PLACERVILLE, Calif. — Oct. 15, 2026
Former El Dorado County Sheriff John D’Agostini is seeking a return to office, challenging a county staff recommendation to appoint Undersheriff Eric Palmberg as the county’s next sheriff when current Sheriff Jeff Leikauf retires in December.
The El Dorado County Board of Supervisors is scheduled to consider the appointment at its Tuesday, Oct. 20, meeting in Placerville. Agenda item 26-1683 recommends appointing Palmberg to serve as sheriff-coroner-public administrator for the remainder of the current term, which ends Jan. 8, 2029. The proposed appointment would take effect Dec. 26 or upon an earlier vacancy.
D’Agostini, who served as sheriff for 12 years, is urging supervisors to delay their decision, seek public input and consider his qualifications alongside those of Palmberg.
In a message to family, friends and supporters, D’Agostini described the appointment as a consequential decision for county residents.
“Our families, our community, our businesses, and the constitution are worth standing up for,” he wrote.
D’Agostini challenges the proposed appointment
D’Agostini’s appeal centers on the speed of the proposed appointment, the role of the county’s Chief Administrative Office and the qualifications of the candidates.
He said the county moved to place the appointment on the agenda less than a week after Leikauf publicly announced his retirement. D’Agostini argues that supervisors should take additional time to hear from constituents before selecting the person who will lead the Sheriff’s Office.
In a separate letter to the board, D’Agostini urged supervisors to “slow down, poll the people you represent and after a reasonable amount of time, move forward with your obligated appointment.”
The Chief Administrative Office, which oversees county administrative operations, has recommended Palmberg for the position. D’Agostini contends that the recommendation should not determine the outcome of an appointment to an elected office and questions whether the process provides adequate public input.
He also alleges that the meeting was scheduled when District Three Supervisor Brian Veerkamp would be absent. The allegation was part of D’Agostini’s statement; the published agenda confirms the meeting date but does not establish the reason for its scheduling.
The Board of Supervisors consists of five elected members representing the county’s five supervisory districts.
A return bid by a former sheriff
D’Agostini said he was first elected sheriff in 2010 from a field of seven candidates and won re-election without opposition in 2014 and 2018.
He portrayed his prior experience as a central reason supervisors should consider him for the appointment, arguing that leadership of the Sheriff’s Office requires a demonstrated record of accountability and independent judgment.
“I am fully qualified, ready on day one, and deeply committed to keeping El Dorado County safe, free, and prosperous,” D’Agostini wrote.
He also acknowledged his role in selecting Leikauf as his successor and said he previously apologized for that decision. D’Agostini is now seeking to return to the position before the current term expires.
Leikauf’s planned retirement will conclude a 36-year career in county law enforcement, according to reporting by the Mountain Democrat republished by AOL. Leikauf has described his career as “an absolutely fantastic career.”
The dispute over the appointment therefore involves both a pending leadership transition and a public disagreement between the incumbent sheriff and his predecessor.
What the law says about filling the vacancy
The appointment process is governed by California law. Government Code section 25304 directs county boards of supervisors to fill vacancies in elective county offices by appointment. A 2016 California attorney general opinion, No. 15-1202, concluded that a county board must appoint a successor sheriff within a reasonable time when a vacancy occurs and that an appointee must meet the qualifications required for the office.
The opinion arose from questions submitted by Calaveras County and provides legal context for sheriff vacancies. It does not, by itself, establish that the El Dorado County recommendation is improper or that D’Agostini is entitled to the appointment.
D’Agostini said he submitted documentation of his eligibility and cited the attorney general’s opinion in his letter to supervisors. The available agenda description identifies Palmberg as the recommended appointee but does not resolve the competing arguments D’Agostini has raised about transparency, timing or candidate selection.
The board’s task is to make the appointment in accordance with applicable law. The decision will determine who leads the Sheriff’s Office after Leikauf leaves office.
How residents can participate
The Board of Supervisors meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20, at the county government center, 330 Fair Lane, Building A, in Placerville. The meeting is also scheduled to be livestreamed.
Residents can review the official agenda and meeting information through the eldorado.legistar.com .
The published meeting information provides several ways to participate:
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Attend in person: Board Chambers, 330 Fair Lane, Building A, Placerville.
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Submit written comments: Email comments on the specific agenda item to edc.cob@edcgov.us by 4 p.m. Monday, Oct. 19, to help ensure they are distributed to supervisors before the meeting.
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Speak remotely: Join the meeting through the county’s published Zoom link and use the “Raise Hand” feature when public comment is invited.
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Contact elected representatives: Residents can reach their district supervisor through the eldoradocounty.ca.gov .
The county’s published meeting information states that speakers generally receive up to three minutes during designated public-comment periods, subject to any limits established by the board.
D’Agostini is encouraging residents, business owners and community members who support his position to contact supervisors before the meeting. His request is an appeal for public backing, not an announcement that he has been selected or that the board has agreed to reconsider its recommendation.
As the Oct. 20 meeting approaches, the central question is whether supervisors will approve the staff recommendation to appoint Palmberg or take a different course. Until the board acts, Palmberg’s appointment remains a recommendation.
statement verbatim
Dear Family and Friends,
- Board of Supervisors generic agenda email: edc.cob@edcgov.us
- District One Supervisor Greg Ferrero: bosone@edcgov.us 530-621-5650
- District Two Supervisor George Turnboo: bostwo@edcgov.us 530-621-5651
- District Three Supervisor Brian Veerkamp: bosthree@edcgov.us 530-621-5652
- District Four Supervisor Lori Parlin: bosfour@edcgov.us 530-621-6513
- District Five Supervisor Brooke Laine: bosfive@edcgov.us 530-621-5319
- El Dorado County CAO Sue Phillips: sue.phillips@edcgov.us 530-621-5577
