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Board votes to install Lawson Reamer as chair, Montgomery Stepp as vice chair and Paloma Aguirre as chair pro tem
Summary
The Board elected a slate of officers — Tara Lawson Reamer as chair, Monica Montgomery Stepp as vice chair and Paloma Aguirre as chair pro tem — after public testimony and nominations; one supervisor recorded a dissent and another abstained in the public transcript.
Supervisor Monica Montgomery Stepp nominated a leadership slate placing Tara Lawson Reamer as chair, herself as vice chair and Paloma Aguirre as chair pro tem; Supervisor Aguirre seconded the nomination and the board approved the slate after public comment.
Montgomery Stepp began the nomination by saying she hoped the full board could move forward together with "a full board" and nominated the three-person slate. Lawson Reamer accepted the nomination and framed the moment as an opportunity to "lead with fairness and common sense and practical solutions," citing recent board work including the budget and labor agreements.
Public commenters on the leadership selection spanned a wide range of views. Some speakers and callers urged rotation of the chair to represent unincorporated areas and expressed concern about continuity and regional representation; other speakers, including labor union representatives, publicly supported Lawson Reamer, Montgomery Stepp and Aguirre. Several callers urged leaders who would prioritize public health, fiscal responsibility, and representation of unincorporated communities.
Board vote and positions: The public transcript records that the motion to approve the slate passed; the record notes Supervisor Desmond voted no and that Supervisor Anderson recorded an abstention. The transcript text of the roll call indicates the motion "passes, with Supervisor Desmond voting no, and Supervisor Anderson abstaining." The board then proceeded to subsequent agenda items.
Why it matters: Board leadership determines the chair and meeting management and can shape agenda priorities, committee assignments and intergovernmental relationships. Multiple public commenters asked for rotation of leadership to ensure representation for large unincorporated parts of the county.
Ending: With the slate approved, the board moved to appointments to boards and commissions and later to additional agenda items.
