To: Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): County Executive’s Office
Staff Name and Phone Number: M. Christina Rivera 707-565-2431
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Recommended Action:
Title
Approve the Appointment of John Hadzess as the Ninth Trustee on the Sonoma County Employees’ Retirement Association Board for a three-year term beginning January 01, 2026, and ending on December 31, 2028. (Countywide)
End
Executive Summary:
The Board of Supervisors are responsible for appointments to over 75 Boards, Commissions, Committees, and Task Forces. Vacancies and upcoming expiring appointments are posted on the County’s list of Boards, Commissions, Committees, and Task Forces website: <https://sonoma-county.granicus.com/boards/w/808bd6e42edf8e0f>.
Rule 50 of the Board Rules of Procedures states that the Clerk of the Board shall convene staff to review prospective countywide appointments and make appointment recommendations to the Board. The current item recommends appointment of John Hadzess to the Sonoma County Employees’ Retirement Association Board.
Discussion:
Staff recommend the Board approve the appointment of John Hadzess as the Ninth Trustee on the Sonoma County Employees’ Retirement Association (SCERA) Board to serve a three-year term and fill a vacancy left by resignation of the incumbent.
The SCERA Retirement Board is a nine-member Board, plus one alternate retired member. Positions on the Retirement Board involve fiduciary responsibilities to SCERA members and the willingness to participate in the decision-making process in an objective, fiscally sound, and prudent manner. The Board is comprised of four trustees appointed by the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, five trustees elected by SCERA's membership (two general, one safety, one retired, one retired alternate), and the County Treasurer, who is elected by the public. Except for the County Treasurer, Board members serve three-year terms of office with no limits on the number of terms that can be served. The fourth, fifth, and ninth trustees of the Retirement Board appointed by the Board of Supervisors must be members of the local community who are qualified electors of the County and not connected with County government.
Mr. Hadzess has experience managing Valley Oak Park, providing housing to low-income families, and 20 years working in construction management as a foreman, general foreman, and superintendent. Mr. Hadzess also served as an elected trustee for the Carpenters Local 751 Union for 20 years, primarily in finance-related roles with responsibility for tax filings and overall compliance with Department of Labor and IRS regulations. Mr. Hadzess also has experience with various Employment Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) trust funds and federal reporting and compliance regulations.
Mr. Hadzess also served on the County’s Civil Service Commission from 2000 - 2025 and the Independent Citizens’ Pension Committee from 2018- 2025. Mr. Hadzess has extensive volunteer experience serving the local community, and served as an elected trustee on various boards, including the North Coast District Council, Building Trades Council, Central Labor Council, Bay Counties District Council (finance committee chair), and the Northern California Regional Council of Carpenters.
The prior Board-appointed incumbent trustee, Joe Tambe, resigned from the SCERA Board in October 2025. Following his resignation, the County opened the vacancy announcement on its Boards, Commissions, Committees, and Task Forces website and promoted the vacancy on social media during the first two weeks in November. The County received two applications, and both prospective applicants were interviewed by CEO and SCERA executive staff in early December. As an outcome of the application review and interview process, staff determined Mr. Hadzess to be the most qualified applicant and recommend his appointment. The County received a third application in mid-December after interviews were conducted; however, the third applicant is a current County employee and therefore ineligible to serve as a Board-appointed trustee. Mr. Hadzess has agreed to resign from the Civil Service Commission and Independent Citizens’ Pension Committee to be eligible to serve on the SCERA Board.
Strategic Plan:
N/A
Prior Board Actions:
11/28/2023: Approved the reappointment of Joseph Tambe to the Sonoma County Employees’ Retirement Association Board as the Ninth Trustee for a term beginning January 1, 2024, and ending on December 31, 2026.
11/10/2020: Approved reappointment of Joseph Tambe to the SCERA Board for a term beginning January 1, 2021, and ending on December 31, 2023.
Fiscal Summary
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
N/A
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
N/A
Attachments:
Application Recommended for Appointment
Application(s) Not Recommended for Appointment
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board: