Bill because he provides the most seamless transition to the future,” Wilson said. “We’ve been impressed by his work in the last few years to build strong reserves while we serve a growing county – all while we move ahead on plans to build jails and other community projects that will cost hundreds of millions of dollars.”
Parrish echoed Wilson’s assessment of the finalists and the Board’s selection.
“Bill has come up through the ranks, he’s done a terrific job and he’s ready for the next step,” he said.
Luna, 53, said the Executive Office will work to maintain the course Parrish has set to keep the county financially strong while serving residents’ needs. He thanked Parrish for the opportunities he has provided over the years and complimented Parrish on the standard he has set for all county employees emulate.
“No one can fill Larry’s shoes,” Luna said. “But I hope that someday I can approach the reputation and respect that he has earned not only in Riverside County but throughout California and across the country. I appreciate the confidence of the Board and look forward to the challenges ahead” ”
Luna first joined Riverside County as a project manager in the Department of Community Action in 1982. He was an administrative manager in the county’s administrative office from 1986 to 1990 before transferring to the sheriff’s department. He rose to chief deputy sheriff – director of administrative services and returned in 2004 to what is now called the Executive Office as county finance director. He was promoted to assistant county executive officer last year.
Luna is married and has two children.