County Administrator

Susan S. Muranishi

Susan S. Muranishi is County Administrator for Alameda County, California, serving for the past 23 years as the appointed Chief Executive of a large urban county that currently has more than 9,700 County employees and an annual budget of $3.4 billion.

Ms. Muranishi is an Alameda County native and UC Berkeley graduate, who has served in various roles of increasing responsibility during her long tenure with the County. As County Administrator, she has gained a national reputation for strong fiscal management that allows the County to thrive – despite difficult economic times that have challenged local government budgets. Under her leadership, the County recently received the distinction of earning the highest credit ratings among local governments and is one of only two California counties to have AAA ratings from three independent agencies including Moody’s and Standard and Poor’s.

As Chief Executive, Ms. Muranishi provides professional, innovative, and proactive leadership to the elected Board of Supervisors, County Agency/Department Heads and the public through responsible fiscal and administrative policy development and program oversight. She is routinely called upon to provide clear direction and strategic management necessary to accomplish Board policies and deliver services efficiently and effectively. In addition, she works collaboratively with other public officials, community-based organizations, labor and special interest groups, business and community partners. Leading a County of more than 1.6 million residents, Ms. Muranishi has forged public-private partnerships that are spurring economic development and bringing government together with all stakeholders to enhance transparency and tackle pressing issues.

She champions a transformative Culture of Innovation in which County government leverages technology and creative collaborations to operate more efficiently and better respond to residents’ rapidly changing needs. Under her leadership the County adopted its first strategic vision in 2006 and in 2018, formally adopted Vision 2026, a forward-thinking multi-year initiative. Innovations adopted under Ms. Muranishi’s leadership have drawn numerous State and national awards. In August 2018, Alameda County won three Challenge Awards from the California State Association of Counties (CSAC) for innovations to improve local government services – the largest tally of any California county.

Ms. Muranishi is actively engaged in the community and serves on numerous non-profit boards. She has been recognized for her achievements by several local, regional, State and national groups for her leadership, fiscal stewardship, and mentorship. She has established award-winning community engagement programs including youth leadership and intern programs and a citizen’s academy; partnerships with the community colleges and universities to offer employees opportunities to earn their degrees; and inducted over 200 women into the Alameda County Women’s Hall of Fame.