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DATE: |
November 4, 2025 |
10 |
SUBJECT
Title
FILLING THE VACANCY OF THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY ELECTIVE OFFICE OF TREASURER-TAX COLLECTOR - FINALIST INTERVIEWS AND SELECTION (DISTRICTS: ALL)
Body
OVERVIEW
On July 25, 2025, San Diego County Treasurer-Tax Collector Dan McAllister notified the County of San Diego (County) that he would be retiring from his office effective August 2, 2025.
San Diego County Charter, Section 500.2, states that the Board of Supervisors has the power to fill, by appointment, any vacancy that occurs in an elective County office other than a member of the Board of Supervisors and that the appointee shall hold office until the election of a successor. Board Policy A-105, “Filling Vacancies in Elected Offices,” details the process to fill vacancies of elected offices other than the Board of Supervisors, and in accordance with A-105, applications were accepted to fill the position of Treasurer-Tax Collector. The appointed individual would complete the current term of office which ends at 12 noon on January 4, 2027.
On August 26, 2025 (22) the Board approved the form of notice, the application, and set the deadline for acceptance of applications. On September 30, 2025 (13), the Board conducted a public hearing during which the Board heard from all applicants and selected four finalists from among those who applied. Today, November 4, 2025, a second public hearing will take place during which the Board will make a final selection from among the finalists.
Board Policy A-105 states that the person so appointed shall be prepared to formally assume the office not later than twenty (20) business days following the selection by the Board of Supervisors.
RECOMMENDATION(S)
CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
1. Conduct a public hearing and hear from each of the finalists.
2. Select and appoint one of the finalists to serve as and complete the current term of the County office of the Treasurer-Tax Collector, contingent upon passing the County’s standard background investigation.
EQUITY IMPACT STATEMENT
Today’s proposed action continues the process for filling the vacancy of the elected office of the San Diego County Treasurer-Tax Collector (TTC). The mission of the San Diego County TTC is to provide the residents, agencies and employees of San Diego County with superior financial services in terms of quality, timeliness, efficiency and value while maintaining the highest levels of customer service and satisfaction. The office oversees the collection of more than $9.1 billion in property taxes every year, dealing with both secured property, like buildings and unsecured property, like boats, racehorses, etc. The office also collects the transient occupancy tax and the cannabis business tax from establishments in unincorporated parts of the County. In the Treasury, the office manages the County investment pool, which ranges in size from $10.2 - $18.8 billion in assets on an annual basis. The Treasury is also the paying agent for all 42 school districts in the region.
Therefore, the selection process for the filling of the vacancy of the San Diego County elected office of the TTC will ensure the department is led by an individual that will guide the department as it strives for equitable outcomes in the County and ensures continuity in the services provided by the TTC. There have been opportunities for community engagement, including a community forum with the finalists on October 30, 2025.
SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT STATEMENT
The information presented in this report contributes to the County of San Diego’s (County) efforts to engage the community in meaningful ways and promote an environment that provides equitable access to opportunities for public engagement and representation. These efforts will contribute to the County Sustainability Goal No. 1 by “encourag[ing] people and diverse stakeholders to partner and participate in decisions that impact their lives and communities.”
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact as a result of the recommended actions. The position is budgeted in the office of the Treasurer - Tax Collector. There will be no change in net General Fund cost and no additional staff years.
BUSINESS IMPACT STATEMENT
N/A
Details
ADVISORY BOARD STATEMENT
N/A
BACKGROUND
San Diego County Charter, Section 500.2, provides that the San Diego County Board of Supervisors (Board) has the power to fill, by appointment, any vacancy that occurs in an elective office other than the Board of Supervisors. The appointee holds office until the election and qualification of a successor. The successor is elected at the next statewide primary election, or at the next statewide primary and general elections, to complete the term, if it does not expire the following January, or to begin a new term of office. The next statewide primary election is set for June 2, 2026. The June 2, 2026, ballot will include the office of San Diego County Treasurer-Tax Collector (TTC) for a new four-year term. That new four-year term will commence on January 4, 2027. Therefore, should the Board appoint a person to fill this vacancy, such appointee would serve through January 4, 2027, which would complete the current term of office prior to the elected successor assuming office.
On August 26, 2025 (22), the Board determined that the procedures outlined in Board Policy A-105 shall be followed to fill the vacancy of the County Treasurer-Tax Collector, established the deadline for acceptance of applications and set, in accordance with the policy, September 30, 2025 as the date the Board of Supervisors would consider and vote to appoint an applicant. All applicants were required to provide to the Board by the filing deadline:
(a) A statement of qualifications.
(b) Affidavit of applicants for appointment certifying, under the penalty of perjury, that the applicant is a resident of California, over the age of 18, is not disqualified from holding office because of conviction of crimes, and fulfills the residency and elector requirements established by the County Charter, and any other qualification required by law.
In accordance with Board Policy A-105, the application form included the following:
(a) Full name, residence address for the past five (5) years.
(b) Current resume containing, as a minimum, all employment for the previous five (5) years.
(c) A written statement outlining the qualifications of the applicant for that office (500 words maximum).
(d) A written statement explaining the applicant’s reasons for wishing to be appointed to the office.
(e) A Statement of Economic Interests form of the type required to be filed by the incumbent of the public office for which appointment is to be made.
In order to be eligible for the position, any candidate must be a U.S. citizen and a registered voter of the County at the time of application.
Additionally, Article L, Section 840, of the County Administrative Code defines eligibility requirements for the Treasurer-Tax Collector. It states:
(a) No person shall be eligible for election or appointment to the office of San Diego County Treasurer-Tax Collector unless that person meets at least one of the following criteria:
(1) The person served in a senior financial management position in a county, city, or other public agency dealing with similar financial responsibilities for a continuous period of not less than three years, including, but not limited to, treasurer, tax collector, auditor, auditor-controller, or the chief deputy or an assistant in those offices.
(2) The person possesses a valid baccalaureate, masters, or doctoral degree from an accredited college or university in any of the following major fields of study: business administration, public administration, economics, finance, accounting, or a related field, with a minimum of 16 college semester units, or their equivalent, in accounting, auditing, or finance.
(3) The person possesses a valid certificate issued by the California State Board of Accountancy pursuant to Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 5000) of Division 3 of the Business and Professions Code, showing that person to be, and a permit authorizing that person to practice as, a certified public accountant.
(4) The person possesses a valid charter issued by the Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts showing the person to be designated a Chartered Financial Analyst, with a minimum of 16 college semester units, or their equivalent, in accounting, auditing, or finance.
(5) The person possesses a valid certificate issued by the Treasurer Management Association showing the person to be designated a Certified Cash Manager, with a minimum of 16 college semester units, or their equivalent, in accounting, auditing, or finance.
The Clerk of the Board provided to each applicant copies of pertinent State laws, County Ordinances, and policies relating to the vacancy.
The Clerk of the Board made copies of all submitted applications upon receipt during the filing period and distributed one copy to the office of each Supervisor for their review. Completed applications, with appropriate private and confidential information redacted, were also made available to the public upon delivery to the Board offices. All received applications were posted online after the filing deadline on September 22, 2025, at 12 noon.
At the Board’s first hearing on September 30, 2025 (13), each applicant was given three (3) minutes to make an oral presentation, as well as answer questions from the Board. At that time, the Board selected the following finalists (alphabetically by last name):
1. David Baker
2. Lawrence Cohen
3. Christian Peacox
4. Detra Williams
Additionally, on September 30, 2025, the Board directed the Chief Administrative Officer to coordinate, establish parameters, and host a community meeting on October 30, 2025, to allow the community an opportunity to meet the finalists, hear introductory remarks, and ask questions. The Board also directed the Chief Administrative Officer to provide a summary of the community meeting to the Board. Due to the agenda publication dates, the community feedback summary will be posted online on Friday, October 31, 2025.
At the second hearing before the Board on November 4, 2025, each finalist will be provided an opportunity make an oral presentation of no more than three (3) minutes. After each finalist presentation, the Chair shall allow each Board member to ask questions of the finalists.
At the conclusion of the question period, each Board member shall, on written ballots provided by the Clerk of the Board, vote for one of the finalists to fill the unexpired term. Balloting shall continue at this or subsequent meetings until an appointment is made. The Clerk will announce the vote of each Board member after each round of balloting.
Whenever any finalist receives three (3) or more votes, the Chair shall declare that at least three (3) members of the Board have concurred in the selection of such applicant and that such applicant shall be declared by the Chair to be appointed to fill the vacant office contingent upon passing the County’s standard background check. While Board Policy A-105 allows the Board to require the selected applicant to be subject to a medical exam, this position does not require a pre-employment medical exam.
The person so appointed shall be prepared to formally assume the office not later than twenty (20) business days following the selection by the Board of Supervisors. The appointed individual may be sworn in on November 18, 2025.
Lastly, the Administrative Code, Article L, Section 841, defines the following continuing educational requirements for the appointed individual:
Any person who is elected to the Office of San Diego County Treasurer-Tax Collector for a four-year term of office on or after July 1, 1997, shall complete a valid continuing course of study as prescribed in this section, and shall during the person’s four-year term of office on or before June 30 of the fourth year, render to the State Controller a certification indicating that the person has successfully completed a continuing education program consisting of, at a minimum, 48 hours, or an equivalent amount of continuing education units within the discipline of treasury management or public finance or both, offered by a recognized state or national association, institute, or accredited college or university, that provides the requisite educational program prescribed in this section. The willful or negligent failure of any elected San Diego County Treasurer-Tax Collector to comply with the requirements of this section shall be deemed a violation of Government Code section 27000.8.
LINKAGE TO THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO STRATEGIC PLAN
Today’s proposed action supports the Community Initiative of the County of San Diego’s 2025-2030 Strategic Plan by inspiring civic engagement by providing information, programs, public forums or other avenues that increase access for individuals or communities to use their voice, their vote, and their experience to impact change.
Respectfully submitted,
EBONY SHELTON
Chief Administrative Officer
ATTACHMENT(S)
Attachment A: Finalist Applications
Attachment B: Community Forum Summary (to be made available on or after October 31, 2025)