Rebecca "Becky" Bartling is back in Del Mar. The longtime fairgrounds manager and Sonoma County Fair veteran is the new chief executive officer of the Del Mar Fairgrounds, the 22nd District Agricultural Association announced yesterday. Her return follows a top-level shakeup, with the board abruptly removing CEO Carlene Moore in mid-April, just as the fairgrounds head into its packed spring and summer season.
In a news release, the 22nd DAA named Bartling as CEO and said she brings extensive operations and emergency response experience, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune. "I am honored to return to the Del Mar Fairgrounds and serve as CEO of this remarkable organization," Bartling said in the release, which also quoted board chair Sam Nejabat praising her familiarity with the site and its mission.
Board Ousted Previous CEO After Closed-Door Vote
The 22nd DAA board voted 8-1 on April 14 to remove Carlene Moore, with board member Phil Blair casting the lone dissenting vote, KPBS reported. The decision came after public complaints about leadership and a string of legal disputes, including a complaint filed April 16 alleging age discrimination, that Voice of San Diego says have complicated the district's operations.
Bartling's Record And The Work Ahead
Bartling began her fairgrounds career in the 1990s and moved into operations leadership before leaving to run the Sonoma County Fair, as documented by The Press Democrat. Her years managing a smaller county fair and programming off-season events are the kind of hands-on experience the board has said it wants as the district tackles long-range planning alongside a busy events calendar.
Scale Of The Operation
The 22nd DAA oversees three campuses totaling roughly 324 acres: a 212-acre main campus, a 48-acre Surf & Turf recreation site and a 64-acre Horsepark, according to state job postings. The organization runs year-round with a modest permanent staff and hires thousands of part-time workers for the San Diego County Fair, and the release reported Bartling has committed to remaining in the CEO role through September 2027. For details on acreage and facilities, see CalCareers.
Legal Questions And Community Watch
The fairgrounds has been entangled in litigation and settlements in recent years, from a multi-million settlement tied to a disputed pandemic loan to a number of employment and contract suits, and new filings in mid-April have kept pressure on the board and staff, as reported by Voice of San Diego and KPBS. Local leaders and tenants are watching to see whether the new CEO can steady staffing, vendor contracts and public confidence before the county fair arrives.
For now, the board has doubled down on experience, putting a familiar face back at the helm as Del Mar's calendar fills with races, concerts and the county fair, and setting up an early test of whether institutional knowledge can calm recent turmoil and keep the grounds running smoothly.
