Home Contra Costa County Diana Becton Named Interim Contra Costa District Attorney

Diana Becton Named Interim Contra Costa District Attorney

by ECT
Diane Becton

Contra Costa County Supervisors today appointed Diana Becton to serve as the Interim District Attorney.  Becton, a recently retired Superior Court Judge, was selected after the Board of Supervisors publicly interviewed the five finalist applicants.

 

At the conclusion of the question and answer period, Supervisors took note of the high qualifications of each of the finalists.  Supervisors John Gioia, Diane Burgis and Chair of the Board Federal Glover selected Judge Becton as their first choice.  Supervisors Candace Andersen and Karen Mitchoff initially selected senior Deputy District Attorney Paul Graves.   Upon the first 3 – 2 vote for Judge Becton, Supervisors took a second vote and unanimously approved the appointment of Judge Becton.

 

She will begin her service as Interim District Attorney on later this month.  Once she is sworn in, Doug MacMaster, who has been serving as Interim DA since mid-June, will return to his prior position as Chief Assistant District Attorney.  MacMaster did not apply for the District Attorney position.  The finalists, in addition to Becton and Graves, were Superior Court Judge Danielle Douglas, Contra Costa assistant District Attorney Thomas Kensok, and Santa Clara County deputy District Attorney Patrick Vanier.

 

The County conducted an open recruitment process that included a County-hosted public forum, multiple opportunities to provide public and online comments, and the interviews of each of the finalists during a public meeting of the Board of Supervisors.

 

The June 14 resignation of Mark Peterson from the position of District Attorney created a vacancy that will extend until the current term of office expires on January 7, 2019.  The next election for the District Attorney will take place in June of 2018, with a potential runoff election in November of 2018.

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