Deputy County Executives
Sacramento County has four Deputy County Executives, and each has overall responsibility for policy development, program planning, fiscal management, administration and coordination of programs and services related to the following agencies:
Dr. Sylvester Fadal, Administrative Services
Dr. Sylvester Fadal, appointed Deputy County Executive for Administrative Services on February 27, 2024, brings nearly 30 years of public-sector service. He joined Sacramento County in 2021 as Director of Personnel Services and served as Interim Director of General Services after a 24-year career with the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA).
During his tenure at VTA, Dr. Fadal served as Chief Administrative Officer, overseeing technology, human resources, procurement, contracts, materials management, diversity, and training. He provided strategic advice to the VTA Board on transformation, talent management, and performance metrics, impacting a 346-square-mile service area with a 42.2-mile light rail system. His portfolio included BART Phase II procurements, human resources, civil rights, labor relations, and technology enterprise. Additionally, he led organizational development, regulatory compliance, and co-chaired the VTA Emergency Operations Center. Dr. Fadal is recognized for advancing operational performance and labor negotiations.
In his current role at Sacramento County, Dr. Fadal oversees Animal Care Services, Clerk of the Board, County Clerk-Recorder, Finance, General Services, Personnel Services, Technology, Voter Registration and Elections, and the Office of Emergency Services. He also coordinates with the Sacramento County Employees’ Retirement System, Sacramento County LAFCO, Assessor’s Office, Civil Service Commission, and Library JPA.
Dr. Fadal holds a BS in Organizational Management from Patten University, a Master of Public Administration in Organizational Change from California State University, East Bay, and a Doctorate in Business Administration from Argosy University, Orange County School of Business. He is a Harvard Law School Trained Negotiator and Conflict Resolution Specialist and a Certified Human Resources and Instructional Designer from the University of California, Santa Cruz. His doctoral dissertation focused on Fortune 500 corporations was published and cited in academic research. He is also a published author of a self-empowerment book. Furthermore, Dr. Fadal served as a Lecturer in the MBA Business Program from 1999 to 2017 with the University of Phoenix, and as Assistant Professor in the MBA Business and Strategic Management program at DeVry University (Keller Graduate School of Business) for three years.
David Defanti, Community Services
Appointed Deputy County Executive for Community Services in June 2022, Dave Defanti returned to Sacramento County in February 2022 as the Director of Community Development. Defanti started his public service career working for Sacramento County as a planner before promoting to a senior planner position. In 2013, he left to serve as the Community Development Agency Assistant Director for El Dorado County.
Since 2016, he served as the Deputy County Executive Officer for Placer County where he oversaw multiple departments, including Community Development, Public Works, Facilities, Parks, Agriculture, and Clerk/Recorder/Elections.
His broad community development experience includes creating a first ever five-year Capital Improvement Plan, merging multiple departments into a newly-created agency, and serving as a lead negotiator for tax-sharing agreements.
He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations with an Environmental emphasis from UC Davis.
Eric Jones, Public Safety and Justice
Appointed Deputy County Executive for Public Safety and Justice on February 21, 2022, Jones has almost 30 years of public service experience. He most recently served as Police Chief for the Stockton Police Department since 2012, until his retirement in December 2021. As the Chief of Police, Eric transformed Stockton’s policing practices through innovative strategies and community engagement efforts. In 2015, he worked with the State Attorney General’s Office to develop Principled Policing Training and help lead the law enforcement industry across the state.
Jones created a countywide criminal justice effort, the Stockton Alliance for Equity (SAFE) Coalition for Criminal Justice Leaders, in 2017. The coalition included public safety systems in San Joaquin County: the offices of District Attorney, Public Defender and Probation. The outcomes were improved community trust in those systems and led to internal policy changes and longstanding relationships with community members and justice reform advocates.
He has worked on several Boards and Committees, including as an Advisory Board Member for the Civil Rights and Restorative Justice Project for Northeastern University and as an Advisor for the Urban Institute & Office of Justice on Preventing Youth Gang & Gun Violence. He was also a Founding Agency Member for the American Society of Evidence-Based Policing.
Jones holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from California State University, Sacramento, and a Master of Public Administration from National University.
Chevon Kothari, Health and Human Services
Appointed Deputy County Executive for Health and Human Services in June of 2022, Chevon Kothari brings more than 25 years of leadership advancing the health, safety, and well-being of vulnerable communities. She joined the County in 2021 as Director of Health Services and previously held key state and local roles, including Health Services Director of Sacramento County, Chief Deputy Director at the California Department of Social Services and Agency Director of the Mariposa County Health and Human Services Agency.
Chevon also led a nonprofit focused on serving families experiencing domestic violence, substance abuse and homelessness for a decade, strengthening her deep commitment to community centered service. Her career includes work on a mental health crisis intervention team, designing and implementing prevention initiatives, supporting organizational capacity building as a consultant, and chairing multiple boards and commissions, including serving as a First 5 Commissioner in two counties, President of the Board of Directors of CASA, and the President of the California Welfare Directors Association, amongst others.
Across every role, Chevon has demonstrated a passion and commitment to build a strong, equitable social safety net that ensures all people not only have their basic health and safety needs met but have opportunities to thrive.
Chevon has a Master of Social Work and Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana.