Los Angeles County Settles with CEO Fesia Davenport for $2 Million

Los Angeles County has reached a confidential settlement with its Chief Executive Officer, Fesia Davenport, resulting in a payment of $2 million over concerns related to a recent governance reform. The settlement, approved on August 15, 2025, comes amid ongoing discussions regarding a voter-approved measure that will replace her appointed position with an elected county chief executive by 2028.

The settlement was disclosed following a report by LAist, which indicated that the Board of Supervisors discussed the matter during a closed session on July 29. According to documents related to the case, Davenport asserted that the language in the reform package, known as Measure G, harmed her professional reputation and caused her emotional distress.

In a detailed letter to Lindsey Horvath, a co-author of Measure G, Davenport expressed concerns that the measure implied she was a weak leader. She argued that the proposal suggested her office had been ineffective in driving progress on key policy initiatives, which she felt was damaging to her reputation. Davenport emphasized that as a long-term county employee with over 27 years of service, the implementation of Measure G would effectively shorten her career and potentially impact her retirement benefits.

The letter, dated August 12, 2024, outlined her belief that the reform package unjustly portrayed her capabilities, stating that it insinuated she possessed “undesirable attributes.” Furthermore, she requested an extension of her contract through November 2030 to allow for a smoother transition with the incoming elected CEO, but instead, the county opted for the settlement which does not acknowledge the validity of her claims.

The implementation of Measure G is designed to enhance governance by increasing the number of board seats from five to nine by 2032 and establishing a new ethics commission. Kathryn Barger, a Fifth District Supervisor who opposed the measure, voiced her concerns about the potential politicization of the county CEO role.

Despite the contentious nature of the debate surrounding Measure G, John Fasana, a former Duarte City Councilmember and member of the Measure G Governance Reform Task Force, stated that he did not interpret the measure as a personal attack on Davenport’s performance. He maintained that the focus of the measure was on creating a stronger governance framework rather than casting doubt on her abilities.

Davenport has recently taken medical leave, a decision she clarified was unrelated to the settlement, and she is expected to be absent until early next year. During her tenure, she has managed a substantial budget of $52.5 billion for the fiscal year 2025-2026, achieving a commendable reduction in spending by 5.5%.

As the county prepares for the transition to an elected leadership model, the implications for governance and the future of the county’s executive management remain significant. The forthcoming changes will not only reshape the leadership landscape but also influence how policies are developed and implemented in Los Angeles County.