Contra Costa Selects Thomas Geiger To Serve As County Counsel

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA — The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors has selected Thomas Geiger as the next county counsel, county officials announced this week.

Geiger's formal appointment is slated for approval at the April 14 Board of Supervisors meeting. He succeeds Mary Ann Mason, who retired as county counsel in November. As county counsel, Geiger will lead a legal team of 55 attorneys and staff who advise the county on civil legal matters and defend the county in litigation filed against it.

County Counsel is the legal advisor for the county, including the Board of Supervisors and county officers, departments, boards and commissions, and certain special districts. Geiger has been an attorney in the County Counsel’s Office since 2001 and has served as chief assistant county counsel since August.

Geiger has significant legal experience in the areas of land use, code enforcement, real estate, public works, elections, emergency medical services, and Delta and water issues, according to county officials. Among his many accomplishments, he advised the Board of Supervisors, the county health officer and other county departments on legal issues arising from the COVID-19 pandemic response.

“Tom has a long history of public service in Contra Costa and has skillfully guided our County through complicated legal issues involving disaster response, land use and other significant community matters,” said Board Chair John Gioia, who represents District I. “We are grateful for his strong leadership, commitment to equity and transparency, and his ability to implement the Board’s priorities on the public’s behalf.”

Geiger holds a bachelor of arts degree in history from Stanford University and a Juris Doctorate from the University of California, Davis, School of Law.

“It’s a privilege to serve Contra Costa County in this role and to lead such an incredible team in the County Counsel’s Office,” Geiger said in a news release. “I am deeply honored to be selected as County Counsel and for the opportunity to help the Board of Supervisors carry out its vision of delivering quality public services that make a difference in the lives of people throughout our County.”