Nicole CoburnCounty Executive Officer
Nicole D. Coburn serves as the County Executive Officer for Santa Cruz County, bringing more than 20 years of public service, fiscal leadership, and deep community connection to the role. She previously served as Assistant County Executive Officer beginning in 2017 and has spent more than a dozen years serving the residents of Santa Cruz County.
As County Executive Officer, Coburn is focused on advancing equitable service delivery for all residents, ensuring County programs and resources are accessible, effective, and responsive across the diverse communities of Santa Cruz County. She is committed to uplifting individuals, families, and neighborhoods throughout the county by strengthening partnerships, centering community voices, and supporting a high-performing, values-driven workforce. Coburn emphasizes responsible fiscal stewardship, transparency, and long-term planning to ensure public resources are used wisely while investing in critical priorities such as public safety, health and behavioral health services, infrastructure, housing, and climate resilience. Her leadership is guided by a commitment to accountability, collaboration, and building a county government that residents trust and that works for everyone.
As Assistant County Executive Officer, Coburn led the development of the County’s first Strategic and Operational Plans, strengthening transparency, accountability, and collaboration across County departments and with community partners. She has advanced initiatives to expand access to justice and behavioral health services, improve equity and representation, and strengthen civic engagement. Her work includes championing programs such as A Santa Cruz County Like Me and the Youth Advisory Task Force, as well as identifying new funding streams to enhance public services, including Measure S, which supported the modernization and construction of libraries throughout Santa Cruz County.
Raised in part in Yosemite National Park and the Sierra Foothills, Coburn brings a strong connection to the environment and a lifelong commitment to public service. She holds a Master of Public Policy from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies from UCLA. She is a Credentialed California County Senior Executive through the California State Association of Counties.