Merced County Superior Court names new executive officer, previously served in interim role
The Merced County Superior Court announced this week Amanda Toste will serve as the new court executive officer, effective immediately.
Toste acted as interim CEO the last 10 months, but has been with the Merced County Superior Court since October 2005, according to a court news release.
She began in human resources, eventually being promoted to human resources manager.
In her new role, Toste will oversee 150 court employees.
The administrative and operational functions Toste took on as interim CEO will continue as she begins her official role.
Toste has an “extensive knowledge of court administration and operations,” the release says. She also has a bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership from Fresno Pacific University, according to the release.
Her time as interim CEO began after former CEO Linda Romero-Soles retired in April.
Immediately following retirement, Romero-Soles assumed a mentoring role to advise Toste. The six month contract came with a $92.75 an hour rate to not exceed 25 hours a week.
While Romero-Soles described the move as a common training tactic, some court employees contested it. They said Romero-Soles harassed and retaliated against employees as CEO, creating an undesirable work environment.
Romero-Soles at the time said she could not comment on the claim, due to ongoing litigation.
Romero-Soles’ salary was about $192,922 by the time of her retirement, according to Merced Superior Court Executive Assistant Shelbi Perino. Transparent California listed Romero-Soles total pay and benefits at just over $295,211.
Toste’s total pay and benefits as human resources manager reached just over $139,337 in 2018, according to the most recent data from Transparent California.
She will begin her new role with a $144,913 salary, according to Perino.
This story was originally published March 5, 2020 at 1:06 PM.
