Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Personnel Appointments topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Kern County board unanimously appoints Craig Murphy as planning director
Summary
The Kern County Board of Supervisors on Dec. 16 reported a unanimous 5–0 closed‑session vote to appoint Craig Murphy as director of Planning and Natural Resources, effective Dec. 27, 2025; Murphy, an interim director since Aug. 23, praised county staff and his family.
The Kern County Board of Supervisors on Dec. 16 announced the unanimous 5–0 appointment of Craig Murphy as director of Planning and Natural Resources, effective Dec. 27, 2025. The board reported the action out of closed session.
Murphy, who has served as interim director since Aug. 23, has worked for Kern County for about 20 years and most recently served as assistant director of Planning and Natural Resources. The chair said Murphy rose through the county planning ranks and cited his academic background, including B.A. degrees and postgraduate studies in urban and regional planning.
"I'm greatly honored and appreciative of this opportunity," Murphy told the board, thanking his family and county staff. The chair congratulated him and noted a recommendation from the previous planning director, Laura Lai Oviatt.
The board gave Murphy a brief chance to speak at the public meeting; he described his 22 years living and working in Kern County and said he looked forward to continuing to serve the county's residents. The appointment is effective Dec. 27, 2025, as announced in the closed-session report.
There was no public opposition recorded at the time the board reported the appointment. The board moved on to its regular agenda after congratulating Murphy and thanking staff for the closed-session work.
