Phil Serna says he won’t seek fifth term as Sacramento County supervisor
Phil Serna, one of Sacramento’s longest-serving elected officials — and the heir to one of its most storied political families — said Wednesday he would not run for a fifth term on the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors.
The four-term supervisor and son of former Mayor Joe Serna Jr. told KVIE’s Abridged news site Wednesday he would not seek reelection and that he endorses Sacramento City Councilmember Eric Guerra to succeed him.
Serna, who currently chairs the board, has held the 1st District seat — representing the city’s central core and expanding northwest tier — since 2010 and played a central role in public health, equity and regional transit policy.
“I’ve served for what will have been four terms and I think that’s plenty for me,” he told Abridged in an interview published Wednesday morning. “And I’m proud of the things I’ve been able to accomplish.”
Serna pointed to his work on public safety through Regional Transit, the Black Child Legacy Commission, and racial equity initiatives as among his most meaningful contributions. He also chairs Sacramento’s First 5 Commission, which uses Prop. 10 tobacco tax funds to support early childhood education and health.
As the son of the late Joe Serna, the first Latino mayor of Sacramento, Phil Serna has publicly stated that “civic engagement was a part of everyday life,” growing up in Curtis Park.
“I learned at a young age that it is not enough to sit on the sidelines and let government happen to you,” Serna wrote on his county website. “A commitment to lead and the privilege of representing a community is about ensuring everyone has a voice in shaping the public policies governing our lives.”
When he took office in 2010, Serna replaced now-City Councilmember Roger Dickinson, who vacated the seat and ran successfully for the Assembly. At the time, Serna vowed to follow his father’s legacy of active civic leadership.
“It’s an incredible honor to have people place faith in you to solve problems and help their lives,” Serna said after winning that first election.
His tenure has not been without controversy. In 2023, Serna joined the board in approving a 36% pay raise for supervisors. He has also faced criticism over his behavior on social media and his role in the Upper Westside Specific Project development.
“It doesn’t mean that I can’t, won’t find other ways to serve my community, but I’ve done what I set out to do, which was serve,” Serna told Abridged.
Serna told the digital news outlet that it’s “time for someone else to lead.” That person may be Guerra, Serna suggested.
Guerra — who represents the 6th District and neighborhoods including Colonial Manor, Elmhurst and Tahoe Park — has served on the City Council since 2015, and has been a vocal advocate for public parks, pedestrian safety and improving local business corridors.
His election website, launched Wednesday morning, touts his 20 years of work in the Legislature, the county planning commission and his 30-year ties to the district.
“Eric Guerra is the right person for this job,” Serna said on the campaign website. “He’s the best choice if voters want to make progress on homelessness, health care, and improve safety on our streets. Eric embodies a new generation of leadership that will listen, organize, and deliver.”
Flojaune Cofer, an epidemiologist who ran in last year’s mayoral race, told The Sacramento Bee on Wednesday that she is also considering a run for the 1st District. She said with her background in public health and love of the Sacramento community, running would be “irresponsible not to consider.”
“Sacramentans don’t care about legacies, dynasties or endorsement. They want a functional city and county government full of problem solvers and collaborators who are responsive to their needs,” Cofer said. “For that reason, I am absolutely considering a run for the county supervisor seat.”
City Councilmember Karina Talamantes, who represents part of South Natomas, is also considering a run.
“Sacramento deserves new energy at the county level,” she said in a statement. “Whoever is elected to replace Supervisor Serna needs to do more than rubber-stamp the same policies that have exacerbated and enabled the challenges we’re facing today.
Talamantes, who secured the 3rd District in the 2022 election and is up for reelection next year said she’s “focused on what’s best for our community.”
“After today’s announcement, I look forward to hearing directly from residents across the supervisorial district about their priorities and hopes for the future.”
The election to replace Serna will be held in June.
The Bee’s Theresa Clift contributed to this story.
This story was originally published October 29, 2025 at 11:29 AM.
