County’s top procurement official sues over allegations of racial discrimination.

Eight community members took to the podium at the County Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, July 8 to express their growing concerns of workplace hostility towards Black and brown employees. A few specifically named Debra Wilson, chief contracts and procurement officer, who has worked for the County for more than 25 years.

That week, on July 7, Wilson filed a discrimination complaint with the state Civil Rights Department, alleging she was unjustly placed on administrative leave on June 13, despite strong job performance throughout her tenure since she began in 1997. Wilson followed up with a lawsuit filed the same date in Monterey County Superior Court, accusing top County leaders of engaging in or allowing acts of discrimination, harassment and retaliation.

In her lawsuit, Wilson, who is Black, alleges she faced disparate treatment over the years based on her race, including being denied promotions, in several instances underpaid for “special assignments” while her colleagues received bonus pay, and was subjected to racially hostile conduct.

She was placed on administrative leave, with no return date given, after being asked to come in for a “check-in” meeting with County Administrative Officer Sonia De La Rosa, the suit claims. This is pending an investigation into planned travel for site visits with bidders for a contract to provide health care in the Monterey County Jail, according to her suit.

County officials declined to comment, noting they had not yet been served with the lawsuit. Wilson declined to comment through her attorneys at the San Diego-based Pride Law Firm.