Politics & Government
San Diego County Supervisors Select Interim County Counsel
The county Board of Supervisors Thursday voted 3-0 to appoint David J. Smith as acting county counsel.
SAN DIEGO, CA — The county Board of Supervisors Thursday voted 3-0 to appoint David J. Smith as acting county counsel, following the retirement of Claudia Silva, who served in the position for three years.
Board Chair Terra Lawson-Remer, Vice Chair Monica Montgomery Steppe and new Supervisor Paloma Aguirre made the decision following a closed session Thursday.
The closed session started at 2:47 p.m. Thursday following public comment, and lasted 12 minutes, according to the county.
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Supervisors Joel Anderson and Jim Desmond were absent from the Thursday meeting.
Smith will start his new job immediately, said Sarah Sweeney, a county spokeswoman.
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Silva -- who served in the role since 2022 -- departed from the job on Wednesday, according to the county.
The county will begin its search for a permanent county counsel "in the near future, " Sweeney said.
Smith "brings more than three decades of legal experience, including over 20 years serving the people of San Diego County," Sweeney said in a statement.
Smith had served as the county's chief information officer, "where he leads the county Technology Office and represents San Diego on national technology leadership boards," Sweeney said.
Smith earned a law degree from the University of California, Davis, along with a bachelor's degree in political science and history from UCLA, according to the county.
Smith was previously served as acting county counsel in 2021 and chief deputy county counsel for over seven years, according to the county.
In an email on late Wednesday afternoon, Sweeney said Silva was retiring "after more than 31 years of distinguished service to public entities, including nearly nine years with the county of San Diego and the past three years as county counsel."
"As Claudia embarks on this well-earned next chapter, we thank her for her commitment and contributions," Sweeney said. "We wish her all the best as she enjoys more time with her family and the opportunities that retirement brings."
— City News Service
