San Diego County Board Chair Nora Vargas resigns
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San Diego County Board Chair Nora Vargas announced Friday she would resign at the end of her first term, just weeks after winning reelection.
Why it matters: The sudden announcement will leave South County without a representative on the board of supervisors, which controls the county's $8 billion annual budget.
Driving the news: Vargas said she'd leave the board on Jan. 6, 2025, when her second term would have begun, in a statement sent to press.
- "Due to personal safety and security reasons, I will not take the oath of office for a second term," she said in a release, without further explanation.
- "As a Guerrera at my core, I remain committed to continuing the fight for equity, justice, and human rights – just in a different capacity," Vargas said.
What we're watching: It's not yet clear why Vargas resigned, what safety and security threats she faced, and how her situation changed since she sought a second term earlier this year.
- Her office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on what risks she faced and how she came to this decision.
- As board chair, she was at the center of the county's selection of a new chief operating officer, which has resulted in a lawsuit and a threatened lawsuit from candidates for that position.
Context: Vargas and other supervisors have faced escalating threats and profanity from public commenters at board meetings, prompting them to consider changes to public meeting rules.
Between the lines: Vargas in the last year has found herself increasingly at odds with previous allies.
- She rejected a push by Imperial Beach Mayor Paloma Aguirre to seek a Superfund designation for the cross-border sewage crisis from the EPA, leading to a Democratic group led by Aguirre rescinding Vargas' endorsement, as Voice of San Diego reported.
- SEIU Local 221, which represents over 10,000 county workers, was irate this spring when its preferred candidate wasn't hired as the county's top executive, and publicly blamed Vargas over the decision.
The latest: Vargas, in early December, initiated the county's vote to limit county cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, which county Sheriff Kelly Martinez has said she will not follow.
- Fellow County Supervisor Jim Desmond has slammed it as a "super sanctuary" city policy, and it has generated national backlash from conservative media.
What's next: The remaining supervisors will decide whether to fill the vacant position through a special election or an appointment.
- The county held a special election last year to replace former Supervisor Nathan Fletcher after he resigned amid sexual misconduct allegations.