After three decades of service, Los Angeles County CEO Fesia Davenport announced she will be stepping down from her role effective April 16, it was reported on Friday.
“I have decided to step down from my role as chief executive officer to focus on my health and wellness. I am grateful to the Board of Supervisors, my CEO department of talented and dedicated public servants and all of the county department heads who provide essential services every day to L.A. County’s nearly 10 million residents,” Davenport wrote in a post published Thursday on her LinkedIn page.
“It has been an honor to work with them all in service to our communities,” she added.
The announcement was first reported by LAist Friday afternoon.
Davenport, who has been on medical leave for five months, sent an email to her department staff Wednesday, saying it was “not a decision I made easily, and I wanted you to hear about it directly from me.”
“I have some health issues and concerns, which were originally uncovered late last year, and my risks have become clearer based on more recent medical testing and consultation with my doctors,” Davenport’s email read. “The County CEO role requires an extraordinary amount of time and energy to meet the demands of the job, and although I originally assumed that I would be able to return in early 2026, I now know that I would be unable to continue to do the job as it deserves to be done while also prioritizing my health.”
Davenport stated she learned she had a predisposition for a similar health issue that killed her brother in 2018, and that two of her sisters experienced in 2025.
One of her sisters will require 24-hour care due to the health issue, according to Davenport.
In her email, she touted her work and that of her colleagues to balance the county’s budget while developing a financing plan to compensate victims in the largest sexual assault settlement in American history, referring to the $4.8 billion settlement for sexual abuse in L.A. County juvenile facilities.
Davenport further touted their work in protecting the county’s credit rating, as well as launching five new departments within five years.
“So, I take my leave knowing the work is in your good hands and under the able leadership of Acting CEO Joe Nicchitta, who has been my right hand since 2020. I have the utmost confidence in Joe and the team and look forward to seeing what you will accomplish next,” Davenport’s email read.
Davenport has faced criticism regarding a $2 million payout she received in August, approved by the Board of Supervisors — disclosed by reporting from LAist.
County officials approved the payout to settle a lawsuit Davenport filed, alleging she was harmed by the 2024-voter approved Measure G. The initiative served to formalize a charter amendment focused on ethics-related reforms, including the establishment of an elected county executive, an independent Ethics Commission and expanding the Board of Supervisors from five to nine members by 2030.
The settlement is now being disputed in court by attorney Alexander Robinson on behalf of county resident Ana Cristina Lee Escudero, who alleged the payout was illegal as Davenport had no valid legal dispute with the county.
The lawsuit further contends the county failed to disclose the payout and approved the matter behind closed doors.
County attorneys have countered the lawsuit is “baseless.”
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, the board approved a motion calling for the creation of a public dashboard, detailing settlements between the county and its executives.