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Board appoints Larry Cohen interim treasurer‑tax collector; swearing‑in set for Nov. 18 pending background check
Summary
After public finalist interviews and multiple rounds of ballots, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors appointed Larry Cohen to fill the vacant county treasurer‑tax collector post. The appointment was made after iterative voting; the appointee must clear a standard background check before being sworn in Nov. 18.
The San Diego County Board of Supervisors appointed Larry Cohen as the county’s interim treasurer‑tax collector on Nov. 4, following public finalist interviews and iterative voting rounds.
The appointment followed a public process required by the county charter in which four finalists—Christian Peacock, David Baker, Detra Williams and Larry Cohen—made three‑minute statements and answered board questions. Supervisor Joel Anderson recused himself from the item because he is considering running for the office.
After public comment and multiple ballots, Cohen received a majority on the final tally. The clerk said Cohen received three votes on the final ballot; the board announced that Cohen will be sworn in at the Nov. 18 board meeting, subject to passing the county’s standard background check.
Why it matters: The treasurer‑tax collector oversees collection of county property taxes, the county’s investment pool and other financial operations that fund core services. The office is implementing a new integrated property tax system this year, a major operational change the board flagged during the interviews.
Candidates and claims: Christian Peacock, the elected treasurer for the city of Carlsbad, emphasized transparency and investment‑policy alignment. David Baker, the county’s chief deputy treasurer‑tax collector, highlighted his 23 years within the office and operational experience managing tax operations and the deferred compensation program. Detra Williams, an internal candidate with long service in the office, urged the board to appoint an internal candidate for continuity during the transition. Cohen emphasized his public‑and‑private‑sector finance background and told the board he intends to run in the next election.
Board process: The board followed the timeline authorized by charter and board policy: four finalists, a public forum the prior week, three‑minute presentations, public comment, and iterative ballots. Andrew (the clerk) collected and tabulated signed ballots in public view. The clerk confirmed the appointment and set the swearing‑in date contingent on background clearance.
What the office manages: During the presentations board members and candidates noted scale and complexity: the treasurer‑tax collector’s office handles billions of dollars in annual collections and manages the county’s investment pool and customer services, and is implementing a major new property tax system.
Next steps: The board scheduled Cohen’s swearing‑in for Nov. 18, pending the Department of Human Resources background process.
Quote: “I intend to run,” Larry Cohen told the board when asked about serving beyond the interim appointment.
Provenance: Topic began at 00:54:16 with the board introducing item 10 and concluded with the clerk’s announcement of the appointment at 01:44:54. Evidence: board item introduction and candidate statements in the public record.
