County Administrator
Susan S. Muranishi
Susan S. Muranishi is County Administrator for Alameda County, California, serving for nearly 28 years as the appointed Chief Executive of the seventh most populous county in California, and one of the most culturally diverse in the nation. Alameda Count County has more than 10,000 employees and an annual budget of $4.1 billion.
Ms. Muranishi is an Alameda County native and UC Berkeley graduate who has served in various roles of increasing responsibility during her distinguished tenure with the County. As County Administrator, she has gained a national reputation for strong fiscal management that has allowed the County to thrive – despite difficult economic times that have challenged local government budgets. Under her leadership, the County has maintained the distinction of earning the highest credit ratings among local governments and is one of very few 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 has drawn numerous State and national awards. In 2019 and 2020, Alameda County was the recipient of four California Association of Counties (CSAC) Challenge Awards, and in 2022 was awarded eight National Association of Counties (NACo) Achievement Awards for innovative programs and services that meet the evolving needs of the diverse communities it serves.
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 was selected as one of thirty-five national leaders in the field of public administration to be inducted as a 2022 National Academy of Public Administration Fellow. Ms. Muranishi now joins more than 950 Academy Fellows, including former cabinet officers, members of Congress, governors, state legislators, mayors, and prominent scholars, business executives and nonprofit leaders. 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 250 women into the Alameda County Women’s Hall of Fame.