OFFICIALS FOR SANTA CRUZ METRO HIRED A NEW C-E-O AND GENERAL MANAGER ON FRIDAY. 55 YEAR OLD ALEX CLIFFORD WAS CHOSEN OVER 50 OTHER APPLICANTS, BOARD MEMBERS CITING HIS EXPERIENCE IN MANAGING TRANSIT OPERATIONS IN LOS ANGLES COUNTY AND MOST RECENTLY IN CHICAGO. THERE WERE ALSO SOME DISSENTING VOTES FROM THE BOARD, CONCERNING THE 181 THOUSAND DOLLAR ANNUAL SALARY. CLIFFORD IS SET TO REPLACE LES WHITE, WHO IS RETIRING AFTER 17 YEARS IN MAY.
