Former top official sues San Diego County, alleging discrimination, retaliation

Supervisor Lawson-Remer presents 'local battleplan' during State of County address

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — This year’s state of the county address was delivered in Balboa Park by acting Chair Terra Lawson-Remer. She shared her proposed plan for how to move the county forward in challenging fiscal times and what she considers “a moment of democratic crisis.” "When federal leadership fails, local government must lead," Lawson-Remer said. The acting Chair jumped right into the challenges stemming from the federal government slas…

Suit alleges ex-county exec didn't get promoted because 'we need a Hispanic or Black'

Current Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer and former Supervisor Nora Vargas, who are both named in the suit, deny Michael Vu's allegations.

Former county official sues for defamation, retaliation after being passed over for top job

A new lawsuit alleges that Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer secretly promised to support Michael Vu for the open position of San Diego County chief administrative officer last year — if he agreed to hire her favored candidate as his top assistant. But according to his legal complaint, Vu rejected the illegal deal, and so did his former boss, the now-retired CAO Helen Robbins-Meyer. “Mrs. Robbins-Meyer was so upset and disturbed by the action that s…

Former top official sues San Diego County, alleging discrimination, retaliation

San Diego County Registrar of Voters Michael Vu explains election deadlines. Photo by Chris Stone A former San Diego County assistant chief administrative officer who alleges he faced discrimination and was demoted has sued the county. In the lawsuit, Michael Vu accuses officials, including two members of the Board of Supervisors at the time, of punishing him for failing to agree to an “illegal backroom deal.” He alleges that though a plan was i…

SAN DIEGO – A former deputy chief administrative officer of San Diego County who claims that he was discriminated against and degraded after he failed to accept an “illegal backroom agreement” has filed a lawsuit against the county. Michael Vu claims that, although there was a plan to replace his outgoing chief, the COO Helen Robbins-Meyer, the current supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer and former supervisor Nora Vargas – both accused in the lawsuit …

Ex-assistant county CAO sues, alleging discrimination, retaliation

Michael Vu alleges that though a plan was in place for him to succeed the retiring Chief Administrative Officer, current Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer and former Supervisor Nora Vargas intervened to disrupt those plans.