SAN DIEGO — Nora Vargas has announced her resignation as the District 1 representative on the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, citing personal safety concerns, just weeks after being re-elected to a second term.
In a Friday statement, Vargas, the current board chair, announced that she would step down at the end of her current term on Jan. 6 and will not be sworn in for a second four-year term. Vargas was first elected in 2020 and claimed an easy victory in her re-election bid in November, earning 62% of the vote over opponent Alejandro Galicia’s 38%.
“Due to personal safety and security reasons, I will not take the oath of office for a second term,” she said. “It has been my honor to serve in public office during unprecedented times, including the past four years on the San Diego County Board of Supervisors.
“Whether serving as an elected board member on the Southwestern College Governing Board for seven years or as your first Latina County Supervisor, I’ve had the privilege of leading transformative initiatives in the County of San Diego and beyond for nearly 30 years, alongside many of you. My priority has always been our community, ensuring that everyone can be seen, heard and have a chance to thrive.”
Vargas did not clarify what the “personal and security reasons” were, but she has been absent from several meetings over the past year and has struggled with illness resulting from nodules on her vocal cords.
At the board’s most recent meeting on Dec. 10, Vargas could only speak quietly, requiring Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer to repeat some of her statements and lead portions of the meeting.
Supervisor meetings have also become more vitriolic and unruly in recent years, especially during discussions of hot-button issues. At the same Dec. 10 meeting, Vargas had to call a recess during a debate on a controversial immigration policy due to a person screaming in the chambers.
With Vargas’s resignation, the board can fill her seat via an appointment or special election. It is unclear at this time what the next steps will be.
Current District 4 Supervisor Monica Montgomery Steppe was the last supervisor appointed to the board, filling the vacancy left by disgraced former Supervisor Nathan Fletcher in 2023 in the wake of his post-scandal resignation.
After his resignation, Vargas succeeded Fletcher as board chair and has held the title since.
The board member called herself a “Guerrera at her core,” and said she is proud of her work over the past four years.
“Some of my proudest accomplishments include spearheading disaster response and recovery efforts, navigating the complexities of the pandemic, and driving systemic change so that our government serves all members of our community, not just a select few,” she said. “I’ve worked tirelessly to address the inequalities that have plagued our community for far too long. I’m proud of the progress we’ve made together.
Vargas has also served as the chair of the SANDAG Board since early 2023.
Coast News Wire Service contributed to this report.
