The Board of Supervisors unanimously appointed Chris Wilhite, assistant assessor for San Bernardino County, to serve as Assessor-Recorder-Clerk and complete the final months of Bob Dutton’s term which ends in December.
Wilhite spent more than 22 years in public service in the Assessor-Recorder-Clerk’s office as lead appraiser and in supervisorial and management roles. Since 2000, he served as the Assistant Assessor. Wilhite also has more than 36 years of appraisal and real-estate related experience in the private sector as a business owner.
Dutton died on July 23 from cancer. He won the June primary for the Assessor-Recorder-Clerk seat which would have kept him in office until 2026.
The Board of Supervisors will meet again later this year to determine who they should appoint to complete the first two years of term which begins in January 2023. A special election will be held for the Assessor-Recorder-Clerk seat in November 2024 for voters to determine who should serve the final two years of the term Dutton would have served, 2025-26.
Wilhite intends to seek appointment by the Board to the for the first two years of the term but did not indicate he would run for the office in November 2024.
"It is my pleasure to share that the Board of Supervisors selected Christopher Wilhite as the Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk through the end of this year," said Curt Hagman, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors. "Chris will be an asset interim ARC and I have every confidence that he will carry on the legacy of late ARC Robert Dutton who left us before the end of his term. Chris’s appointment will ensure that the county continues to carry out important services and upholds the customer service that the public deserves and expects."
“I’m confident the Board of Supervisors made the right decision today to appoint Christopher Wilhite to fill the short-term vacancy," said Vice Chair and Third District Supervisor Dawn Rowe. "Serving more than 22 years with the Assessor's office and as Senator Dutton’s top assistant, he has the comprehensive experience to provide much needed continuity to get the job done. I look forward to working with him in the days ahead.”
“I’d like to congratulate Christopher Wilhite on his appointment to serve out the remainder of Sen. Dutton’s term as San Bernardino County Assessor-Recorder-Clerk," said First District Supervisor Col. Paul Cook. "He’s stepping into the shoes of an incredible public servant, but I’m confident in his ability to manage the department effectively over the next several months.”
“Bob always spoke very highly of Chris’s experience and abilities. Since Bob’s passing, Chris has administered the office Assessor’s office skillfully, and after hearing his interview today, I have every confidence he will continue to lead the ARC Team and serve our residents diligently," said Second District Supervisor Janice Rutherford.
“We would like to congratulate Christopher Wilhite on their appointment as the Assessor-Recorder-Clerk. Your integrity, sensitivity to constituent concerns, and commitment to accurately serve the public are well-welcomed and appreciated. Congratulations," said Fifth District Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr.