By Macy Meinhardt, Voice & Viewpoint Staff Writer
On Tuesday, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to confirm Ebony Shelton’s appointment as the new chief administrative officer.
“I’ve been flooded with emotions from the support,” Shelton said to county staff and community members in the audience after the vote. “I love everything about this county and I am completely committed.” Members of the audience and county staff gave Shelton a standing ovation as she accepted her position. Shelton’s appointment, to begin on June 14, is significant in that the chief administrative officer (CAO) is the county’s top position and she is the first African American Woman to fill the role.
While celebratory, the path to Shelton’s appointment was not without complications. Since the former CAO Helen-Robbins Meyer announced her retirement in October of 2022, the process for finding a replacement has been impacted by resignations, lawsuits, and harsh criticism from the public. Here is a play by play.
In October of 2022 Helen Robbins-Meyer announced her retirement from the CAO role with an end date of late March 2023. The Board of Supervisors spent several months in closed-door meetings to find a potential replacement, reportedly tapping Santa Clara Supervisor Cindy Chavez for the role.
In March of 2023, Board of Supervisors Chair Nathan Fletcher announced his sudden resignation after a lawsuit was filed by a former Metropolitan Transit System employee accusing Fletcher of sexual assault while he served as board chairman of MTS. As a result, the Board of Supervisors announced that they would halt the hiring process for a new CAO until September so they could focus on filling Fletcher’s District 4 vacancy. Subsequently, the board voted 4-0 to keep Robbins-Meyer onboard as CAO for the next 180 days.
To fill the District 4 vacancy, in May of 2023, the Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to hold a primary election on Aug. 15, with a potential runoff if no candidate wins the majority on Nov. 7. Former District 4 Councilmember Monica Montgomery Steppe won the Supervisor seat in the runoff, and became the first African American woman to fill the role. Meanwhile the search for the CAO continued through the fall and into spring 2024.
In May the Board of Supervisors announced that they were conducting final interviews. This is when it came out that local labor union candidate, Cindy Chavez, was no longer in the running for the CAO position. This prompted local labor unions SEIU Local 221 and the United Domestic Workers Local 3930 to rally outside the County Administration Building, condemning closed-door meetings that eliminated Chavez and diminished transparency.
Ahead of the next Board of Supervisors meeting on June 4, Board Chair Nora Vargas released a docketed agenda item announcing the upcoming appointment and employment agreement of new CAO Ebony N. Shelton.
June 4, 2024: Ebony Shelton is appointed to the new San Diego County CAO position.
“The process of the selection was stressful and rather disturbing for the lack of transparency, but congratulations Ebony on your [her] appointment, you are more than deserving,” said Drucilla Willis, member of SEIU Local 221, during public comment.
During the meeting, all five supervisors expressed optimism in Shelton’s ability to carry out the county’s mission in the future as they directed their comments to Shelton and her family sitting in the audience.
“I just want to personally thank Ebony for working so hard over the years to make our decision so easy. You were a clear choice and I was proud to vote in favor of you and I look forward to working with you at a whole new level,” said District 5 Supervisor Joel Anderson.
Shelton started her career with the county at age 19 as a payroll clerk, earning consistent promotions in various human resource and financial roles. Her latest position was the county’s chief financial officer, where she managed a multi-billion dollar budget, while also serving as deputy CAO. Shelton will earn a base salary of $395,012.80, according to employment documents.
The mood in county chambers during her appointment was hopeful but tension still remained. Several labor union members spoke in favor of Shelton’s appointment while maintaining their criticism of the board’s handling of it.
“On behalf of the 14,000 workers that we represent, I want to congratulate Ebony Shelton on her appointment as Chief Administrative Officer and recognize how your [her] many years of service and various experiences have prepared you [her] to take on this role.” said Crystal Irving, president of SEIU Local 221.
“And for what should be a moment marked by joy and hope, I wouldn’t be true to myself or our members if I do not convey the disappointment I had about the shadow this hiring process casts on this historic moment,” said Irving.
Labor unions have accused the board, specifically Nora Vargas, of conducting most of the decision-making behind closed doors and unfairly excluding their preferred candidate, former South Bay Labor Council President, Cindy Chavez.
“I hope Ebony can forge a new partnership with labor that centers the voice of working families across our County. I look forward to seeing her deepen our Board’s commitment to advancing equity and environmental sustainability in all the work we do,” said District 3 Supervisor Lawson-Remer.
Throughout the multi-year process leading up to Shelton’s appointment, the two roles vacated by Fletcher and Robbins-Meyer ended up being filled by Black women, marking a historic first for both the District 4 Supervisor Seat and the CAO role in San Diego County. Shelton identifies as an Afro-Latina with Salvadoran ancestry.
“I believe that public service is a calling, and I know you will fulfill yours,” said District 4 Supervisor Montgomery Steppe.
“I recognize the importance of the action that the board took today and the conveyance of the trust you’ve given to me in terms of the support of the community and the support of the workforce. I definitely do not take that lightly,” said Shelton to county staff and members of the community in county chambers. “You have my commitment to do my absolute best to advance San Diego County for all residents and all of our workforce.”
