Madera Sheriff Jay Varney will become county’s chief administrative officer

Madera County Sheriff Jay Varney will become the county’s administrative officer, it was announced Wednesday morning.

Undersheriff Tyson Pogue was designated to replace Varney on an interim basis.

The appointment of Varney, who took over from former Sheriff John Anderson in 2014 after the 2013 election, was announced by Board of Supervisor Chairman David Rogers. Deputy Administrative Officer Darrin McCandless had been serving in a temporary interim role in the position serving as the county’s top bureaucrat.

Before he was Madera sheriff, Varney was city administrator and police chief in Chowchilla. Rogers said Varney’s appointment was endorsed by all of the county’s supervisors, who feel strongly about his “integrity, leadership and commitment to the county.”

Formal approval of the appointment will take place at the supervisors’ June 2 session. Pogue will be considered as a replacement for the remainder of Varney’s term, through 2022.

Pogue is a 20-year veteran of the department, where he has served in a variety of roles, including K-9 officer, narcotics officer and patrol, said spokeswoman Sarah Jackson.

This story was originally published May 20, 2020 at 1:58 PM.