New OCTA Chairman Named, Replaces Former L.N. Mayor

Vice Chairman Greg Winterbottom was unanimously selected as the new chairman of the Orange County Transportation Authority Board of Directors. Winterbottom replaces outgoing Chairman Paul Glaab.

“I’m honored to be chosen by my peers to lead an agency that is dedicated to enhancing transportation services in Orange County,” said Winterbottom. “I’m looking forward to serving as chairman on the board of directors and will continue our initiatives to improve mobility for all who live, work and visit this county.”

Winterbottom, a resident of Villa Park, brings more than 25 years of experience in transportation to the OCTA board, on which he has served since 1993 as one of two public members. He previously served as chairman in 2004.

 In addition to his work on the OCTA board, he is currently chairman of the Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee. The MSRC mission is to fund projects that reduce air pollution from vehicles within the South Coast Air District.

Replacing Winterbottom as vice chairman is Director Shawn Nelson, also the Fourth District Supervisor, who joined the board in 2010. Prior to being elected to the Orange County Board of Supervisors, Nelson served as the mayor of Fullerton in 2004-05 and 2006-07. 

In addition, Darrell Johnson the agency's next chief executive officer was also officially named CEO, in a  "do-over'' vote necessary due to an open meetings law violation committed on Nov. 26.

The votes to rescind Johnson's earlier contract and to again appoint him
as CEO were unanimous. OCTA board members John Moorlach and Patricia Bates, who are also Orange County supervisors, cast the two dissenting votes on Johnson's new contract.

Moorlach said he did so because he objected to the severance pay terms
of the contract. Moorlach said it didn't sit well with him to give former
Orange County Chief Executive Officer Tom Mauk the same deal as part of his
resignation in July.

Moorlach also objected to the fact that the agency did not conduct a
wider search for a new CEO.

Johnson is ``a good choice,'' Moorlach told City News Service. ``But I
don't know if he's the best choice because I wasn't given an option or other
alternatives.''

Instead, a committee of OCTA board members recommended Johnson, Moorlach said.

Johnson will take over from Will Kempton, who will step down at the end
of February. Johnson started working at the OCTA in 2003 and has been Kempton's deputy since 2010.

Before joining the OCTA, Johnson worked at Amtrak for a dozen years in a
variety of positions.

Shawn Nelson, who is also an Orange County supervisor, was selected to
be the OCTA board's vice chairman.

--City News Service