As a sidebar to the public debate in Kern County regarding the efforts to protect traditional marriage, a request was made of the County Administrative Officer (CAO) Ron Errea to research the costs for conducting civil marriage ceremonies by the County Clerk's office.

Strangely, the CAO made an analysis that the County Clerk should not add overhead costs when computing the cost of providing civil marriage ceremonies.  The CAO released this analysis to the local newspaper before the Board of Supervisors meeting.  The newspaper used the CAO analysis in an effort to undermine the credibility of  Kern County Clerk Ann Barnett.

The CAO was caught speaking-out-of-both-sides-of-his-mouth, when Supervisors McQuiston and Maggard correctly pointed out that the CAO had touted for weeks that all department heads must get "full" cost recovery including overhead costs via the fees they charge the public for services.  Yet, the CAO was saying the exact opposite in his flawed analysis of the County Clerk's office.  Supervisor Maggard asked if the CAO had reviewed the cost figures with the County Clerk's office, especially since their offices are within 200 feet of each other, the CAO said no.