Body of News Release
San Rafael, CA – The Marin County Board of Supervisors has approved the appointment of Joe Deviney, a 30-year veteran of agricultural preservation and consumer protection, as the County’s next Agricultural Commissioner/Weights and Measures Director during its July 16 Board meeting. Deviney’s first day on the job will be July 22.
After incumbent Agricultural Commissioner/Weights and Measures Director Stefan Parnay, announced his retirement in March 2024, the Marin County Department of Human Resources conducted a statewide recruitment to fill position. The process included a panel interview with stakeholders and Agricultural Commissioners from other counties, and County department heads who work collaboratively with the AWM department. Candidates went on to a final interview with the County Executive, AWM staff, and the Board of Supervisors.
"With the Board's affirmation of the appointment, I am excited to have Joe Deviney join the team," said Marin County Executive Derek Johnson. "He joins a strong team and has demonstrated that he can positively support Marin's agriculture community and provide customer service and protection in his capacity overseeing Weights and Measures."
Deviney received his bachelors degree in biological sciences from CSU Hayward/East Bay and started his career at Contra Costa County, for which he last served as Deputy Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer of Weights and Measures for eight years. Most recently, he served as the Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer of Weights and Measures with Santa Clara County for 12 years and led a staff of 28. Deviney is also a well-known leader and advocate for agriculture through his active role with the California Agricultural Commissioners and Sealers Association (CACASA).
Deviney said he was attracted to the position because Marin is recognized as a statewide leader in organic certification, land preservation, and innovative climate change programs. "I am really looking forward to getting out in the field with my team, visiting these special places, learning more about agriculture in Marin and its challenges, and helping the ag community as best as I can to be resilient and thrive into perpetuity," Deviney said.
The Agricultural Commissioner is responsible for enforcing local, state, and federal laws and regulations pertaining to agriculture, the environment, human health and safety and the marketplace. The commissioner oversees a variety of agricultural and environmental programs and controls critical initiatives related to the County’s natural resources and agriculture sector. These include agriculture worker health and safety, regulation of pesticides, agricultural hazardous materials programs, pest prevention, exclusion, and eradication services, and consumer protection. As the Director of Weights and Measures, Deviney is responsible for administering programs that safeguard consumers.
The Marin County Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures has 14 full-time employees, and the 2024-2025 operating budget is approximately $3.3 million. Deviney’s starting annual salary will be $208,728 with benefits comparable with other County department heads.