Sharon Anderson, the Contra Costa County legal counsel and the first woman to serve in the position, died this week from an illness after 35 years as a county employee. She was 65.
After years working in the county counsel’s office, Anderson was appointed to the top position in 2009 following her predecessor’s retirement.
She advised the Board of Supervisors in various legal matters over the past decade. Her accomplishments included negotiating a comprehensive settlement last year with the Prison Law Office for better conditions at the county jail and settling a 1994 lawsuit against Contra Costa County for approving the development of 11,000 new homes in Dougherty Valley, east of San Ramon.
County officials did not disclose the cause of Anderson’s death. She had been on medical leave for several months.
Assistant County Counsel Mary Ann Mason had served as acting chief counsel while Anderson was away. Contra Costa County supervisors will consider a full-time replacement at an upcoming meeting, with the option of appointing Mason outright or recruiting a pool of candidates for the job.
“She was a tremendous mentor to so many of us and organized the office in such an effective way,” Mason said of Anderson. “I think she improved the writing of every attorney in the office because she was a very skilled writer.”
County supervisors remembered Anderson as a mindful, patient attorney who put the board’s direction ahead of her personal opinions.
“She was very unflappable during our meetings,” said Supervisor Candace Andersen. “And she had a funny sense of humor — even when issues would come up that might have seemed very serious and needed thoughtful consideration, Sharon would have a twinkle in her eye as she said, ‘We’ll look into this; we’ll consider this.’ “
Supervisor Karen Mitchoff, who knew Anderson from when both women were young county employees, said she and county staff members were shaken by the loss of their colleague.
“My hope for her had been that she would get to retire soon and enjoy many years of retirement,” Mitchoff said. “She and I are about the same age. It just brings home the fragility of life.”
Anderson was admitted to the California State Bar in 1980 after receiving a law degree from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law. The Contra Costa County Counsel’s office hired her in 1984 and she spent the rest of her career working for the county, becoming chief assistant counsel in 2001.
A resident of Benicia, Anderson served as a director on the city’s housing authority board. She also served on the board of the County Counsels’ Association of California.
Mason recalled that, besides being a talented attorney and strong leader, Anderson was also a “fabulous cook” who would regularly bring plates of cookies to work that were “to die for.”
“Sharon will be remembered for her fine legal mind, her pragmatism and her negotiating skills,” Mason said. “She was a great person to work for.”
Anderson, who never married, is survived by two sisters, Kathy Anderson and Joan Shubinksi, as well as several nieces and nephews, to whom she was very close, Mason said.