Appointed Deputy County Executive for Community Services in June 2022, Dave Defanti returned to Sacramento County in February 2022 as the Director of Community Development. Defanti started his public service career working for Sacramento County as a planner before promoting to a senior planner position. In 2013, he left to serve as the Community Development Agency Assistant Director for El Dorado County.
Since 2016, he served as the Deputy County Executive Officer for Placer County where he oversaw multiple departments, including Community Development, Public Works, Facilities, Parks, Agriculture, and Clerk/Recorder/Elections.
His broad community development experience includes creating a first ever five-year Capital Improvement Plan, merging multiple departments into a newly-created agency, and serving as a lead negotiator for tax-sharing agreements.
He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations with an Environmental emphasis from UC Davis.
