SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIF. – County Executive Jeffrey V. Smith , M.D., J.D., announced Monday the appointment of Miguel Márquez as Chief Operating Officer for the County of Santa Clara. Márquez brings more than 20 years of legal experience to the position, including service as an Associate Justice for the California Court of Appeal and as County Counsel for the County of Santa Clara. His appointment became effective immediately.
“Miguel is a true public servant who has dedicated most of his career to serving the community. His legal and financial experience have prepared him well for his new role as Chief Operating Officer,” Smith said. “I have no doubt that Miguel will provide guidance that is informed, trustworthy and dedicated to public service in our community.”
Before his appointment to judicial office in 2012 by Governor Edmund G. Brown, Márquez served as County Counsel for the County of Santa Clara. During his tenure as County Counsel, he oversaw a staff of 124 employees, including 61 attorneys and a budget of approximately $30 million.
As the County of Santa Clara’s chief legal advisor, Márquez partnered with the County Executive, all elected officials and County departments, as well as several school districts and other special districts to find creative legal solutions to implement Board of Supervisors policies and assist the County in fulfilling its mission.
“I am incredibly excited to begin this next chapter in my public service journey,” said Chief Operating Officer Miguel Márquez. “I am grateful for the opportunity I had to serve on the Court of Appeal and as County Counsel. These positions, and others, have prepared me to take on the important challenges facing the County. I look forward to working closely with County Executive Jeff Smith in service to the residents of Santa Clara County.”
Prior to joining the County of Santa Clara, Márquez was the General Counsel for the San Francisco Unified School District, where he managed a multi-million dollar budget and was responsible for all legal matters, including the District’s child development centers and schools and programs run by the County Office of Education. In that role, he also worked extensively on many issues that face local government entities, including labor negotiations, employment, civil rights, land use, Brown Act, Public Records Act, First Amendment issues, facilities and construction, and general government and litigation. Márquez also has served as a Deputy City Attorney for the City and County of San Francisco, where he provided legal services to the City’s Department of Elections and the Ethics Commission, and as a Deputy County Counsel in San Mateo County for nearly five years. He also worked in two private law firms – Cooley LLP and Remcho, Johansen & Purcell; and at KPMG Peat Marwick as a management consultant.
“Miguel’s 20 years of legal experience has demonstrated that he is a defender of legal quality and ensuring accountability in practice, which will serve him well in assisting with day-to-day operations of the County,” Smith continued.
Márquez earned a Juris Doctor degree from University of California, Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law, where he received the AmJur Award as the top student in Accounting and Finance. He also holds a Master’s in Public Policy from Harvard University, and a bachelor’s degree in Public Policy from Stanford University. He lives in the City of San José.
