REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
December 17, 2024
FROM
DAWN ROWE, Chair and Third District Supervisor, Board of Supervisors
SUBJECT
Title
Appointment of County Clerk
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Appoint the elected County Assessor/Recorder Josie Gonzales to the position of County Clerk, effective, at Noon, on January 6, 2025.
(Presenter: Luther Snoke, Chief Executive Officer, 387-4811)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Improve County Government Operations.
Operate in a Fiscally-Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of additional Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost).
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
San Bernardino County’s previously elected Assessor/Recorder, Bob Dutton, passed away on July 23, 2022, after being elected to a new term as Assessor/Recorder on June 7, 2022. On September 13, 2022 (Item No. 76), the Board of Supervisors (Board) appointed Christopher Wilhite to the position of Assessor/Recorder and County Clerk for the unexpired term ending at 11:59 a.m. on January 2, 2023.
On December 6, 2022 (Item No. 69), the Board appointed Christopher Wilhite to the position of Assessor/Recorder and County Clerk for the next term through 11:59 a.m. on January 6, 2025. The Board also called for a special election for the Assessor/Recorder to fill the remainder of the four-year term for Assessor-Recorder beginning at Noon on January 6, 2025, through 11:59 a.m. on January 4, 2027. The special election was consolidated with the statewide general election held on November 5, 2024.
As a result of the special election on November 5, 2024, Josie Gonzales received the highest number of votes and was elected to be the County Assessor/Recorder.
In 2010, the County reorganized and consolidated the elected positions of Assessor and Recorder. At the same time, the functions of the County Clerk were combined with the Recorder’s Office and the Assessor/Recorder was appointed as the County Clerk. Section 401 of the County Charter states that the Board appoints the County Clerk. Appointing the elected Assessor/Recorder as County Clerk would be consistent with the previous reorganization actions.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by (Julie Surber, Principal Assistant County Counsel, 387-5455) on November 15, 2024; Finance (Penelope Chang, Administrative Analyst, 387-4886) on November 15, 2024; and County Finance and Administration (Paloma Hernandez-Barker, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on December 2, 2024.