Santa Cruz County Press Release

County Officials Sworn In



Date: July 15, 2004 (11:05am)

Release: Immediately

Contact: Dinah Phillips

Public Information Officer

On Friday, July 9, 2004, Gary Hazelton was sworn in as the County's first Assessor-Recorder. Mr. Hazelton was elected County Assessor in 2003. He has been with the Assessor's Office since 1975, serving as Chief Appraiser and Chief Deputy Assessor. He graduated from California State University at San Jose in 1975 with a degree in Business Administration. He is married with three children, and five grandchildren.

Also on Friday, Gail Pellerin was sworn in as the Acting County Clerk. Ms. Pellerin has served as the County's Election Manager since July 1993. Ms. Pellerin has a degree in Journalism from the California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo. She worked a number of years for newspapers on the Central Coast and in Sacramento, and also did legislative work in Sacramento. Ms. Pellerin is married to Tom Chaffin, and they have two children.

On Monday, July 12, 2004, Suzanne Young was sworn in as the Acting Treasurer-Tax Collector. Ms. Young has been employed in the County Auditor-Controller's office since 1982. She has held the position of Audit and Systems Manager since 1992. She has a degree in Business Administration from California State University at Long Beach and is both a Certified Public Accountant and a Certified Fraud Examiner. Ms. Young has been married for38 years to Robert Young, and they have two children, two grandchildren, and one grand-puppy.