New administrator happy to be in Alamosa
- August 27, 2010
The 12th Judicial District's new court administrator comes to the San Luis Valley from Ukiah, Cal., where he was executive officer of the Mendocino Superior Court.
Benjamin Stough said he is enjoying getting to know the people and the unique qualities of the Valley.
But there are challenges, one of which he received in the mail from the governor's office outlining present and future cuts in court budgets.
Being from California, Stough is just glad the cuts are not larger.
With over 25 years experience in fiscal management, the application of new technologies and organizational development, Stough is planning on drawing from his past successes to lead ever smaller staffs into more efficient business processes.
Stough said his early career goals centered on music.
"I was a classically trained musician," Stough said. "But when I had a wife and child I knew I needed a job that provided a steady income and benefits."
A friend working for the county clerk talked him into applying for an opening in her office.
"I was paid bi-weekly," he said. "My first check was for about $500. I remember waving it around and telling my wife that we couldn't live on my salary."
But he persevered and began working his way up the hierarchy to assistant county clerk. In the 1990's he decided if he was going to make a career out of his job he was going to need another degree.
In 1997 he earned a Master of Public Administration degree from California State University-Hayward.
"That degree opened the way for me to move into administration," Stough said.
From 1997 to 2006 Stough served as administrator of the Alameda Superior Court, then moved to Ukiah.
He said he is looking forward to working with the 12th Judicial Court system and that the challenges he will face will just make it all more fun.
Alamosa and Rio Grande Counties make up the majority of the criminal and civil cases with Conejos a distant third, he said.
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