San Joaquin RTD names fourth CEO in months as agency continues turbulent transition

Lodi News-Sentinel (TNS)

STOCKTON, CALIF. — The San Joaquin Regional Transit District has named another interim leader, marking the latest leadership change for an agency that has spent the past year mired in political disputes, executive turnover and questions over its future direction.

RTD announced Thursday that Chief Operating Officer Eric Williams has been appointed acting chief executive officer following the resignation of interim CEO Bearnard Veasley, who stepped down to attend to personal family matters.

Williams, who joined RTD as chief operating officer in May after previously serving as the agency's manager of grant programs, assumes the role immediately. The board is expected to formally ratify his appointment at its next meeting.

The change is the latest in a string of leadership shakeups that began earlier this year after the board fired then-CEO Alex Clifford.

In February, RTD's board voted 4-1 to terminate Clifford's contract following a closed-session meeting. Board member Aaron Edwards said the decision was made to hold Clifford accountable for what he described as a history of workplace bullying and harassment allegations involving former employees.

Clifford denied the allegations and called the board's action a politically motivated "coup," claiming he was removed because of his push for an additional $62 million in transportation funding amid an ongoing dispute with the San Joaquin Council of Governments.

That dispute centered on transit funding priorities throughout the county.

Last summer, all eight city managers in San Joaquin County — including then-Lodi Acting City Manager James Lindsay — signed a sharply worded letter criticizing RTD's proposal to expand intercity bus service.

The city managers argued RTD was seeking millions of additional dollars despite ridership remaining below pre-pandemic levels and accused the agency of abandoning a collaborative 2019 agreement that allocated federal transit funding among local jurisdictions.

The letter called the proposal "a funding fiasco of epic proportions" and requested detailed ridership, financial and operational data to justify the expansion.

At the time, Clifford defended the proposal, saying the service changes were based on passenger needs and recent ridership data, while maintaining RTD had been a responsible steward of taxpayer dollars.

The conflict over funding continued into the fall as RTD and the San Joaquin Council of Governments publicly disagreed over the agency's eligibility for transit funds, with RTD arguing it needed additional money to repair buses while SJCOG maintained the funding could not legally be used for that purpose.

The leadership turmoil accelerated after Clifford's dismissal.

Then-Chief Operating Officer Ciro Aguirre resigned the day after Clifford was placed on administrative leave.

Former Deputy CEO Kimberly Turner was appointed interim CEO a week later, but her appointment prompted two board resignations.

Board members Gary Giovanetti and Les Fong, who opposed Turner's selection, stepped down shortly afterward.

Less than two months later, Turner also resigned for personal reasons, leaving Human Resources Director Noel Mink to temporarily oversee the agency while RTD searched for another interim leader and a permanent chief executive.

Veasley was subsequently appointed interim CEO and, according to RTD Board Chairman Derek Graves, helped stabilize the agency during a period that included the first phase of a comprehensive financial audit, efforts to improve labor relations and changes intended to prevent future service disruptions.

Although stepping down as interim CEO, Veasley will remain with RTD as a consultant to assist Williams and the agency during its ongoing audits and the search for a permanent CEO.

In announcing Williams' appointment, Graves said the board believes his operational experience and previous work overseeing grant programs make him well suited to lead the agency through its latest transition.

Williams previously served as RTD's manager of grant programs before working in Wayne County, Michigan, where he oversaw nearly $340 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding for community projects. He returned to RTD in May as chief operating officer.

The transit district has not announced a timeline for selecting a permanent chief executive.

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