24 to watch in 2024: Sonoma County Administrator Christina Rivera is a year into her job, and it’s about to get tougher
Name: Christina Rivera
Title or position: Sonoma County Administrator
On the job since: Rivera was appointed to the county’s top administrative role in early 2023. She has worked for the county since 1996 when she joined the county’s transportation and public works department.
Age: 56
Hometown: Rivera was born in Santa Rosa before her family relocated back to Mexicali, Baja California. She lives in Graton.
Why Christina Rivera is someone to watch:
In January, Rivera will mark one year as the county’s top appointed official, overseeing the North Bay’s largest local government and biggest single workforce. She is the first Latina and fully bilingual Sonoma County administrator.
Rivera, the county’s former budget chief, with a degree in accounting, took over management of a workforce contending with a high 13% vacancy rate, a Board of Supervisors heading into a March primary with three seats up for election, widening homelessness and myriad high-profile projects including the long-awaited Tierra de Rosas housing project on county land in Roseland.
The job comes with a greater spotlight and pressure as the Board of Supervisors’ point person responsible for overseeing the daily operation of county departments and the preparation of policies and initiatives at the board’s direction — duties that require the ability to deftly navigate the county’s at-times choppy political waters.
Rivera brings warmth and a passion for public service to her role. She left the private financial sector for a job with the county in the 1990s and never looked back.
As county administrator, Rivera said she hopes to help light the way for others, especially Latinos, to find careers in local government.
“There's no particular formula to become a leader in county government,” Rivera said. “Meaning you don't have to be someone who was born here or who speaks without an accent, or someone who has deep roots in the community, you don't have to be a third generation vineyard (owner), or a rancher.”
What others are saying about Rivera:
Sheryl Bratton, Sonoma County’s former top administrator and Rivera’s predecessor, said the Board of Supervisors made an “excellent” choice in appointing Rivera to the role, adding that Rivera’s commitment to public service is “unsurpassed.”
“She routinely challenges staff to find ways to improve services. Her county experience is vast. Not only does she know the county budget and financing sources inside and out, she understands the various department operations. Moreover, she cares deeply about the county organization and the community at large and wants to make a difference. Christina knows what it is like to go through the multitude of disasters the county has faced since 2017 — she was instrumental in the County’s Emergency Operations Center for each of the past disasters. Her experience, knowledge, and talent, combined with her natural empathy, make her the ultimate public servant,” Bratton said.
What Rivera says about 2024:
Staffing shortages and homelessness are among the key issues the county will face next year, Rivera said. Her goal for 2024 is to reduce the county’s job vacancy rate, which has risen in recent years amid the county’s struggle to recruit, train and retain employees necessary to deliver essential county services.
“7% vacancy makes sense, not the 12% to 15% that we have right now,” Rivera said. That's the goal.“
You can reach Staff Writer Emma Murphy at 707-521-5228 or emma.murphy@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @MurphReports.
Christina Rivera
Sonoma County Administrator
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