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Supervisors approve two appointments that raise public calls for transparency on family hires
Summary
The board approved two human‑resources items hiring family members on Jan. 14 — a sheriff’s deputy rehire and an extra‑hire for the district attorney’s office — after staff described recruitment efforts and the urgent need to comply with new state charging rules. Multiple public commenters urged fuller transparency before votes.
Two human resources items drew extended public comment on Jan. 14 before the Board of Supervisors voted to approve both appointments under a county code provision governing employment of family members.
Item 16 authorized the appointment of a candidate in the sheriff’s department pursuant to county code section 2.64.645 (employment of family member). Judy Hawkins, human resources and risk management director, said the candidate is a lateral hire who previously worked for the county and left to rejoin the military; the sheriff and staff said the county previously invested in the deputy’s training and had kept a position open during a long military absence. Hawkins and the sheriff said the hire would place the candidate in a different division (courts) than the family member and that recruitment for deputy positions remains continuous. The motion passed on a voice vote recorded as 5‑0.
Item 17 approved an extra‑hire candidate in the district attorney’s office, also pursuant to section 2.64.645. Hawkins and Assistant District Attorney Brad Jones said the DA’s office has an immediate need to implement new state requirements for “race‑blind charging” that went into effect on Jan. 1. Jones said the candidate has significant relevant experience and would perform specialized redaction and case‑selection work while the office evaluates whether a permanent position is needed. Hawkins said the extra hire would not report to a family member. Public commenter Christopher Butner repeatedly urged the board to continue the items and provide documentation proving that recruitment efforts were fully exhausted; the board discussed public‑record transparency but moved to approve both items 5‑0.
Staff indicated ongoing continuous recruitments for deputy positions and that the DA’s office will open a recruitment for a permanent slot if the temporary assignment requires it. Both actions were recorded as approved by the board.
