Orange County CEO Frank Kim has announced plans to retire, but will stay on the job through July if necessary to allow county officials time to recruit a replacement, he said Tuesday.
Kim is nearing 29 years with the county and will turn 55 next year, making him eligible for retirement. He turned in his retirement papers on Monday.
"That's a long time to be at any one job," Kim told City News Service. "While I've really enjoyed the work, I'm tired, The job has a lot of responsibility and it's stressful and it requires constant management in the evenings, weekends, holidays, and it takes a toll on my family. It takes a toll on me."
Kim was promoted to CEO in 2015, replacing Michael Giancola, who retired after two years as CEO following back surgery. Kim served as interim CEO for six months before he got the job officially.
Kim was chief financial officer before he ascended to chief executive. He drew praise for helping to steer the county through the Great Recession as budget director before being promoted to CFO in 2013.
Kim was also instrumental in helping to ease the homeless crisis through the federal court when homeless advocates sued as the county attempted to clear up an encampment along the riverbed in Anaheim. Homelessness became such a crisis in the county there was an encampment in the shadow of the Orange County Superior Courthouse in the Plaza of the Flags.
Kim also was CEO for the building of the new county Hall of Administration and several other office buildings for the county in downtown Santa Ana.
And then he led the county through the COVID-19 pandemic.
He was also CEO when the county finally paid off its debts stemming from the mid-1990s bankruptcy that made national headlines. In fact, Kim's first job with the county was an accountant and he recalled how he had to use microfiche in the county auditor's office because the attorneys had seized all the paper records after the financial implosion.
"It's a good opportunity for someone else to bring fresh energy to the job," Kim said. "I'm mentally tired having gone through the Great Recession, the homeless crisis and COVID. All of it takes a toll."
Kim recommended the Board of Supervisors create a committee to coordinate an executive recruitment for a replacement, Kim said. That could take six months, he said.
"If they look internally it won't take as long," he said.
So Kim said he was willing to stay on the job from March 31 to July 11.
"In my view that's enough time to do a thorough recruitment," he said. "I don't want to leave the county in a situation where the office is vacant. I thought it was most appropriate to give it a long window."
The job has changed a lot in the social media era, he said.
"The job feels more difficult today than when I first came in because social media and the internet accelerates the response," Kim said. "Oftentimes you see it in social media before you're even aware from your own staff some issue has occurred and it activates the community and demands almost immediate response.
"So there's a lot of pressure to quickly assess an issue and develop a plan for the crisis of the moment, and if you don't do it quickly you get Yelp reviewed almost immediately whether it's through the local media coverage or peer to peer on social media."
Kim said he plans to devote more time to some of his hobbies and passions such as surfing and jogging.
"I met my wife at a jogging park," Kim said. "I like to surf but I haven't done that in seven years. I used to surf all the time."
Kim said he's also "looking forward to spending more time with my dog. I like to go on hikes with my dog."
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