New CAO

The Washington County Board of Commissioners appointed Tanya Ange today to serve as the next county administrator beginning August 24. Ange is currently deputy city manager for the City of Boulder, Colorado, where she has served for four years. 

The appointment comes after a six-month national search conducted by Catherine Tuck-Parrish of the Novak Consulting Group resulted in 60 candidates. The process involved a community stakeholder group and county department heads who provide feedback to the board after meeting with the top finalists.

"Tanya comes to Washington County with a demonstrated commitment to equity and inclusion and a data-driven approach to making the most of limited public resources for community benefit. After a national search with exceptional candidates, it was Tanya's managerial experience and values-driven approach to local government that set her apart,” said Board of Commissioners Chair Kathryn Harrington.

“The full Board of Commissioners looks forward to seeing how Tanya’s commitment to organizational excellence will transform the Washington County organization as we work to meet the evolving needs of our diverse community,” Harrington added. 

"I am excited and humbled to serve as your next county administrator and look forward to partnering with the Board of County Commissioners, outstanding staff and community in delivering critical and equitable services to our community," said Ange.

At the City of Boulder, Ange has overseen management of the City Manager's Office, including its equity-focused initiatives, as well as departments such as Communications and Engagement, Community Vitality, Finance/Budget, Human Resources, Innovation and Technology, Library and Arts and Transportation and Mobility. The City of Boulder has 1,390 full-time employees and an annual budget of $353.7 million. Prior to her service with the City of Boulder, Ange was an assistant to the city manager (2006-2009) and then a deputy city manager/chief of staff (2009-2016) for Mankato, Minnesota, a 42,000 person community in southern Minnesota. Before that, she was a recreation supervisor with the Parks and Recreation Department in New Brighton, Minnesota, a community of 23,000 just northeast of Minneapolis.

Ange is a credentialed manager through the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) and has earned a master’s degree in Urban Studies Management in 2006 and a bachelor’s degree in Recreation, Parks and Leisure Services in 2000, both at Minnesota State University, Mankato. She has also completed leadership training with the Harvard Senior Executive Institute in 2018, Leadership ICMA in 2012 and the Senior Executive Institute at the University of Virginia in 2011. 

Ange will take over the county administrator position from Stephen Rhodes, who has been serving as interim county administrator since January 2020. Rhodes’ temporary appointment came after Robert Davis stepped down as the county administrator in late 2019, retiring after 13 years of service in that role and 36 years of service to the county.

Washington County, Oregon, has a mission to provide excellent and cost-effective services that support healthy, peaceful, safe and sustainable communities and encourage meaningful participation in community activities and county governance. The organization is supported by a budget of $1.4 billion and is staffed by 2,230 full-time equivalent employees serving a diverse and growing population of 613,410 on the western side of the Portland metropolitan area. More information about Washington County can be found at www.co.washington.or.us.