Popular Official Highly Respected

More than just an administrator, Richard Wittenberg is a man who has smoothly guided Ventura County government for the last 16 years.

He has thrived in a job often plagued with quick turnover by playing the role of peacemaker between quarreling staff members as well as a succession of strong-willed bosses on the County Board of Supervisors.

His self-deprecating humor and soft-touch allowed him to develop a close personal relationship with county officials and community leaders. And, even some of his detractors say they find him easy to like--despite political differences.

“I’ve always liked Richard personally,” said Supervisor John K. Flynn, who has clashed repeatedly with Wittenberg in recent years. “He tries to use his personality to bring people together and it usually works.”

Over the years, Wittenberg managed to hold enormous sway over county business by drafting its $800-million annual budget and spending considerable time with each of the supervisors going over issues before they came up for a vote.

It was a remarkable feat for a socially liberal Democrat in a conservative county.

“For the last two or three or four years, he’s played too strong a role,” said Flynn, who has recently bucked the majority on a variety of issues. “He took on more authority because there was a vacuum of leadership.”

Other county officials hotly dispute the assertion that Wittenberg has partly controlled the board.

“He certainly lays out the direction he thinks the county ought to go,” said Supervisor Maggie Kildee, perhaps Wittenberg’s closest board ally. “But he has the uncanny ability to take direction from the supervisors.”

Former county official Bob Braitman attributed Wittenberg’s success to his honesty and his ability to quickly tackle projects of interest to board members.

“Richard doesn’t procrastinate. He doesn’t put them on a ‘to do’ list,” said Braitman, who worked with Wittenberg for 21 years. As a result, he said, Wittenberg and his staff could nimbly respond to requests from supervisors and the public.

“Richard Wittenberg reflected the board and in some aspects led the board by educating them and informing them on issues,” Braitman said.

Whether he led the board or followed it, most attribute his success to his smooth style.

To watch him work a crowd, one would think Wittenberg was an elected leader instead of the county’s most powerful bureaucrat.

He loves to schmooze and is equally comfortable talking to power-brokers and gadflies. He remembers every name and asks about every spouse and child. And, he loves to kid around, mostly cracking jokes at his own expense.

His humor often makes reference to his thrifty nature, which he calls “cheap.” He proudly displays his $5 ties, despite pulling in about $123,000 yearly as chief administrative officer. He drove a big brown 1983 Ford sedan until recently, when his wife insisted that he trade up to a 1987 Thunderbird being sold by a neighbor.

Wittenberg shows a sincere interest in the personal affairs of his employees and others in the community. He attends funerals of their relatives, drops personal notes to those celebrating good news and those struggling with bad.

Those personal connections have developed deep affection and loyalty.

“He’s the best boss anyone could ask for,” said Yolanda Tibbet, one of the 30 employees who work directly under Wittenberg.

She still remembers that Wittenberg visited her in the hospital a decade ago when she gave birth to a baby with cerebral palsy. He came with flowers and a sympathetic ear. As her daughter has grown up, Wittenberg has often asked Tibbet about her child.

That gush of goodwill is tough on his detractors.

“Richard romances the board members. He romances the press. He play golfs with them. So if you ever try to go up against him, you are going up against the so-called power structure,” said one county official, who asked to remain anonymous.

Other county officials praise him for giving them the latitude to do their work, without leaning over their shoulders.

“He’s low-key,” said Kay Doyle, a county analyst who has worked for Wittenberg for seven years. “He’s a listener. He’s a facilitator and he’s a very strong believer in not interfering with how people do their jobs.”

His deft management skills have won him praise from other administrators in the county.

Grant Brimhall, city manager of Thousand Oaks, refers to Wittenberg as “the velvet-gloved person at the helm of this county.

“You can’t be where he has been for as long as he’s been there and not have some people upset at you,” Brimhall said. “But I think there is a preponderance of respect and regard for his integrity.”

Times staff writer Mack Reed and correspondent Maia Davis contributed to this story.