Los Angeles County’s Chief Executive Officer, Fesia Davenport, who has been on medical leave since October, has announced that she will resign next month. In a LinkedIn post, Davenport stated she is leaving county service to “focus on my health and wellness.”
A notice to the Board of Supervisors provided to The Times on Saturday revealed that she decided to step down on April 16 “based primarily on hereditary and ongoing health issues initially uncovered late last year, the risks of which have become clearer based on more recent medical testing and consultation with my doctors.” Davenport also mentioned that the “extraordinary amount of time and energy” required for the chief executive role influenced her decision.
“Although I originally assumed that I would be able to return to my post, I now know that I would be unable to do the job as it deserves to be done while also prioritizing my health,” she told the supervisors.
Supervisor Kathryn Barger issued a statement Saturday expressing disappointment over Davenport’s resignation. “Her dedication and accomplishments over nearly three decades have left a lasting impact on Los Angeles County,” Barger said.
Davenport was appointed to the county’s top job in 2021. Last summer, she received an undisclosed $2 million settlement to compensate for damage to her “professional reputation” caused by Measure G—a voter-approved ballot measure that will soon eliminate her position.
In a July 8 letter, released by the county counsel in October through a public records request, Davenport noted that she sought $2 million in damages for “reputational harm, embarrassment, and physical, emotional and mental distress caused by Measure G.”
Measure G, approved by voters in 2024, changes the way the county chief executive is selected. Instead of being appointed by the Board of Supervisors, the chief executive will be elected by voters, with the first election scheduled for 2028. The county chief executive manages the county government and oversees its budget.
Davenport wrote to county counsel Dawyn Harrison that Measure G “has had, and will continue to have, an unprecedented impact on my professional reputation, health, career, income, and retirement.” She added that it has “irrevocably changed my life, my professional career, economic outlook, and plans for the future.”
At the time the settlement payout was disclosed, Davenport had begun her medical leave and had expected to return to work early this year.
In a lengthy email to her staff — posted on LAist, which first reported her resignation — Davenport described an unspecified “health crisis” that has affected three of her siblings and poses risks to her as well.
Her brother Raymond passed away in 2018 after “experiencing a sudden health crisis,” she said. Last year, two more of her sisters survived the same health crisis, but one now requires 24-hour care for the rest of her life.
“Although I am not out of the woods yet, I am thankful to the Board for granting me the space to focus on my health and to arm myself with the knowledge I needed to make informed decisions,” she wrote.
The Chief Executive Office issued a statement Saturday confirming that Chief Operating Officer Joe Nicchitta will continue serving as acting chief executive officer while Davenport remains on medical leave.
“We appreciate Fesia’s nearly three decades of service to Los Angeles County and all that she has accomplished on behalf of its residents and communities,” the statement said.
In her letter to the board, Davenport highlighted several accomplishments during her tenure, including establishing five new departments, maintaining the county’s credit rating during widespread downgrades in other jurisdictions, balancing the budget, and developing a financing plan to compensate sexual assault victims—resulting in the largest settlement of its kind in American history.
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-03-21/la-county-ceo-who-got-2-million-settlement-is-resigning