MOHAVE COUNTY — Fresh talent is arriving to fill top positions in Mohave County government. The county has narrowed the field of applicants for its Chief Financial Officer (CFO) position and newly hired county manager David Strahl begins his office transition on March 16.
“That starts next week,” said retiring county manager Sam Elters. “He will start Monday. He will be here for the board meeting and then it will go from there.”
Elters said he and Strahl will meet with directors and department heads and travel to meet river district supervisors in Lake Havasu and Bullhead City to discuss budget development and other matters. Elters said the plan is to stop in for “meet and greet” visits with city managers Jess Knudson and Toby Cotter.
Elters will have 10 workdays to spend with Strahl and will remain available for questions and communications upon his exit.
“My departure day is March 27, which is a Friday. That’ll be almost two weeks after Dave starts, and I’ll be one phone call away,” Elters said.
Fewer than 10 people applied for the CFO job being vacated through the pending resignation of Luke Mournian.
“We are well advanced in that effort,” Elters said. “We have a couple of good candidates being recommended from a panel.”
Elters said it’s important that Strahl be involved and have input on the CFO selection. He said a hiring recommendation could be ready for discussion and possible action at the April 6 Board of Supervisors meeting.
Elters said Strahl will have more time to work with staff to help shape the in-house Mohave County Medical Examiner’s Office. He said directors are meeting monthly on various facets of the commitment to start the operation on or before July 2027.
The former sign shop on the old Public Works campus in Kingman is under design before renovations begin. Elters said personnel recruiting is months away.
Elters said that the coroner and office manager will be key hires and that it remains to be seen how many staff members might transfer from the contract service provider to the county Medical Examiner’s Office.
Dave Hawkins
