A former senior bureaucrat in region has assumed the top staff position at the District of Sooke on an interim basis.
Don Schaffer, a former manager of legislative services in Victoria, started as interim chief administrative officer for Sooke on Thursday.
Schaffer will steer the district while council conducts a search for the permanent replacement for Teresa Sullivan, who left the position more than 10 months ago.
RELATED: Sooke CAO no longer with district
The CAO’s position was filled on an interim basis by finance director Brent Blackwell. Blackwell is on leave. No reason was given for his leave.
Schaffer comes to the position with an extensive history in public service, including consulting, manager of legislative services in Victoria, city clerk in Prince George, and interim CAO in Fernie.
Prior to hanging out his shingle as a government consultant, Schaffer spent 19 years as a journalist.
Mayor Maja Tait said that it was necessary to bring on an interim CAO as recent staff upheavals have left too many people wearing too many hats at municipal hall.
“We have people juggling their responsibilities already and we have a number of people on leave and others going on scheduled leaves in the near future. We had to do something to ensure that services are maintained,” said Tait.
editor@sookenewsmirror.com
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