Supervisors extend Huckelberry’s contract; Carroll still unconvinced

TUCSON—The Pima County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 Tuesday to renew County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry’s employment contract for another four years.

Huckelberry, who has been the county’s top staff member since 1993, will be paid $230,000 a year under the new contract, the same salary he currently takes home. Additionally, Huckelberry receives $22,000 in deferred compensation toward retirement, use of a county-owned car, and other benefits.

The new contract will expire on Jan. 8, 2013, though according to the fine print the administrator can be fired at any time, as Huckelberry serves “at the pleasure of the board of supervisors.” However, if the board were to fire Huckelberry before his contract expires, he would get six months of his salary as severance.

The sole dissenter on the board was District 4 Republican Supervisor Ray Carroll, who represents Green Valley. Carroll has long been an outspoken critic of Huckelberry’s job performance, and he reiterated his concerns in a short interview after the vote.

“I find that I can’t trust his reporting, and I have also had a very difficult time accessing information over the years, whether it’s just about budgets or any other department information I require in order to make good decisions; and I think he’s made a naked attempt to support those three (Democrat) votes,” Carroll said.

Huckelberry has worked on and off for Pima County since 1979.

Tim Hull is a freelance writer for the Green Valley News. His new book “Moon-Arizona” is available in local bookstores.