San Diego County Supervisor Joel Anderson teased a possible 2026 bid for county treasurer-tax collector on Tuesday as his colleagues narrowed down a field of candidates to do the job until after next year’s election.
Supervisors on Tuesday were holding public interviews with nine candidates seeking to serve out the remainder of Dan McAllister’s sixth term. McAllister retired in August after more than 20 years as treasurer.
Before the interviews began, Board Clerk Andrew Potter announced on Anderson’s behalf that the supervisor was recusing himself from the selection process as he weighs a possible campaign in the 2026 election.
Anderson, a Republican who represents East County, was first elected supervisor in 2020 and was re-elected last year. He previously represented the area in the state Assembly and state Senate.
In a statement, Anderson said he would make a decision on his candidacy by the filing deadline in February.
In recent weeks, 11 people had applied to serve as treasurer-tax collector until a permanent successor to McAllister is elected. After two withdrew, nine proceeded to interviews.
A low-key elected position in county government, the treasurer-tax collector oversees the collection of property taxes and manages the county’s investment pool.
After a round of interviews with the applicants Tuesday, supervisors narrowed the field to four finalists.
Two are top officials in the tax collector’s office — David Baker, the county’s chief deputy of tax collection, and Detra Williams, its special functions manager. The other two are Larry Cohen, chief of staff for U.S. Rep. Juan Vargas, and Carlsbad Treasurer Christian Peacox.
Supervisors had been expected to name a temporary successor to McAllister on Tuesday. But Chair Terra Lawson-Remer moved to extend the selection process in order to host a community forum with the four finalists.
The community forum will be held on Oct. 30 ahead of a final board vote on Nov. 3, Lawson-Remer said.
Should Anderson run for the post next year and win, supervisors would then have to convene and decide whether to hold a special election to fill the vacancy on the board or appoint someone to serve out the remaining two years of his term.
In recent years, supervisors opted to hold special elections to replace former Supervisor Nathan Fletcher, who resigned in 2023 amid sexual misconduct allegations, and Nora Vargas, who left office shortly after getting reelected last year.
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