Sonoma County Ag Commisioner Fired

Sonoma County Agricultural Commissioner Cathy Neville was fired Tuesday, county officials announced today.

Jim Leddy, the county's community and government affairs manager, said the reason for the firing is a confidential personnel matter.

Former Agricultural Commissioner Lisa Correia will assume Neville's duties until a new commissioner is found, Leddy said.

Neville's tenure was marked by controversy.

In July, she fired Amy Cooper, the director of Animal Care and Control, two days before her probationary period expired.

Last month, Neville, 53, pleaded and was sentenced to three years' probation.

The California Highway Patrol had arrested her for DUI and resisting arrest in Graton on Sept. 10. The Sonoma County District Attorney's Office charged her with two misdemeanor DUI counts and dismissed one of them at sentencing.

Neville ran a short distance from the CHP officer during a field sobriety test and the officer "had to take Neville down to the ground in an attempt to gain control over her," CHP officials said in a written report. Her attorney Richard Ingram, said Neville never resisted arrest.

After this incident, Neville was placed on paid administrative leave from her position with the County.

Neville has five days to file a written notice of appeal of her termination. Her attorney, Stephen Murphy, was not immediately available for comment this afternoon.

-Bay City News