Monterey Times

The County of Monterey Board of Supervisors announced today 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 26th.

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 stages 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.  

Original source can be found here.