L.A. County CEO, who got $2-million settlement, is resigning

Los Angeles County’s chief govt officer Fesia Davenport, who has been on medical depart since October, has introduced that she’s going to resign subsequent month.

In a LinkedIn put up, Davenport stated she was leaving county service to “give attention to my well being and wellness.”

A discover to the Board of Supervisors offered to The Occasions Saturday stated she had determined to step down April 16 “based mostly totally on hereditary and ongoing well being points initially uncovered late final yr, the dangers of which have turn into clearer based mostly on more moderen medical testing and session with my medical doctors.”

She stated the “extraordinary period of time and power” required of the chief govt performed into her determination.

“Though I initially assumed that I might be capable of return to my put up, I now know that I might be unable to do the job because it deserves to be achieved whereas additionally prioritizing my well being,” she instructed the supervisors.

Supervisor Kathryn Barger issued a press release Saturday saying, “I’m upset by Fesia Davenport’s determination to step down. Her dedication and accomplishments over practically three a long time have left a long-lasting impression on Los Angeles County.”

Davenport, who was appointed to the county’s high job in 2021, obtained an undisclosed $2-million settlement final summer season to compensate for harm to her “skilled status” from Measure G, a voter-approved poll measure that can quickly eradicate her place.

In a July 8 letter, launched by the county counsel in October by way of a public file request, Davenport stated she sought $2 million in damages for “reputational hurt, embarrassment, and bodily, emotional and psychological misery brought on by the Measure G.”

Below Measure G, which voters accepted in 2024, the county chief govt, who manages the county authorities and oversees its price range, might be elected by voters as an alternative of appointed by the board. The elected county govt might be in place by 2028.

Measure G “has had, and can proceed to have, an unprecedented impression on my skilled status, well being, profession, earnings, and retirement,” Davenport wrote to county counsel Dawyn Harrison. She stated it had “irrevocably modified my life, my skilled profession, financial outlook, and plans for the longer term.”

On the time the payout was disclosed, Davenport had begun a medical depart, saying on the time she anticipated to be again to work early this yr.

A prolonged electronic mail to her employees, posted on LAist, which first disclosed her resignation, stated the unspecified “well being disaster” has affected three of her siblings and posed dangers to her that “have turn into clearer based mostly on more moderen medical testing and session with my medical doctors.”

Her brother Raymond died in 2018 after “experiencing a sudden well being disaster,” she stated. Final yr, two extra of her sisters survived the identical well being disaster, however one will now require 24-hour take care of the remainder of her life, she stated.

“Though I’m not out of the woods but, I’m grateful to the Board for granting me the house to give attention to my well being and to arm myself with the data I wanted to make knowledgeable choices,” she wrote.

The workplace of chief govt issued a press release Saturday saying chief working officer Joe Nicchitta will proceed serving as appearing chief govt officer whereas Davenport stays on medical depart.

“We admire Fesia’s practically three a long time of service to Los Angeles County and all that she has completed on behalf of its residents and communities,” the assertion stated.

Davenport listed quite a few accomplishments in her letter to the board, together with establishing 5 new departments sustaining the county’s credit standing when different jurisdictions had been being downgraded and “balancing the price range whereas creating a financing plan to compensate sexual assault victims — the biggest settlement of its variety in American historical past.”

That payout has now come beneath scrutiny after a Occasions investigation discovered that some plaintiffs had been paid to hitch the class-action lawsuit.