County Swears in Supervisors; Jacob Becomes Longest Serving Female

San Diego County Supervisors welcomed their first new face to the board in 18 years on Monday afternoon. District 3 Supervisor Dave Roberts took oath along with incumbents Dianne Jacob and Greg Cox.

Jacob and Cox were both re-elected outright in June, with Jacob gaining re-election for her East County seat over Rudy Reyes, an archaeologist who was severely burned in the 2003 Cedar Fire. He also unsuccessfully challenged Jacob in 2008.

Cox and Jacob both listed public safety and fire protection as their main priorities.

"My goal in the coming years will be to make this region the best prepared we can possibly be, not just for fire but for any kind of emergency," Jacob said.

Roberts, a former Solana Beach councilman, ran an extremely tight race against Steve Danon.

Supervisor Pam Slater-Price, whose District 3 stretches from Del Mar to Escondido and includes some Northern San Diego areas including Torrey Pines and Rancho Bernardo, retired.

Roberts, was joined by his five adopted children on Monday, had been endorsed by Slater-Price, Senator Christine Kehoe, the League of Conservation Voters San Diego and Sierra Club’s San Diego Chapter.

A few hundred attended the ceremony at the county’s Operations Center in Kearny Mesa.

Roberts thanked supporters, voters and Slater-Price for her endorsement.

“It is a new day in San Diego County. Today we turn the page to a new chapter to the 162-year history book of San Diego County. I’m the first new supervisor in 18 years—the first member of that next generation of leaders on our county board of supervisors. I know I am joining a great team of people, one that has turned this county around. And I believe I am bringing a new activist perspective on some issues and a shared vision on others,” Roberts said.

“We may disagree on occasion, but I pledge to not be disagreeable,” he added.

Roberts outlined his focus for his term: strong fiscal disciplines to protect taxpayers, the environment, protecting neighborhoods from over-development, and quality of life issues including libraries and smart travel solutions.

Greg Cox was sworn in by his wife, Chula Vista Mayor Cheryl Cox, and Dianne Jacob by Cal Fire Chief Thom Porter. 

—City News Service contributed to this report.