New RivCo board chair, vice chair seated

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) - The new chair of the Board of Supervisors vowed today to "look ahead to the future'' in prioritizing objectives for Riverside County over the next 12 months, emphasizing the importance of "fiscal transparency'' and responsiveness to residents' needs.

"We can't just look at today; we have to think about tomorrow,'' Board Chair Karen Spiegel said Tuesday in her opening statement, following a unanimous vote to seat her at the head of the dais for 2026. "We need to look ahead to the future and have clear goals with measurable outcomes."  

Spiegel, who last took the helm in 2021, said that compared to that time, "it's a whole different world now," making it incumbent on the board to adjust its policies and practices to suit changing conditions.

"We have to have a commitment to innovation, transparency and service,'' she said. "We don't always agree up here, but that's alright, as long as we get to a decision that is best for the county."  

One of the most exciting developments on the near horizon, the chair said, is a service delivery system dubbed "RivCo One," which will enable staff to operate on a more efficient level, documenting residents' personal information after one encounter to ensure that they're steered to appropriate agencies over the course of time, during future contacts with county government.

County CEO Jeff Van Wagenen said the program is close to a debut after four years of work.  

Spiegel further underscored her desire to work collaboratively "for the people we serve."  

"Our priorities are your priorities,'' she said. "We'll continue budget fiscal transparency and ... (focus) on a countywide strategic plan."  

Supervisor Yxstian Gutierrez was seated by unanimous vote as vice chair for 2026, prompting him to thank his colleagues for placing him in his first leadership position on the board.

"I think we're going to have a great year,'' he said. "The chair's goals are amazing goals that we can all strive for. We don't agree on everything, but we're always respectful ... and I think that speaks volumes."

The last time Spiegel, who represents the Second District, held the center seat on the board was 2021. Gutierrez, who began his first term representing the Fifth District in January 2023, has never served in a leadership capacity in county government, with the exception of committees.  

The chair and vice chair appointments require affirmation by majority vote. The only time in the current century when a county board chairperson failed to receive appointment by unanimous consent occurred in January 2022, when Supervisors Manuel Perez and Chuck Washington abstained from backing then Supervisor Jeff Hewitt. He was appointed anyway, following votes of support by Spiegel and then-Supervisor Kevin Jeffries -- as well as Hewitt's own vote.   

At the time, Perez, who served as chair last year, and Washington both publicly backed fellow Democrat Gutierrez in his ultimately successful bid to unseat Hewitt.

Each supervisor is given an opportunity to rotate into the chair, which is a one-year term. The line of succession is based only on whichever district supervisor is slated for a turn.

The chair oversees establishing board schedules, guiding hearings, attending functions on behalf of the entire board, signing proclamations and other ceremonial duties that don't require a quorum. The vice chair takes the gavel whenever the chair is absent.