Title
Chief Administrative Office recommending the Board appoint Eric Palmberg as the Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator effective upon vacation of the Office on December 26, 2026, or upon the earlier vacation of the Office, for the remainder of the current term of office, which ends on January 8, 2029, with a salary totaling $25,701.87 per month.
FUNDING: General Fund.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
The position of Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator will become vacant on December 26, 2026, due to the retirement of Jeff Leikauf, Elected Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator, with his last day in office being December 25, 2026. The County Charter, Section 406 - Vacancies, states "If a vacancy occurs in an elective office other than the Board of Supervisors, the Board shall fill it as provided by general law. The appointee shall hold office until the next general election."
Upon notification to the Board of his intention to retire, Sheriff Leikauf recommended the Board appoint Undersheriff Eric Palmberg to fulfill the remainder of the term, citing Mr. Palmberg’s 19 years of progressively responsible law enforcement experience with the Sheriff’s Office and current position as Undersheriff. The Sheriff’s letter is included as Attachment A.
Government Code 25304 states: "The Board of Supervisors shall fill by appointment all vacancies that occur in any office filled by the appointment of the Board of supervisors and elective county officers, except judge of the superior court and supervisors. The appointee shall hold office for the unexpired term or until the first Monday after January 1st succeeding the next general election".
The next general election is in November 2028. This appointment would be for the unexpired term ending on January 8, 2029, when the next elected Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator would take office.
The qualifications for an elected Sheriff are set by Government Code (GC) Section 24004.3. An elected Sheriff is required to meet at leas...
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