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SACRAMENTO – Veteran county leader Graham Knaus has been appointed Director of Operations & Member Services for the California State Association of Counties (CSAC), Executive Director Matt Cate has announced.

Mr. Knaus has spent his career working for California Counties. Since January 2009, he has worked for Placer County, serving in a number of executive capacities. He has most recently been the County’s Assistant Director of Health and Human Services. Prior to that, he served as County Budget Director as well as HHS Director of Administrative Services.

Mr. Knaus is no stranger to Sacramento or association operations. Before joining Placer County, he was a Senior Fiscal and Policy Analyst for the County Welfare Directors Association. He also spent six years as a Legislative Advocate for a firm that represents California counties.

“We are excited to have an individual with Graham’s experience, skills and county background join the CSAC team,” Cate said. “Graham will bring a strong county perspective to CSAC. Combined with his experience in Sacramento and working with associations, he is in a unique position to direct our member engagement activities and internal operations.”

Mr. Knaus has worked closely with CSAC in the past on a number of legislative and educational fronts. He has served as an Instructor for the CSAC Institute for Excellence in County Government for the past few years and twice has been honored with the Association’s Circle of Service Award for his extensive work on behalf of California Counties. He served as a primary strategic advisor for CSAC on the 2013 Health Realignment, and was a principal architect on behalf of counties on the 2011 State Public Safety Realignment.

He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in political science/public policy from UC San Diego, and his Master of Public Administration from the University of Southern California.

“CSAC is an outstanding organization and I’m excited to join a great team and further build off of its many successes,” Mr. Knaus said. “The Association is well-positioned to enhance its status as the voice of California’s 58 Counties. I look forward to working closely with our membership and staff to leverage our strengths and maximize our responsiveness to county priorities.”

Mr. Knaus replaces Jean Jordan, who recently assumed the position of County Counsel for Sutter County.