County of Monterey Board of Supervisors Appoints Sonia De La Rosa as New County Administrative Officer; Board of Supervisors Completed a Nationwide Search for a Successor to Current County Administrative Officer (CAO) Charles McKee

The County of Monterey Board of Supervisors announced on Tuesday, December 13 that Sonia M. De La Rosa has been appointed as the new County Administrative Officer for the County. An experienced public

administrative leader, De La Rosa will succeed outgoing CAO Charles McKee and assume

responsibilities on January 9, 2023. Outgoing CAO McKee announced his retirement April 26 th.

Ms. De La Rosa was raised in Monterey County and has maintained her roots in this community.

She is the product of parents who worked in the fields of the Salinas Valley who instilled in her

a deep value of hard work and dedication. Through this dedication, Ms. De La Rosa has held a

long-standing career with the County of Fresno where her hard work has brought forward many

improvements to services which have enhanced the lives of the residents there. She brings a

breadth of experience dealing with challenging issues such as homelessness, supporting victims

of crime and law enforcement.

The selection of Ms. De La Rosa caps a nationwide search process facilitated by Bob Murray &

Associates, a national executive search firm which specializes in placing executives at the

nation's various governmental agencies. A large initial prospect pool was narrowed by to a final

round who met with board leadership and select County executives.

"After thorough succession planning and a comprehensive search process, the board is pleased

to have found the best individual to assume leadership for our County," said Chair-Supervisor

Mary Adams, District 5. "Ms. De La Rosa has a track record of strong leadership both inside and

outside of government. This, combined with Ms. De La Rosa’s deep knowledge of regional

issues and administrative tenure, makes her uniquely qualified to lead the County of Monterey

successfully into the future."

While at the County of Fresno, Ms. De La Rosa’s collaborative efforts were instrumental in

securing millions of dollars for housing services and establishing a viable and ongoing plan to

address homelessness. The Leadership Foundation describes Ms. De La Rosa as poised,

competent, effective communicator with a keen understanding of polices, legal constraints and

legislative mandates. Her integrity, dependability, excellent communication skills, honestly and

collaborative nature have earned Ms. De La Rosa the trust of many community stakeholders in

Fresno County who have highly recommended her for the position of County Administrative

Officer for the County of Monterey. As is her nature, Ms. De La Rosa will work diligently to

tackle the difficult matters our community is facing for the overall betterment of services to the

public.

Members of the Board of Supervisors are pleased to welcome Ms. De La Rosa to her new role.

“Ms. De La Rosa brings a clear love of public service along with deep experience in County

government,” says Supervisor Wendy Root Askew, District 4. “I am confident that her values-

driven commitment to collaborative leadership will serve Monterey County well.”

“I want to welcome Sonia home to Monterey County, we look forward to her leadership across

our diverse communities,” says Supervisor Chris Lopez, District 3. “Her deep experience at all

levels and depths of county government will be an asset as she steps into this key role.”

“As the first Latina County CAO, she will be an inspiration for our youth and families,” says

Supervisor Luis Alejo, District 1. “She was raised in the Salinas Valley and faced the same

struggles as many of our local families. She rose from the entry levels in county government

and rose to the top in Fresno County. I look forward to supporting her in continuing doing great

work here for the people of Monterey County.”

“Ms. De La Rosa has vast experience in all aspects of County Government,” says Supervisor John

Phillips, District 2. “I can think of no person better qualified, and she will be a great leader for

our County - where she grew up.”

Ms. De La Rosa received a dual B.S. Degree in Criminology and Chicano Latino Studies from the

California State University Fresno in 1998.

About the County of Monterey

Established in 1850, Monterey County was one of the original counties of California at the time

of statehood. The County derived its name from the Monterey Bay, which as named by

Sebastian Vizcaino in 1602 in honor of Gaspar de Zuniga y Acevedo, Conde de Monterrey. The

County’s population is over 447,300 and has an operating budget of over $1.7 billion. Monterey

County’s economy is primarily based on agriculture in the Salinas Valley and tourism in the

coastal regions. The County is comprised of 3,771 square miles and includes 12 incorporated

cities and 16 unincorporated areas, of which Salinas, the County seat, is the largest

municipality.

The Mission of Monterey County is to Excel at providing Quality Services for the benefit of all

Monterey County residents while developing, maintaining, and enhancing the resources of the

area.