San Luis Obispo County Counsel Rita Neal announced her retirement after over 25 years with the County and over 12 years as the top lawyer. Her last day is March 14. Submitted photo
The County Board of Supervisors will have to find a new legal advisor after long-time County Counsel Rita Neal announced that she would be retiring in March.
The announcement came at the Board’s Jan. 25 meeting and left some staffers a bit stunned.
“We count on her in so many ways in everything we do, Board Chairwomen Dawn Ortiz-Legg said in the news release dated Jan. 27. “What can one say about a public servant who has given so much during her career, other than a heartfelt ‘thank you.’
“The Board has the deepest respect and gratitude for Rita and her years of service to the County. She has supported and guided all departments, helping them navigate the most challenging situations. While we reluctantly accept her resignation, we congratulate her on a job well done and the absolute best in a well-deserved retirement.”
Neal is a Cal Poly graduate who attended law school at U.C. Santa Clara School of Law and worked in private practice at a SLO law firm before joining the County Counsel’s Office in 1998, as Deputy County Counsel. She rose through the ranks becoming Chief Deputy in 2008 and County Counsel in September 2012.
Neal said she wanted to go into public service. “I was intrigued,” Neal said, “with public service from the beginning of my career and knew what direction I wanted to go.”
It’s been a tumultuous tenure, as Neal has steered the County through some difficult times, including the firing of the two County Administrative Officers, a couple of sex scandals, and lawsuits brought by a County Jail inmate who died after being strapped into a restraint chair for two days. That terrible incident triggered an investigation by the department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division that recently ended with a settlement.
The County Counsel’s Office represents all of the County’s various departments, commissions, and boards, as well as the San Luis Obispo Council of Governments and Regional Transportation Agency.
Dist. 2 Supervisor Bruce Gibson, who is well into his fifth term on the board, said, “Rita is an exceptional person and attorney and it’s been a great pleasure to know and work with her for more than 25 years.
“During my time in office, she helped guide the county through extremely difficult events, always with her calm good nature and solid legal advice. Her strength, composure and commitment to public service are extraordinary. I, along with our organization and communities, will miss her greatly and wish her the best in her next phase.”
County Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), Matt Pontes said, “Rita has faithfully served the Board of Supervisors, the County, our employees and our taxpayers with incredible expertise, tenacity, compassion, loyalty, and commitment.
“She is the definition of a steadfast leader and mentors an excellent team of professionals that share her strengths in innovative, logical, and unwavering legal support. I am excited for Rita’s next chapter enjoying a very well-earned retirement and will miss her as an integral part of our dedicated team.”
As with most aspects of California State Law, rules get changed all the time, and as the County’s chief legal advisor, the County Counsel must stay on top of all of it.
“Neal,” reads the news release, “has had to be up to speed on the fast evolution of the law, remain unbiased in all her work, and present legal summaries and advice to every department and agency directly connected to the County.”
Neal added, “I get that it’s not always easy for people to understand all decisions made and sometimes that’s just the way the legal process works. I understand everyone has a different interest, and I appreciate the fact we have a system that allows them to express their opinions.”
In sum, Neal said, “It has been by honor and privilege to work in the County Counsel’s office for all these years. I want to thank all the boards I’ve served for putting their trust and confidence in me and my amazing team.
“During my tenure at the County, I have been fortunate to work with wonderful County staff and an engaged public. My career and role as County Counsel has always been to do what is in the best interests of the County. That work was not always easy, but it has always been personally very rewarding.”
Neal’s final day is March 14.
Neal’s interim replacement will be announced after Supervisors meet in closed session, according to County Spokeswoman Jeannette Trompeter. “The Board can either appoint a successor to Rita or decide to conduct a recruitment process,” Trompeter said via email.
According to the latest salary schedule update, dated Jan. 8, County Counsel’s monthly salary ranges from $18,737 to $23,916 a month ($224,844 to $286,992 a year) or $108 an hour at Step 1, to $137.98 an hour at Step 6. The job also comes with a generous benefits package — insurance, mileage, and retirement with the County’s system, among other perks.
