The role of the county manager is to serve as the county's chief executive officer and to supervise all administrative departments that are not under the purview of an elected official. The county manager prepares and presents the recommended annual budget to the county council for consideration and conducts collective bargaining on behalf of the county. The manager also signs contracts as assigned by the council and makes appointments to various boards, commissions and task forces. 

County Manager Kathleen Otto was appointed by the Clark County Council in February 2021. She had served at interim county manager since March 2020. Otto previously served as deputy county manager, director of Internal Services and director of Human Resources.

Otto earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Portland and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Phoenix.

Otto and her husband live in the Venersborg area.