The following was released by Hennepin County:
David J. Hough has been unanimously chosen by the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners for the position of Hennepin County administrator.
Hough, Hennepin’s deputy county administrator, has been acting county administrator since the retirement of Richard P. Johnson in December 2012. Hough served in the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office from 1982 to 2008, when he left as manager of the office’s civil division to become deputy county administrator. Hough holds a law degree from William Mitchell College of Law, St. Paul.
“The County Board is very pleased to have David Hough in this important position," County Board Chair Mike Opat said. "He has demonstrated great skill over his long career at the county. David is well known to the community and Hennepin staff, and we’re confident in his ability to lead the county and keep it a strong model of public service.”
The Hennepin County administrator oversees a county organization serving 1.2 million residents with a staff of 8,000 and an overall budget of nearly $1.8 billion. The administrator directs the strategic management of the county’s business lines – health and human services, justice, libraries, public works and government operations. The position is also directly responsible for budget and finance, human resources, information technology and property services.
"I am humbled and honored by this appointment,” said Hough. “For the past 30 years it has been my privilege to call myself a Hennepin County employee. I look forward to working with the County Board and all county employees in this role and continuing to serve the residents of Hennepin County.
"Going forward, Hennepin County will face many challenges and opportunities,” Hough noted. “We will succeed as we have in the past, because we are a strong and resilient organization which has bright, talented and innovative policymakers and employees."
Following a nationwide search with more than 90 applicants, the board interviewed three candidates before selecting Hough. The other candidates were Stephen J. Cramer, current president and executive director of Project for Pride in Living, Inc., and Steve O’Malley, county administrator of La Crosse County, Wisconsin.
