Mayor Gloria Appoints New San Diego COO
Mayor Todd Gloria has nominated Bethany Bezak to serve as the city’s next chief operating officer.
Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in People
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Mayor Todd Gloria has appointed Bethany Bezak as the new chief operating officer for the City of San Diego. The City Council is scheduled to vote on the confirmation of the appointment this Monday.
Why it matters
The appointment aims to stabilize city operations following a trash over-billing scandal and the departure of the previous official. Mayor Gloria stated the move signifies the completion of his efforts to reform city leadership.
The City of San Diego operates with a $6 billion budget and manages 12,000 employees. The previous chief operating officer held an annual salary of $401,000 during a period where the city faced a $150 million deficit.
The players
Todd Gloria
Todd Gloria is the Mayor of San Diego who took over day-to-day city operations in early 2025.
Bethany Bezak
Bethany Bezak is the current chief performance and logistics officer appointed to be the new chief operating officer.
Eric Dargan
Eric Dargan is the former chief operating officer who was fired by the mayor in early 2025.
Henry Foster
Henry Foster is a San Diego City Councilmember who criticized the mayor last month.
The details
Bethany Bezak, who currently serves as the city's chief performance and logistics officer, previously led the Transportation Department from 2023 to 2025. Mayor Gloria took over day-to-day operations in early 2025 following the firing of Eric Dargan.
Timeline
Bezak served in the Stormwater Department from 2020 to 2023.
Bezak led the Transportation Department from 2023 to 2025.
Mayor Gloria fired Eric Dargan in early 2025.
The City Council is scheduled to vote on the confirmation this Monday.
Market Landscape
The city’s administrative shift reflects broader trends in municipal governance regarding the consolidation of executive power during financial recovery. This move positions the current administration to stabilize the organizational hierarchy following significant leadership turnover.
Residents may see changes in how city departments are managed as the new chief operating officer oversees the daily operations of 12,000 employees. These leadership changes are intended to provide long-term stability for the city's $6 billion budget and municipal services.
The takeaway
The appointment of a new chief operating officer marks a transition in San Diego city management after 20 months of the mayor holding dual roles. Residents can monitor Monday's council vote to understand the final approval process for this leadership position.
What happens next
The San Diego City Council is scheduled to hold a confirmation vote on the appointment of Bethany Bezak on Monday.
Further reading
For additional context on city leadership changes, visit San Diego People.
Source note: This article includes information reported by San Diego Union-Tribune.
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