Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Personnel Retirements topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Santa Barbara County supervisors honor six retiring employees after 159 years of combined service
Summary
The Board of Supervisors on April 7 adopted resolutions honoring six county employees who are retiring, recognizing a combined roughly 159 years of service across departments including Clerk-Recorder-Assessor, Public Defender, Public Works and the Sheriff's Office.
The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors on April 7 unanimously adopted resolutions honoring six longtime county employees who are retiring, the board said during a special meeting in Santa Barbara.
Chair Nelson opened the special meeting noting the event was convened to recognize about 159 years of combined county service among the retirees and asked the board to adopt administrative resolutions A1 through A6; the motion was moved and seconded and passed unanimously.
The board read separate commendations for each employee.
Ching Yu, a software architect in the Clerk-Recorder-Assessor Department, was honored for more than 21 years of service and for leading the department’s transition from legacy systems to modern web-based property inquiry tools. After the resolution was read, a colleague praised Yu’s work and presence, saying she brought “joy” to the office and that the county will miss her “infectious laugh.” Yu thanked the board for the recognition.
Deputy Public Defender Mark Sechin was recognized for nearly 20 years at the Public Defender’s Office. Public Defender Tracy McCuga described Sechin as “one of those leaders within the department” who is “always willing to be there in those dark days,” and credited his role during the COVID-19 pandemic in monitoring jail conditions and advocating for vulnerable individuals.
Jodi Leipner of the Public Works Department received a commendation after 29 years of county service. The resolution and speakers cited her work on long-range planning, the Tajiguas Landfill reconfiguration and the Tajiguas Resource Recovery Project. Leipner told the board it was “an honor to serve the public,” and colleagues noted she led habitat restoration projects, including restoring more than 50 acres of native habitat along the Gaviota coast.
Brian Lawrence Carroll, a senior deputy public defender, was honored for nearly 30 years with the Public Defender’s Office. Colleague Adrian Galvan and others highlighted Carroll’s wide-ranging work—from treatment courts to homicide trials—and his mentorship of younger attorneys. Carroll said he was grateful for the opportunity to serve.
The board also honored Paulina Mac Lau, a Department Business Specialist II in the Sheriff’s Office, for more than 37 years of service. Sheriff Bill Brown praised Mac Lau as “the epitome of reliability and graciousness,” and Mac Lau thanked the board and her family for their support.
The board recessed the special meeting to begin its regular scheduled session and said it would return later for an additional honoree who was delayed by traffic.
Actions taken: The board adopted resolutions A1–A6 recognizing six county employees and passed the package of resolutions unanimously.
