County supervisors tap well-connected Democratic staffer for interim treasurer-tax collector

The county Board of Supervisors has named a staffer for U.S. Rep. Juan Vargas to serve as the county’s treasurer-tax collector, elevating a well-connected newcomer to county government to oversee its vast investment pool and the collection of billions of dollars in property taxes.

Larry Cohen beat out three other finalists for the county’s top financial position, with supervisors tapping him over two longtime officials in the treasurer’s office and over the sitting Carlsbad treasurer.

The retirement of longtime Treasurer-Tax Collector Dan McAllister in August prompted supervisors to move to appoint someone to serve out the remaining year of his term. Cohen has said he plans to run for the position in next year’s election.

The selection of Cohen could set him up for a 2026 race against Republican Supervisor Joel Anderson, who has said he’s mulling a campaign for the post.

In an interview last week, Cohen called the job “dramatically underutilized” and laid out ambitions to bring the county’s investments more in line with its social and environmental values. More can be done to leverage county investments and the resources of the San Diego County Employee Retirement Association to spur housing development, he said.

Cohen served as a staffer in San Diego City Hall, including for Vargas, in the 1990s before working in the private sector for pharmaceutical and life sciences companies. In 2020, he joined Vargas’ congressional office as chief of staff.

On Tuesday, Cohen said he plans to review his new office’s operations over the next few months and meet with leaders at SDCERA, where he’ll hold a simultaneous seat on its board.

“I have extensive experience of going into big organizations and making change,” Cohen said. “But one thing I’ve learned is you don’t make it quickly.”

Cohen will be sworn in on Nov. 18.

The other three finalists supervisors considered Tuesday included two longtime officials in the treasurer-tax collector’s office: David Baker, its chief deputy tax collector, and Detra Williams, its special functions manager. Carlsbad Treasurer Christian Peacox was the other finalist.

But none of those other finalists had a member of the House of Representatives appear before supervisors to vouch for them.

“He never let me down, and he never let the people of my district down,” Vargas told supervisors on Tuesday.

Chula Vista City Councilmember Michael Inzunza told supervisors Cohen has had a “career of supporting working-class communities” and named a list of other South Bay politicians who wanted supervisors to pick him.

Cohen said his political connections had “zero bearing” on the support he received from Democratic supervisors.

Supervisor Paloma Aguirre, who represents South County, commended Cohen’s plans “to reimagine what this office can be, not just what it has been.”

Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer seconded that support for Cohen’s vision for the office, saying he would “align the use of our public dollars with the public good.”

Supervisors went through four rounds of voting before naming Cohen.

In the first round, Lawson-Remer and Aguirre voted for Cohen, while Monica Montgomery Steppe voted for Williams and Jim Desmond for Baker. Anderson had recused himself from the process, citing his interest in running for the office.

In a subsequent round, Williams won out over Baker, with votes from Lawson-Remer and Montgomery Steppe. Desmond voted for Baker, and Aguirre abstained.

Cohen and Williams deadlocked in the third round, with Montgomery Steppe and Desmond supporting Williams.

By the final round of voting, Montgomery Steppe changed her vote to Cohen. Ariel Gibbs, a spokesperson for Montgomery Steppe, declined comment on the vote.