Another administrator has resigned from his post heading one of the six independent departments created when the former Department of Public Works was reorganized.
Stephen Bonnette, who headed the city-parish Department of Transportation and Drainage, submitted his resignation last week—the fourth of six administrators to step down in less than 18 months.
Chief Administrative Officer William Daniel says Bonnette’s departure was based on personal reasons. He came to Baton Rouge from San Antonio, where his children and grandchildren still live, and his wife wanted to return to Texas to be closer to family.
“He loved the job and he was really torn,” Daniel says. “But he said his wife could never make the adjustment to moving here. They never even sold their house in San Antonio.”
Bonnette and the five other administrators hired in the summer of 2015 to run the departments formerly under DPW were touted as “rock stars,” who would help streamline efficiency and cut down on bureaucracy in city-parish government. But while the breakup of the former DPW has brought about positive changes in some areas, others—building permits, for example—haven’t seen much improvement.
Daniel told Daily Report earlier this fall that the new system is more efficient and focused, adding the departures of several administrators hasn’t had anything to do with difficulties making the transition to a decentralized system. Asked if the recent mayor’s race was a factor in Bonnette’s or anyone else’s departure, Daniel says he doesn’t think so.
“We recruited them for the long-term and the hope was that they would stay,” he says. “But now the mayor-elect gets to appoint a lot of new positions.”
DPW was reorganized into six departments: transportation and drainage, maintenance, environmental services, buildings and ground, fleet, and development.
Other recently departed administrators include: Chris Burnett, maintenance, who resigned in January; Stephanie Rivers, buildings and grounds, who left in March; and Karen Khonsari, environmental services, who stepped down in September.
The two remaining department heads are David Childress, who oversees fleet operations, and Carey Chauvin, director of development.
—Stephanie Riegel
