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Vargas responds to criticism over County CAO

Vargas responds to criticism over County CAO

The chairwoman of the Board of Supervisors responds to critics who targeted her over the dismissal of a former labor leader as a candidate for the county’s top position

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Steve Puterski
May 07, 2024
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North County Pipeline
North County Pipeline
Vargas responds to criticism over County CAO
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San Diego County Supervisor and Chairwoman Nora Vargas responded to criticisms and questions regarding the county’s search for a permanent chief administrative officer. Courtesy photo
San Diego County Supervisor and Chairwoman Nora Vargas responded to criticisms and questions regarding the county’s search for a permanent chief administrative officer. Courtesy photo

COUNTY — As reported on Sunday, the search for a new chief administrative officer for the County of San Diego exploded in drama last week due to protests from labor unions.

Several unions rallied and stopped Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting for 30 minutes protesting the board eliminating Santa Clara Supervisor Cindy Chavez as a candidate. Additionally, labor leaders attacked board Chairwoman Nora Vargas for apparently casting a vote against Chavez’s application even though labor leaders said Chavez had been offered the job before the Nathan Fletcher scandal broke.

The CAO is the top non-elected position in the county (akin to a city manager) and oversees the day-to-day operations, the $8 billion budget and manages requests from the supervisors, among other responsibilities. Currently, Sarah Aghassi serves as the interim CAO after Helen Robbins-Meyer retired earlier this year.

North County Pipeline sent a list of questions to Vargas, of which some were answered in a statement she sent on Sunday. However, she did not address potential leaks of closed session discussions and how she became a target of the unions’ ire.

(Read more about the CAO hiring here and here.)

Regardless, Vargas details the process, hiring the most qualified candidate and more. Her full statement is below:

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