Michael Vu claims that San Diego County Supervisors Nora Vargas and Terra Lawson-Remer used illegal practices to block his promotion, pointing to possible anti-Asian racism and a quid pro quo arrangement.
Longtime San Diego County official Michael Vu was nearing a promotion from assistant chief administrative officer to chief administrative officer—a straightforward trajectory for his career. Recently, that promotion was denied. Vu argues the reason for his rejection was due to illegal and discriminatory actions on the part of two members of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors: Terra Lawson-Remer and Nora Vargas.
An investigative report published by Voice of San Diego outlines the claims that Vu and his attorney, Chip Edelson, filed against the county. Among them is the allegation that Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer partook in a “backroom” deal—a quid pro quo conditioning Vu’s promotion on the appointment of a political ally. The move would have ensured that Paul Worlie, a Democratic strategist for former Supervisor Nathan Fletcher, be brought on to serve as Vu’s assistant chief administrative officer.
Edelson said that Vu “refused to participate in this illegal backroom deal,” stating that it violated the county charter and California’s open meetings law—the Brown Act. But, because of this, Vu alleged that Lawson-Remer retaliated against him by preventing his promotion.
In a statement, Supervisor Lawson-Remer denied his claims and called him a “disgruntled employee.”
The claim attests that Lawson-Remer and Worlie “sought this deal on several occasions,” with the Supervisor approaching both Vu and the retiring chief administrative officer Helen Robbins-Meyer to discuss the scheme.
As for Supervisor Vargas, Edelson and Vu assert that she told Robbins-Meyer that San Diego needs “a person of color” to replace her. Reportedly, Robbins-Meyer pointed out how Vu could count since he is Asian, but Supervisor Vargas allegedly dismissed him for promotion. If true, this would have been illegal under California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act.
“[Asians] don’t count, they have opportunities and education. We need a Hispanic or Black,” Supervisor Vargas allegedly told Robbins-Meyer.
According to the Oxford Dictionary, a “person of color” is simply someone “who is not white.” San Diego boasts a diverse population, with residents of Asian descent making up a significant amount (13.1%) of the population for “persons of color.” Although Asians are indeed part of the category “people of color,” their experiences with racial discrimination are often nuanced. The “model minority” myth, which suggests that Asians are universally successful and thus do not face the same obstacles as other minority groups, can obscure real challenges such as workplace discrimination or lower favorability with regard to college admissions.
“Helen Robbins-Meyer was flabbergasted, floored and upset by this statement,” claims Edleson.
This is not the first time Vargas has faced scrutiny for alleged anti-Asian biases. According to a lawsuit filed in December 2023, Jeff Liu had his county officer job rescinded following discriminatory behavior. Liu reportedly had a conditional job offer to become Supervisor Vargas’s police director when Denise Garcia, her chief of staff, allegedly called him slurs. The lawsuit also suggests that other county employees made racist comments about people of Asian descent.
Vargas denies all of the above accusations. They remain to be fully litigated.
“I believe in the importance of creating a workplace that values and respects all individuals from all backgrounds,” responded Vargas. “I welcome a thorough investigation and remain committed to serving our community with integrity and dedication.”
As of June 14, Ebony Shelton serves as San Diego County’s first Afro-Latina chief administrative officer. She previously served in a joint position of chief financial officer and deputy chief administrative officer. Shelton represents the kind of diversity that many residents hope to see—the idea that diversity in leadership should result from a fair, open process that ensures the most capable and qualified individuals are appointed, rather than from political bargaining or tokenism.
Within 45 days, the county must investigate the claim and choose between offering a settlement or rejecting it. Denying the claim that could prompt further legal action, according to FOX 5/KUSI.
While Vu currently remains employed by the county, he’s seeking $5 million in damages. That large sum suggests that this case will be anything but a quiet affair—for Lawson-Remer, Vargas, or the County as a whole.
