 | | | Photo National Association of Women Judges | | | | | | The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors appointed Diana Becton as interim district attorney to replace DA Mark Peterson, who resigned in June. The supervisors interviewed five candidates at their Sept. 12 public board meeting and appointed Becton by a 3-2 vote.
Supervisors Diane Burgis, John Gioia and Chair Federal Glover voted for Becton, with Karen Mitchoff and Candace Andersen initially selecting county Senior Deputy District Attorney Paul Graves.
"While my first choice was Paul Graves because of his years of experience as a prosecutor, the strong support he received from county law enforcement agencies, and the stability he would bring to the office over the next 15 months for this interim appointment period, I look forward to working with Diana Becton," said Andersen, whose district includes Lamorinda. "She brings a wealth of experience from her role as a judge and is fully committed to improving our county justice system."
Andersen and Mitchoff later changed their votes, making Becton's appointment unanimous.
The county received 12 applications for the DA position, and the supervisors narrowed the list to five on Aug. 1. The candidates took part in a three-hour public forum Aug. 15 and after passing a background check, they were invited to the final interviews Sept. 12.
Becton's term of office expires Jan. 7, 2019. The next election for the district attorney will take place in June, with a potential runoff election in November 2018.
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA