Earlier this month, a lawyer for Chavez threatened to sue her San Diego counterparts for the way she claimed she was treated as an applicant for the $400,000 post.

Lawyers for the Santa Clara County supervisor cite irregularities, including breaches of confidentiality and discrimination, in San Diego County’s search for a new top administrative officer.

An aggressive public campaign by organized labor for a Chavez appointment, which included outdoor rallies, attack mailers, disruption of public meetings and personal attacks on supervisors, appears to have backfired.

Labor union members rallied outside the San Diego County administration building on Tuesday, pushing for Chavez' appointment to the county’s top staff position.