Only a month after the county’s Republican leader left her chair position, the local GOP’s full-time staffer also is headed out the door.
Jordan Gascon, executive director of the Republican Party of San Diego County, has given notice he’s leaving to take a job in the office of county recorder-clerk-assessor Jordan Marks, a fellow Republican.
In a resignation letter to new chair Corey Gustafson and the Central Committee, Gascon thanked the Republican Party and several individuals.
“Rest assured,” he wrote, “I am fully committed to ensuring a seamless transition during my remaining time at the Republican Party of San Diego County. I am dedicated to the success of the upcoming Lincoln Reagan Dinner and am more than willing to assist with the training of my replacement and team. I will work diligently to complete any outstanding projects and set the team up for continued success.”
In a separate note to me, Gascon said: “It will be a big change from campaign life, but I am very excited to serve the people of San Diego County.”
Tim Boncoskey, Marks’ chief of staff, said Wednesday that Gascon would become office manager, replacing June Rodriguez, who served for more than 30 years.
Gascon’s salary will be $110,000.
“This was a direct hire position,” Boncoskey said via email. “I conducted the interview and hired Mr. Gascon, as I do with all my direct reports.”
In a statement, Boncoskey called Gascon, 37, a “highly qualified executive level manager who shares his office’s vision of putting customers first with great customer service.”
He added:
“I’m excited to have Mr. Gascon join our team and bring his organizational management skills along with vast experience serving the County of San Diego for over 10 years as a Planning Group secretary, president of the Pine Valley Fire Safe Council, former board member of the Resource Conservation District of Greater San Diego County, and former vice chair of the Citizens’ Law Enforcement Review Board to the work our office does every day.
“In addition, Mr. Gascon’s community leadership as an advocate for the Latino community is key as our Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk office is focused on enhancing our services to the growing Latino community here in San Diego County.
“Lastly, Mr. Gascon will be working to help constituents connect with our technical team and his educational background possessing a master’s degree in diplomacy from Norwich University and bachelor’s degree of arts from San Diego State University were ideal for being able to best serve the Citizens of San Diego County at their life’s most important moments.”
Gascon held the GOP job almost eight years, according to his LinkedIn bio.
He is expected to start his permanent full-time position June 28.
In 2020, Gascon ran unsuccessfuly for the Grossmont Cuyamaca College District governing board, losing by 12 percentage points to Elena Adams.
He posted on Facebook: “Thank you for all of the support! It was a lot of fun running for office and stressing out the AFT! I might not have been elected to the board, but I’ll take this as a win. $130k spent against a first time candidate is pretty awesome.”
County Republican Chairwoman Paula Whitsell left her post in early April amid controversy over her efforts to switch party support from GOP-endorsed Assembly candidate Andrew Hayes to Carl DeMaio.
Updated at 3:53 p.m. May 8, 2024