Related Articles
-Editorial
The Imperial County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously on April 8 to terminate the contract employment agreements of County Executive Officer Miguel Figueroa and Clerk of the Board Blanca Acosta, effective the same day.
The decision followed a closed session discussion during the Board’s regular meeting. After addressing the day’s agenda items, the Board reconvened in closed session at 2:00 p.m. to discuss pending personnel matters, including the dismissal of a public employee. Following an hour and 40 minutes of deliberation, County Counsel made the announcement at 3:35 p.m. that both Figueroa and Acosta had been released from their positions.
The action was taken with a unanimous vote from the supervisors present. Supervisor Ryan Kelley was absent from the meeting.
No additional details regarding the reason for the terminations were provided during the announcement.
Figueroa and Acosta were placed on administrative leave following a special closed session meeting of the Board of Supervisors on March 7. The decision was announced at the end of the meeting, though no reasons were disclosed due to the confidential nature of closed sessions.
Deputy CEO Rebecca Terrazas-Baxter was appointed to lead in the interim.
Figueroa, appointed CEO in 2021, previously held leadership roles in Calexico and Imperial County, including City Manager of Calexico and Director of the Imperial County Workforce Development Board.
In 2024, the Board extended Figueroa’s contract through 2029, with added benefits such as a vehicle allowance, annual business reimbursements, and a 3% annual pay increase on his $218,545.38 salary.