Monterey County swears in three supervisors; Chris Lopez elected board chair

Three newly sworn and returning supervisors took their oaths at the Monterey County Board of Supervisors meeting on Jan. 7, and the board elected Chris Lopez as chair and Supervisor Askew as vice chair.

Kate Daniels, sworn in as the District 5 supervisor, told the chamber she was “so excited to work with everyone on the dais,” and said the new board would work on long-standing local challenges including reopening Highway 1 in Big Sur. Luis Alejo, sworn in for a third term as District 1 supervisor, said county government is where many state and federal policies are implemented and urged the board to defend immigrant residents who he described as “the backbone of our local economy.” Wendy Askew (sometimes referenced in the oath as Wendy Root) was sworn in for District 4.

The board then moved to elect leadership for 2025. By voice vote, the board approved Chris Lopez as chair and Supervisor Askew as vice chair. The motion carried without roll-call opposition.

Why it matters: The swearing-in sets the roster and leadership for the year and frames county priorities on homelessness, roads, public safety and recovery projects. Several newly sworn supervisors used their remarks to preview top priorities and name staff who will help implement them.

What the supervisors said: Kate Daniels (District 5) said the board had a chance to “move Monterey County forward” and promised to focus on workforce housing, infrastructure and regional projects. Luis Alejo highlighted the county’s immigrant workforce and public-safety responsibilities, saying the county must “stand with them and defend their rights.” Outgoing chair Church reflected on the year he chaired the board and urged compromise in order to achieve durable policy outcomes.

Public comment and community concerns: Speakers at the meeting included labor and community leaders who congratulated the new board and urged action on housing and renter protections. Several members of the public raised environmental and pesticide concerns and urged supervisors to attend a California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR) public hearing on Telone 13 d scheduled in Salinas on Jan. 16. Resident Karen Cameron told the board CDPR will hold the hearing at the Steinbeck Center and urged supervisors to attend.

Formal actions and next steps: The board approved appointments listed on the agenda (items 4–11) and the consent calendar (items 20–52) by unanimous voice vote. The meeting also recessed to closed session earlier in the morning and later reported that the board approved a tentative agreement with the Monterey County Patrol Association.

The board will reconvene in future meetings to act on staff recommendations and the chair will circulate appointment recommendations for non-county entities at the next regular meeting.