FLETCHER IS NAMED CHAIR OF BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

Desmond says he’s not happy with committee distribution

The county Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously selected as its new chair Nathan Fletcher, who quickly outlined a more-progressive agenda than those followed by past boards.

“As the new chair of the board, I will work tirelessly for a county with more opportunity, more fairness, more equity and more justice,” he said.

Fletcher welcomed newly seated supervisors Joel Anderson, Terra LawsonRemer and Nora Vargas to the the fivemember board, saying he looked forward to a collaborative relationship with them.

He also acknowledged some past tension with fellow Supervisor Jim Desmond.

“Let’s not get carried away,” Fletcher said jokingly. “Let’s just see how it goes.”

Desmond was not in a joking mood,

however. As the board prepared to vote on committee appointments, Desmond said he was disappointed in what he saw as a less-than equitable distribution of assignments. He noted that Fletcher had proposed only seven out of 65 positions for him, while another supervisor received 21 appointments, and the supervisor with the next-to-lowest appointments had 13, Desmond said.

“We should not have a divisive start on day one,” he said, “This is not, in my opinion, an equitable distribution. This is not for the public good. This is actually retribution.”

Desmond asked Vargas if he could replace her as an alternate on the board of the San Diego Association of Governments. Vargas declined.

Lawson-Remer and Anderson were appointed the two primary seats on SANDAG.

Vargas also declined Desmond’s request to replace her on the Local Agency Formation Commission, but Anderson gave him his seat.

Anderson also gave Desmond his seat on the

Multiple Species Conservation Program.

Fletcher and Desmond joined the board in January 2018. At the time, Fletcher was the only Democrat on the board and was sometimes on the losing end of 4-1 votes.

The two have clashed on the county’s approach to handling the COVID-19 pandemic, with Desmond critical of restrictions Fletcher favored on businesses and the public. Fletcher has publicly criticized Desmond for downplaying the threat of the coronavirus outbreak.

Fletcher, who turned 44 on Dec. 31, represents county District 4 and replaces Republican Greg Cox as chair of the board.

With the elections of Democrats Lawson-Remer and Vargas, Democrats now make up the majority.

Anderson is a Republican and, like Fletcher, had served in the state Assembly. Fletcher welcomed him as someone he could work with.

“I saw someone who has a unique ability to hold to your convictions but also be willing to find common ground,” he said in welcoming Anderson.

Fletcher added that the new board will be much more left-leaning in the future.

“For many decades now the county has been governed by a very conservative Board of Supervisors, and the voters elected them and they governed consistent with their values,” he said.

“But times change, and now the voters have elected a new group of more progressive supervisors, and we will govern consistent with our values.”

Fletcher said the board would begin looking at new policies when it meets again next Tuesday.

“We need to make San Diego County a place where we lead the world on tackling climate change, investing in clean air and water,” he said. “Building affordable housing along acceptable and efficient transit lines. Making San Diego County a place where we don’t just say, ‘Black Lives Matter’ and ‘Immigrants are appreciated,’ but a county that backs that up with intentional policies.”

Fletcher also praised work done by the board over the past two years. He said the progress at passing almost 70 policies was greater than he had expected.

“We did some good work, but it wasn’t enough,” he said. “There is more to do, and we’re going to do it.”