Robert Lawton Departs Mono County; Mary Booher Assumes Duties of County Administrative Officer

MONO COUNTY, Calif. (MARCH 3, 2023) – Effective today, Bob Lawton has departed from his role as Mono County Administrative Officer (CAO).  Previously, the Mono County Board of Supervisors had appointed Mary Booher as Interim Assistant CAO.  Now, in the absence of a permanent CAO, her duties will expand to include serving as Interim CAO. 

Ms. Booher, a former resident and valued employee of Mono County for more than 24 years, is well-positioned to assist the county during this transition.  Ms. Booher’s knowledge of County services, functions, and culture, combined with her lengthy experience in public administration, make her a welcome addition to the Mono County team as she supports the Mono County Administrative Office during its leadership transition. 

“We are grateful to Mary for returning to Mono County to support the organization at this time,” said Supervisor Rhonda Duggan, Chair of the Mono County Board of Supervisors.  “Her long history with Mono County, and extensive experience in local government, make her an asset to any organization, and we look forward to her leading county operations as we take the time to strategically identify a permanent County Administrative Officer.” 

Ms. Booher worked in various positions during her 24 years with Mono County, gaining experience in administration, budget, finance, and various departmental functions, before moving on to leadership roles with both Sonoma and Napa Counties.  She most recently retired as Assistant County Executive Officer from Napa County.  After returning to the Eastern Sierra in 2020, she volunteered her time to assist in recovery efforts following the devastating Mountain View Fire in northern Mono County.

Ms. Booher received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Nevada, Reno, her Bachelor of Science/Business Administration degree from Regis University in Denver, Colorado, and her Master of Public Administration from Golden Gate University in San Francisco.  Ms. Booher will be working part-time to adhere to the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) rules of retired annuitants. 

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