Sonoma County Health Services Director Tina Rivera, who led one of the largest and most integral county departments through the pandemic but whose tenure was clouded in controversy and allegations of mismanagement in the past year, has notified the Board of Supervisors and top administrators that she is resigning.
“I am looking forward to spending time with my family, especially as my daughter is expecting her second child, before I pursue my next opportunity,” Rivera wrote in her Monday letter to the board. It said her resignation would be effective Aug. 23.
“As I exit, I am grateful for the work I that I accomplished during my time here in Sonoma County.”
Rivera has been director of health services for more than 3 years, first as the interim leader and then formally appointed a little more than two and a half years ago.
Previously, starting 2018, she worked as director of administrative services at the county’s Department of Human Service before serving as as assistant director of the Community Development Commission and and as assistant director of Department of Health Services.
In her five-page resignation letter, she listed a number of accomplishments, including strengthening the agency’s financial health and working with nonprofits and other government agencies to reinforce the social safety net.
One of the biggest and most challenges Rivera faced as health services director was a worsening post-pandemic staffing shortage that crippled services for some of the most vulnerable county residents. These included county clients receiving mental health and homeless services.
In August last year, the overall vacancy rate for Rivera’s department of more than 730 staff was 21.5%. In her resignation letter, Rivera said she’d reduced that overall rate to 9%.
“I have devoted countless hours to continuing to build DHS’s administrative infrastructure,” Rivera wrote. “I have led efforts that have created efficiencies through the use of technology and software and have hired high-quality leadership to advance initiatives.”
However, in the past year, she came under withering criticism for lack of oversight on county contracts. One vendor in particular, DEMA Management and Consulting, Inc., received $26 million in no-bid contracts to provide homeless services through and after the coronavirus pandemic, but later could not account for as much as $11 million it had billed the county.
She also came under fire after her department ran several months late in paying nonprofits for services they’d already delivered.
Rivera dismissed the criticisms and the board affirmed their support for her leadership and DEMA’s work with the county before dropping DEMA earlier this year.
As director of Health Services, Rivera faced sharp questions about her leadership and responded forcefully, calling out some criticism as racist, noting discrimination and microaggressions she and other leaders of color, especially women, said they faced within county government.
Her departure follows that of two other high profile Black female county government executives, including her predecessor Barbie Robinson, who stepped down in 2021.
Her resignation letter also was addressed to the County Administrator’s Office.
“On behalf of the Board of Supervisors and the County Administrator’s Office, we are grateful for her many contributions, including her tireless work supporting at-risk populations,” County Executive Christina Rivera (no relation) said in a written statement Tuesday.
Rivera said the county will launch a “comprehensive nationwide search” for the next Director of Health Services. Jennifer Solito, Assistant County Administrator, will take over for the department in the interim, after Rivera’s last day.
Christina Rivera declined to comment beyond the written statement “out of respect” for Tina Rivera’s privacy.
Check back for updates on this developing story.
You can reach Staff Writer Martin Espinoza at 707-521-5213 or martin.espinoza@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @pressreno.
