Maria Christina Rivera, County of Sonoma Executive Officer, announces retirement

Maria Christina Rivera, County of Sonoma Executive Officer, has announced her plan to retire in early 2026. Rivera’s nearly 30-year career in public service, marked by her unwavering dedication, integrity and change-making leadership, culminated in becoming the first Latina to lead the County.

In a heartfelt message to county colleagues and community partners, Rivera expressed her gratitude and excitement for the future.

“After almost 30 years in public service—years that stretched, challenged, and uplifted me, I find myself ready to step into the next stage of life with joy, presence and purpose,” she shared.

After relocating from Mexico, Rivera joined the County of Sonoma as an entry-level administrative trainee for the former Transportation and Public Works Department. Over the years, she has played a pivotal role in balancing budgets through uncertainty, implementing Board policies, promoting equity and access, and engaging with county colleagues and community residents.

Highlighting her upbringing and inspiration, Rivera said, “When my parents taught me, ‘pon tu granito de arena y deja mejor de lo que lo encontraste,’ they meant ‘add your grain of sand and make your contribution that results in leaving things better than you found them.’ That is what I have tried to do every day.”

Throughout her tenure, Rivera has been a champion for fiscal sustainability, resilience and community relationships. Under her leadership of an organization with more than 4,200 employees, the County of Sonoma has strengthened relationships with city partners, invested in modernizing systems to make the county an even better place to work and grow, and created a fiscally sustainable government agency.

“On behalf of the Board, I want to express our deep appreciation for CEO Rivera’s decades of service to our community. We will miss her steady leadership, integrity and vision, even as we celebrate her stepping into this next phase of well-earned retirement,” said Board of Supervisors Chair Lynda Hopkins. “And beyond the formality of her title, Christina is so much more than a County executive. You can’t help but be inspired by who she is. You can’t help but be swayed by the love and joy she brings to her work. Christina is a trusted colleague with a huge heart for public service. Her career leaves not only a legacy of community improvement but also a lasting inspiration for future generations of leaders.”

Rivera expressed deep appreciation for the County’s hardworking staff, labor partners, community-based organizations, elected leaders and colleagues across departments.

“More than any single initiative, I’ll remember the spirit of this place: people who roll up their sleeves, speak truth with respect, and believe that government can be both competent and kind,” she said.

As Rivera looks forward to her retirement, she is excited to embrace unhurried mornings, time with family, being available to emerging leaders, and engaging with the community in new ways.

“Retirement, for me, is not an ending—it is an opening,” she said. “I step forward con gratitud, con optimismo, y con alegría.”

The County of Sonoma will soon begin the process of finding a successor to build on Rivera’s commitment to public service excellence.

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Media Contact:
Matt Brown, Communications Specialist
publicaffairs@sonoma-county.org
(707) 565-3040