Article by Emily Alvarenga  |  Read full article in the San Diego Union-Tribune

Longtime San Diego County finance official Ebony Shelton became the county’s first Black woman chief administrative officer Tuesday, after county supervisors unanimously agreed on her appointment.

Shelton is also the first Afro-Latina woman to serve as the county’s top executive, succeeding the first woman ever named to the job. She has worked for the county for nearly 30 years in various capacities, most recently in a dual role as the county’s chief financial officer and deputy CAO.

Shelton said she recognized the importance and trust of the board’s vote.

“I definitely do not take that lightly,” she said. “You have my commitment to do my absolute best to advance San Diego County for all residents, as well as all of our workforce.”

The board’s vote was met with cheers and applause from both the dais and the audience, which included a handful of Shelton’s family members who were there to support her.

Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer teared up as she spoke to Shelton.

“We’ve been working really hard as a board over the last four years to steer this county in a new direction, and I think you are so prepared and so ready to continue in advance and deepen and accelerate that work,” Lawson-Remer said.

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