RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. REVIEW applicants for the position of Auditor-Controller; and
2. DETERMINE which candidates will be invited to interview at the April 1, 2025 Board of Supervisors meeting; and
3. ADOPT a Resolution authorizing the County Administrator to obtain criminal history and other background information on candidates selected for interview and take related actions.
FISCAL IMPACT:
No fiscal impact.
BACKGROUND:
On December 13, 2024, Robert Campbell informed the Board of Supervisors and County Administrator in writing that he is retiring from the Office of the County Auditor-Controller, effective March 30, 2025. The current term of office for the Auditor-Controller began on January 2, 2023, and expires on January 4, 2027. Government Code section 25304 requires the Board of Supervisors to appoint someone to fill the vacancy. The person appointed to fill the vacancy will hold the office for the unexpired term; that is, until noon on January 4, 2027.
On January 14, 2025, the Board of Supervisors established a timeline to begin a search for qualified candidates for appointment to the position of Auditor-Controller upon the retirement of Mr. Campbell. The search included an extensive outreach plan with direct mailers being sent statewide to all California counties, advertisements beginning January 17, 2025, and concluding on March 14, 2025 on the County’s website and social media outlets, and with the following agencies:
• Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA)
• Municipal Management Association of Northern California (MMANC)
• California State Association of Counties (CSAC)
• International City/County Management Association (ICMA)
• Government Investment Officers Association (GIOA)
Today’s action is to transmit applications, supplemental questionnaires and supporting documentation received from the Auditor-Controller search to the Board of Supervisors for review and determination as to which candidates will be invited to the April 1, 2025 regular meeting of the Board for interviews. The following five (5) candidates are to be reviewed:
• Peter Karumbi
• Nikki Sow
• Donna Schmidt
• Yonghong (Jade) Bian
• Vijay Singhal
In addition, the Board is being requested to adopt the Resolution aforementioned authorizing the County Administrator to request certain criminal history and other background information about candidates for that position, as well as to secure a Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) Form 700 from each candidate. The FPPC Form 700 documents will be attached to the staff report for the April 1, 2025 meeting to assist the Board in determining whether candidates may have any potential conflicts of interest upon appointment to the position of Auditor-Controller with Contra Costa County.
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
and for Special Districts, Agencies and Authorities Governed by the Board
IN THE MATTER OF OBTAINING CRIMINAL HISTORY AND OTHER BACKGROUND INFORMATION RELATED TO CANDIDATES FOR THE POSITION OF AUDITOR-CONTROLLER.
WHEREAS, on December 13, 2024, Auditor-Controller Robert Campbell notified the Board of Supervisors of his intent to retire effective March 30, 2025; and
WHEREAS, on January 14, 2025, the Board of Supervisors established a timeline for appointment to the position of Auditor-Controller upon the retirement of Mr. Campbell and, among other things, directed staff to obtain criminal history and other background information related to candidates identified for interview by the Board of Supervisors; and
WHEREAS, on March 25, 2025, the Board of Supervisors will identify candidates to be invited to the April 1, 2025 Board of Supervisors meeting to interview for the position of Auditor-Controller; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Supervisors, as appointing authority for the position of Auditor-Controller, finds that it is necessary to obtain criminal history and other background information about candidates for that position; and
WHEREAS, this information is necessary to assist the Board of Supervisors in fulfilling its duties with respect to the appointment of the Auditor-Controller, and to assure that candidates for the office are not disqualified from holding office by the Constitution or statutes of the State of California.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors:
1. Criminal History Check. The County Administrator is authorized pursuant to Penal Code section 11105(b)(11) to seek and obtain from the California Attorney General state summary criminal history information on the candidates invited to interview for the position of Auditor-Controller.
a) The County Administrator is authorized to require that candidates be fingerprinted for the purpose of obtaining summary criminal history records once candidates are identified on March 25, 2025 for interview.
b) The County’s Custodian of Record for criminal offender record information shall maintain custody and control of criminal history records obtained to carry out this resolution as required by law.
c) In addition to the Custodian of Record, the criminal history records shall be accessible only to the following:
i) Members of the Board of Supervisors;
ii) County Administrator;
iii) County Counsel;
iv) Human Resources Director; and
v) Candidates to whom the records pertain.
d) The Custodian of Record shall destroy records containing criminal history information 30 days after the appointment of the Auditor-Controller.
2. Statement of Economic Interests (FPPC Form 700). The County Administrator, or designee, shall request of each candidate scheduled for interview a current and completed Statement of Economic Interests (FPPC Form 700), which shall be disclosed and made public at the April 1, 2025 Board of Supervisors meeting to assist in evaluating candidates scheduled for interview.
3. Other Background Information. The County Administrator is authorized to conduct the following additional background checks on each candidate scheduled for interview:
a) Social Media check
b) Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) check
c) Credit check