Nora Vargas was nowhere to be found on her last day in public office. In her final months as county supervisor, she had a costly security detail and was accused of racism by a top county employee.

A special election would cost taxpayers around $5 million, similar to the special election held after Nathan Fletcher vacated his Supervisor seat in 2023.

Supervisors Terra Lawson-Remer and Joel Anderson were sworn in for their second terms. Vargas did not attend the ceremony. Her former employees said they had not heard from her.

The county Board of Supervisors should approve a special election rather than a political appointment to fill the District 1 seat vacated by Nora Vargas, a candidate said Tuesday.

Terra Lawson-Remer will continue as acting chair of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, after a vote Tuesday to pick a new leader failed.

Re-elected San Diego County supervisors were sworn in Monday morning — with the exception of Nora Vargas, who decided last month not to serve her second term. Supervisors Terra Lawson-Remer and Joel Anderson both took the oath of office at a swearing-in ceremony at the County Administration Center after winning second terms in November.

San Diego County Supervisors Joel Anderson and Terra Lawson-Remer were sworn into office Monday to begin their second terms representing Districts 2 and 3, respectively.