Anna Maynard Named Head of Office of Human Rights

County Manager Mark Schwartz has appointed Anna Maynard as head of the Office of Human Rights (OHR) and Executive Director of the Human Rights Commission. Her appointment is effective Monday, September 28, 2026. Maynard has been serving in this role on an acting basis since November 2025.  

Maynard began her career with the County in the Department of Human Services in 2003 as the Disability Resources Coordinator and joined the Office of Human Rights in that role in 2006. Since that time, she has served the County as the Disability Resources/ADA Coordinator, Human Rights/EEO Investigator, and as the Office of Human Rights Assistant Manager.  

“Anna has served the cause of Human Rights in Arlington for more than 23 years, and I want to thank her for stepping into this role on a permanent basis,” Schwartz said. “Maintaining the County’s commitment to fair and equal protection of the law and opportunity for everyone to participate in the benefits, rights and privileges of community life is crucial. Anna has lived this commitment throughout her career with the County, and I look forward to her continued success and the next chapter of our Office of Human Rights.” 

Along with this appointment, Schwartz announced plans for a new and expanded approach to address County staffing of Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) cases and matters pursued under the Human Rights Ordinance.  

“Since the adoption of the County’s Human Rights Ordinance in the 1980s, our population, the size of the County workforce, caseloads, and regulatory expectations have grown tremendously,” Schwartz said. “Balancing these responsibilities within a single office has become more challenging and has stretched the County’s ability to provide timely response to internal EEO complaints and conduct specialized and proactive education and enforcement of fair housing laws. Many peer jurisdictions have addressed similar challenges by separating external ordinance enforcement from internal EEO and civil rights compliance functions.” 

As part of his FY 2028 budget proposal, Schwartz is putting forward a new structure for these critical functions within the County Manager’s Office:  

• Office of Equal Employment & ADA Programs This office will focus on County workforce EEO investigations, ADA/Section 504 employee accommodations, Title VI/ADA/Section 504 compliance for County programs and services, and training for the County workforce and County program providers.  

• Human Rights and Fair Housing Enforcement Office This office will focus on enforcement of the Human Rights Ordinance, including intake and investigation of external discrimination complaints, use and oversight of contract investigators, community education, support for the Human Rights Commission, and pursuit of investigative findings through Commission hearings and court action that will enhance a bias-free rental and employment market in the County. This office will also analyze the need for additional legislative authority to pursue its mission.  

“Our community needs to step up its effort to protect those who face discrimination in the workplace and in receipt of essential services,” Schwartz said. “To realize this vision will require an increase in resources. I look forward to working with the County Board and the community to discuss this further as we prepare our FY 2028 budget this winter.” 

Learn more about the Office of Human Rights.