County CFO emerges as top CAO candidate

The San Diego County Supervisors have reportedly found the next chief administrative officer to lead the county amid an all-out political war

San Diego County CFO Ebony Shelton has emerged as the top candidate for the county’s chief administrative office position, per sources. Courtesy photo

COUNTY — The San Diego County Board of Supervisors search for a new chief administrative officer appears to have concluded Wednesday amid a massive political brawl in one of the biggest political decisions in years.

Ebony Shelton, who is currently the County of San Diego’s chief financial officer and deputy CAO, has emerged as the frontrunner to be the new CAO, according to sources who asked for anonymity. She is a 27-year veteran of the county who has spent her career in finance — first as a finance director for 13 years, followed by nine years in financial policy and as a planning director. She was promoted to Deputy CAO/CFO in July 2020, according to her LinkedIn page.

However, sources said “anything can change,” and there could be a last-minute effort to push for another candidate. According to La Prensa, the board selected a finalist and intends to negotiate an employment agreement and make a formal announcement on June 4, which is the same day the supervisors begin work on the Fiscal Year 2024-25 budget.

Shelton earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Phoenix and a master’s in public administration from California State University, Northridge.

The CAO is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the county, overseeing an annual operating budget of more than $8 billion, managing departments and more than 18,000 employees, and working with each supervisor and their offices, to name a few. It’s the highest non-elected position for the county and one labor unions and Democrats have been working to control, according to previous media reports.

Shelton’s expected hiring comes on the heels of a massive battle between Chairwoman Nora Vargas and labor unions over the candidacy of Santa Clara Supervisor Cindy Chavez, who was first elected in 2013. According to representatives from the labor unions and previous reports, Chavez was approved to be the next CAO by a 4-1 vote in spring 2023. Her name was first revealed by La Presnsa on April 3, 2023.

Sources said Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer may still try to push Chavez’s candidacy, but previous media reports revealed Chavez was eliminated from contention weeks ago.

The process, though, has been marred in controversy since March 2023 and in recent weeks with claims of racism, a lack of transparency and threats of a lawsuit by Chavez.