San Rafael, CA – The County of Marin has new leadership for two of its 22 departments – both officials elected by Marin County voters in 2018. Lori Frugoli took the oath as District Attorney on January 4, and Shelly Scott was sworn in as Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk on January 7.
Lori Frugoli (left) is the new District Attorney and Shelly Scott (right) is the new Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk.
After serving 27 years as a Deputy District Attorney, Frugoli took over for the retiring Edward Berberian, the DA since 2005. Frugoli, a Novato resident who won the November election, was raised in Marinwood and worked as a police officer for several North Bay agencies after achieving her administration of justice degree from Sonoma State University. Later she graduated from Golden Gate University’s School of Law while serving as a Marin County Sheriff’s deputy and passed the state bar in 1989. Since joining the DA’s office in 1990, she represented the County in thousands of cases and more than 100 jury trials.
"I am honored to have served the County as a Deputy District Attorney and look forward to my new leadership position," Frugoli said. "I am grateful for the overwhelming turnout and support shown at my swearing-in ceremony. We have made great strides in connecting the community to the courthouse. Stay tuned ... we are just getting started."
Scott, a Novato native and resident, was elected in June 2018 and replaces the retiring Richard N. Benson, who has been Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk since 2010. Scott has worked more than 37 years for the County, most recently as an auditor appraiser and real property appraiser. She has defended assessment appeals and worked to assure that each taxpayer shares the overall tax burden. She also served on the Marin County Parks and Open Space Commission and the Marin County Human Rights Board of Commissioners.
“I am looking forward to working with the community,” Scott said. "I am truly honored to serve as the next Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk.”
Frugoli now manages the equivalent of 80 full-time personnel and an annual budget of $18.3 million. Scott oversees 76 staff positions and a $10.9 million budget.
Berberian retired after working 42 years for the DA’s office, and Benson was a 33-year County employee. Of the two, County Administrator Matthew Hymel said, “We appreciate their integrity and extensive contributions to public service while at the same time we welcome two experienced new department heads to the County’s leadership team. We look forward to working with them to continuously improve service to our residents.”