CHAIR FLETCHER WILL CALL SPECIAL BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING TO APPOINT INTERIM SHERIFF IN MARCH, WILL NOT SUPPORT A PERSON RUNNING FOR SHERIFF

Nathan Fletcher, Chair of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, will call a special meeting of the Supervisors in March – after the election filing deadline – to consider an Interim Sheriff to serve the remainder of Sheriff Bill Gore’s term.

Earlier today, Sheriff Gore announced he will retire effective February 3 of this year. 

Chair Fletcher, citing the importance of respecting the voter’s right to choose their own Sheriff, does not believe the Interim Sheriff should be an individual who has filed to run for the seat in the 2022 election.    

“The voters are poised to make a very consequential decision on who they want to be our next Sheriff, and it would be inappropriate for us to put our thumb on the scale this close to the election by appointing a person who is a candidate for Sheriff,” said Chair Fletcher. 

“I will be calling a special public meeting of the Board of Supervisors in March, after the filing deadline to run for Sheriff has closed. Each Supervisor can make their own decision, but I will not be supporting any person who is a candidate for the office. The previous board of supervisors had a habit of appointing their chosen candidate for countywide offices very close to an election. I didn’t think it was right for them and it would not be right for us. In the coming weeks, the county will outline a public process for the application, vetting, public input, and consideration of an interim Sheriff. The Board of Supervisors will weigh in on that process and make a final determination of those steps at our February 8th Board Meeting. Then, in a public meeting in March,  the Board can consider an appointment. 

“I am looking for an interim sheriff who will reduce violent crime, fully support efforts to improve the conditions in our jail system, embrace best practices for leading a law enforcement agency and demonstrate a commitment to racial justice.”