CLEARLAKE, Calif. – On Monday, Congressman Mike Thompson made a visit to Lake County, stopping by Lake County's landfill to see the impacts of the Valley fire.

Landfill Supervisor Kris Byrd, District 5 Supervisor Rob Brown and other county staff joined Thompson for a tour of the Eastlake Landfill in Clearlake Monday afternoon.

Byrd estimated that the impacts from last year's Valley fire have reduced the landfill's lifespan by seven to 10 years due to the sheer amount of debris that has been brought to the facility.

The fire, which began Sept. 12 and was fully contained Oct. 6, burned 76,067 acres, resulted in four confirmed deaths and destroyed nearly 2,000 structures, of which more than 1,300 were homes. It has been listed as the third most damaging fire in California history.

A massive cleanup project of the burned south county properties began in the fall, led by CalRecycle.

County officials estimated that 10 years of capacity was used up in five months' time as the Valley fire cleanup took place this fall and into the winter.

Byrd said that at the cleanup's peak the landfill had hundreds of trucks lined up to bring in the debris from the fire.

He said he had considered shutting down the facility due to the impact on the landfill and his staff.

Normally, it takes 10 years to get a landfill expansion process completed, and the county had about 12 to 15 years left on the landfill when it started taking in Valley fire debris, according to Byrd.

Byrd said the county is now working with the state water board and CalRecycle to expand the landfill in an expedited manner.

Thompson said he made the visit to see the impacts firsthand and to thank county staff for their hard work.

The landfill tour is documented in the video at the top of the page.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

The California Department of Water Resources on Wednesday today increased its water delivery estimate, or allocation, for most recipients to 30 percent of requests for the calendar year.

However, recipients are being warned that extended dry weather could force an allocation reduction.

The increase, although good news, does not mean the drought is ending, according to DWR Director Mark Cowin.

“After more than four dry years, we still have a critical water shortage,” said Cowin. “We need a lot more wet weather this winter to take the edge off drought. Using water carefully and sparingly is still the quickest, most effective way to stretch supplies.”

Wednesday's announcement is the second incremental increase in the State Water Project (SWP) allocation since an initial allocation of 10 percent was announced in December.

An increase to 15 percent was announced on January 26, after storms began to build the Sierra Nevada snowpack and bring significant rainfall to the drought-parched state.

The 29 public agencies – or contractors – that receive SWP water requested 4,172,786 acre-feet of water for 2016.

With Wednesday's allocation increase, they will receive 1,268,724 acre-feet. The 30 percent allocation announced may be increased if storms bring more rain and snow.

A remarkably dry February limited Wednesday's allocation increase – a stark reminder of how quickly California can turn from wet to dry.

Outdated water delivery infrastructure in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta also affected the allocation increase. SWP pumping in the Delta has been limited this winter in order to minimize harm to native fish species.

Water from Clear Lake makes its way to the Delta through Cache Creek and the Yolo Bypass.

DWR estimates that 458,000 acre-feet of water – enough to supply 3.4 million people for a year – could have been captured if the new intakes, tunnels, and operating criteria proposed by California WaterFix had been in place. That project proposal is now undergoing environmental review.

For the last two years, federal and state fish and wildlife agencies have been working together closely as a Real-Time Drought Operations Management Team to capture water supply in the Delta without unreasonably affecting threatened and endangered fish species.

That team works to balance multiple demands in the Delta while managing water project pumping infrastructure that pulls south Delta channels – and native fish – in unnatural directions. California WaterFix would minimize these harmful “reverse flows.”

There is no exact formula for ending the drought and conditions vary region by region, but a rough guidepost is that approximately 150 percent of average winter precipitation – rain and snow – would significantly ease statewide conditions, with the major exception of groundwater depletion.

The severe drought that began in 2012 has diminished water supplies to all sectors. California communities have been ordered to reduce overall water use by an average of 25 percent compared to 2013 levels. Some streams have dried up entirely, and others have gone slack and warm enough to threaten native fish populations.

Flow requirements for environmental purposes were reduced in 2014 and 2015 by state regulators struggling to balance competing demands for water. Water project deliveries to farmers have been reduced drastically, with some getting no deliveries for two consecutive years.

No crops were planted on more than half a million acre-feet of California farmland last year.

Collectively, the SWP Contractors serve approximately 25 million Californians and just under a million acres of irrigated farmland. The project provides the same allocation percentages to urban and agricultural water districts.

It is important to note that nearly all areas served by the SWP also have other sources of water, among them streams, groundwater and local reservoirs.

Key reservoirs are rising from early winter storms, but most remain low.

Lake Oroville in Butte County, the State Water Project’s principal reservoir, early Wednesday morning was holding 1,808,410 acre-feet, 51 percent of its 3.5 million acre-foot capacity and 74 percent of its historical average for the date.

Shasta Lake north of Redding, California’s and the federal Central Valley Project’s (CVP) largest reservoir, was holding 2,690,554 acre-feet, 59 percent of its 4.5 million acre-foot capacity and 82 percent of its historical average.

San Luis Reservoir, a critical south-of-Delta pool for both the SWP and CVP, reflects the same trend of lower reservoir storage this year. San Luis was holding 854,623 acre-feet, 42 percent of its 2 million acre-foot capacity and 50 percent of normal for the date.

Folsom Lake, a CVP reservoir near Sacramento, has risen to 64 percent of its 977,000 acre-foot capacity, 117 percent of its historic average for the date. Folsom fills more rapidly than many other reservoirs due to its relatively small size compared with its huge watershed.

Groundwater aquifers recharge much more slowly than surface reservoirs, with many in the Central Valley sinking toward record levels.

The 2015 20-percent allocation was the second lowest since 1991, when agricultural customers of the SWP got a zero allocation and municipal customers received 30 percent of requests. In 2014, SWP deliveries were five percent of requested amounts for all customers.

The last 100 percent allocation – difficult to achieve even in wet years largely because of Delta pumping restrictions to protect threatened and endangered fish species – was in 2006.

SWP allocations in recent years were as follows:

2015 – 20 percent;

2014 – 5 percent;

2013 – 35 percent;

2012 – 65 percent;

2011 – 80 percent;

2010 – 50 percent;

2009 – 40 percent;

2008 – 35 percent;

2007 – 60 percent;

2006 – 100 percent.

Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. declared a drought state of emergency on January 17, 2014 and followed up with statewide water conservation mandates.

Long-range weather forecasts are uncertain, and there is no way to know if this winter will deeply dent the state’s historic drought.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The popular Living History Day series continues at the Ely Stage Stop & Country Museum on Saturday, Feb. 27.

On the fourth Saturday of each month local historians come to the main house to visit with guests and answer questions regarding different aspects of Lake County history.

As these visits are recorded, the stories of Lake County’s history are being preserved for future generations.

John Parker, Ph.D., local archaeological researcher, will be available to museum visitors Saturday from noon till 2 p.m.

Dr. Parker’s focus will be on Lake County’s geology, prehistory and history. He will also be demonstrating obsidian chipping during his talk. Join the Ely docents and volunteers for this free, family-friendly event.

The Ely Stage Stop & Country Museum welcomes more docents to greet visitors and share information on our history, our current displays, and our planned events.

Volunteers for maintenance and construction projects are also needed. Come join the fun and become a volunteer at Ely. Applications will be available during the day.

The Lake County Historical Society’s Ely Stage Stop & Country Museum is located at 9921 State Highway 281 (Soda Bay Road) in Kelseyville, near Clear Lake Riviera, just north of Highway 29 - Kit’s Corner.

Current hours of operation are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday. Private tours can be arranged by appointment.

Visit www.elystagestop.org or www.lakecountyhistory.org , on Facebook at www.facebook.com/eleystagestop or call the museum at 707-533-9990.

COBB, Calif. – The next Valley Fire Long-Term Recovery Task Force meeting will be held Tuesday, March 1.

The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. at the Little Red Schoolhouse, located at 15780 Bottle Rock Road in Cobb.

“The public is welcome to attend so they can hear recovery updates first-hand. This also gives the fire survivors a venue to share their concerns and asks questions of members of the task force,” said Recovery Coordinator Carol Huchingson.

Huchingson has invited water and sewer system providers from the Cobb and Middletown areas to make presentations at the March 1 meeting.

The providers have been asked to provide updates on the status and capacities of their water systems since the Valley fire.

The Valley fire survey that was begun on Feb. 16 will end on Feb. 29. Huchingson advises any fire survivor who did not receive a phone call or a link to the survey to go online to www.LakeCountyRecovers.com or call 707-533-9271 to find out more information.

Huchingson also reported that the Work Right Donation center in Lakeport is closing this Friday, Feb. 26.

On Saturday, Feb. 27, there will be a yard sale held at the Work Right building for any remaining donations. The money earned from the sale will be donated to Valley Fire Relief funds.

The Lake County Valley Fire Recovery Task Force is a partnership of local, state, federal, and tribal representatives, as well as nonprofit organizations.

These agencies are working together to provide comprehensive services to aid in the recovery of Valley fire survivors and the rebuilding of Lake County.

UPPER LAKE, Calif. – On Tuesday evening the Upper Lake Unified School District Board continued with the work of determining key administrative positions and completing the tasks needed for the district unification to be complete by the end of June.

The board met for a closed session at 4 p.m., emerging just after 5:30 p.m. with no action to report. The meeting took place at the Upper Lake High School library/student center.

In an open session that ran just short of a half-hour, the board unanimously approved a memorandum of understanding between the new unified district and the Upper Lake Union High School District regarding the business manager position.

Upper Lake High's business manager, Sue Milhaupt, also will hold that job with the new district.

The board also unanimously approved resolutions authorizing Milhaupt and Dina McCrea, an Upper Lake High district employee who is the new district's administrative assistant, to sign documents on behalf of the district.

Including interim Superintendent Patrick Iaccino, the district now has three administrative members who are approved to sign district documents.

Milhaupt and Becky Jeffries, the chief business official of the Upper Lake Union Elementary School District, gave brief updates on their work to complete the necessary tasks on the administrative side, including updating vendors and grantors of the unification, and making notifications related to the unions.

Jeffries also reported during the meeting that she has accepted a position at the Mendocino County Office of Education. The unified school district board had wanted to name her the new district's chief business official.

In his report, Iaccino told the board that the administration is working on establishing seven new ad hoc committees that deal with issues like organizational structures, policies, student programs and facility maintenance.

He said that, at the board's next meeting – 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 8 – board members will vote on the new district's organizational structure, which will include the administrative group and directors of programs.

Iaccino said that the district's new Web address has been established at www.ulusd.org , but the site isn't yet up. It is being designed by BitSculptor, which oversees the high school Web site.

The work to combine the teachers' unions from the two districts also is continuing, and a California State Employees Association chapter has been established.

He said the district got some surprises on Tuesday from the Division of the State Architect, the state agency that oversees school construction. The surprises related to buildings that the agency hasn't signed off on since 1990, which no one knew about.

He said the Division of the State Architect has been trying to get caught up, and it only took them 26 years to notify people of those outstanding issues.

Iaccino said the elementary principal job also is being advertised. Valerie Gardner, the principal/superintendent of the soon-to-be-dissolved elementary district, is retiring at the end of the school year.

As of Tuesday, Iaccino said four people had applied – three of them from Lake County, one from Michigan – and he anticipated having more applicants. The application can be found online at https://www.edjoin.org/Home/JobPosting/765362 .

He's planning to form a committee that includes himself, two elementary teachers, an elementary classified employee and a parent of an elementary student to interview candidates. Board member Keith Austin also suggested having Gardner included, and she said she was happy to do it.

Iaccino said he hopes to have the group meet after March 4, the application deadline, to draft questions for the elementary principal candidates.

Board President Mel O'Meara said that he wanted to gauge the board's progress in March and then consider meeting just once a month rather than twice.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The fields for three county supervisorial seats are starting to fill up as the process to run for the June 7 primary election gets under way.

The seats representing Districts 1, 4 and 5 will be up for election again this year.

Supervisors Jim Comstock, Anthony Farrington and Rob Brown hold those seats, respectively. Comstock and Farrington have indicated they will not seek reelection.

Registrar of Voters Diane Fridley explained that the nomination period opened Feb. 16 and will close on March 11 in races where there is an incumbent.

In races which are open, with no incumbent seeking reelection, the nomination period is extended to March 16, she said.

During that period of time, Fridley said all candidates must file a declaration of candidacy form and nomination papers in order to have their names on the June 7 ballot.

Nomination papers require a minimum of 20 signatures and a maximum of 40, Fridley said.

Fridley said candidates may also submit “in-lieu-of-filing fee petitions,” which allow them to collect signatures to offset all or part of the cost of filing fees. That process began at the start of the year, with the deadline for those petitions Thursday, Feb. 25.

Signatures on nomination papers can be counted toward the in-lieu petitions, according to Fridley.

Individuals who have filed Form 501 candidate intention statements and in-lieu petitions include:

– District 1: Voris Brumfield, Middletown; Monica Rosenthal, Middletown; James P. Ryan, Hidden Valley Lake; Jose “Moke” Simon III, Middletown;

– District 4: Ted Mandrones, Philip Murphy, Ron Rose, Martin Scheel and Tina Scott, all of Lakeport;

– District 5: Rob Brown, Kelseyville; Norm Longoria, Kelseyville; Joan Moss, Kelseyville; Philip Reimers, Cobb; John Wesley Stoddard, Kelseyville; Helena Welsh, Cobb.

Farrington also had filed a candidate intention statement in August but in January indicated he would not seek reelection. Beau Moore of Cobb, who had filed that paperwork last February to seek the District 4 seat, indicated late last year he would not in fact pursue the office.

The current annual salary of a county supervisor is $63,720, with Fridley explaining that the filing fee is 1 percent of the annual salary, or $637.20.

To offset the entire filing fee for District 1 a candidate would need to collect 681 valid signatures, 701 for District 4 and 718 for District 5. Fridley said the difference in required signatures between districts is because the numbers are based on voter registration.
 
During this time, candidates also can file statements to be included in sample ballot booklets, Fridley said.

“No one has done anything final,” she said. “Anybody can back out at this point.”

It's not until candidates file their declarations of candidacy that their names will be on the ballot and they cannot withdraw. “Until they do, we do not consider them official candidates, Fridley said of that step.

In addition to the local offices, federal and state office to go before voters on June 7 include president of the United States, US senator, District 3 and District 5 seats in the US House of Representatives, and District 4 in the California Assembly.

For more information about filing for any of the elective offices contact the Registrar of Voters office in person at the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N Forbes St, Room 209, Lakeport, or by phone at 707-263-2372.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

LUCERNE, Calif. – The Friends of Marymount California University (MCU) Lakeside and the Lake County Land Trust are pleased to announce the second presentation in a “Distinguished Speaker Series,” that started in February.

The next scheduled speaker is archaeologist Dr. John Parker, who will present on Thursday, March 3, at the MCU Lakeside campus in Lucerne from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Dr. Parker will use artifacts and a PowerPoint presentation to take participants through the cultural, environmental and technological changes that occurred in Lake County during the past 20,000 years.

He will focus on the relationship between Lake County’s American Indian inhabitants and their environment.

Dr. Parker is a longtime Lake County resident.

In 1973 he began a 20-year study of Lake County’s prehistory. For 15 of those years, he lived in Clearlake, taught at Mendocino and Yuba community colleges, gave educational programs to civic clubs and community groups, conducted archaeological studies for landowners, and served as a planning commissioner for the city of Clearlake.

One of Dr. Parker’s important accomplishments was organizing public and political support for the purchase of the Anderson Marsh State Historic Park.

He is a Registered Professional Archaeologist, a life member of the Society for California Archaeology and a life member of the Lake County Historical Society where he currently serves as vice president as well as curation manager for the Ely Stage Stop and Country Museum.

His work has been seen on PBS, CBS Evening News, Good Morning America, CNN, FOX, in newspapers and in magazines such as People, Newsweek, Archaeology, Omni, Westways, American Film, Instructor, Sunset, California and Preservation News.

The campus is located at 3700 Country Club Drive and is the impressive building on the hill that is known by locals as “The Castle.” Parking directors and a shuttle will assist those attending this event.

The public is warmly invited and a $5 donation to benefit the Friends of MCU Lakeside scholarship fund is encouraged.

For more information, call 888-991-5253 or 707-262-0707, leave a message and someone will return your call.

The Friends of Marymount California University Lakeside is a new group with the goal of supporting and creating awareness of the educational opportunities of Lake County’s four-year university in Lucerne and raise funds for student scholarships.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Looking for a handsome, furry friend suited for fun in the outdoors?

Then, meet “Balto.”

Balto is a male husky-Alaskan Malamute mix at Lake County Animal Care and Control who is hoping someone will come and sweep him away to a new home.

He's a very sweet and personable dog. He greets visitors with good manners and even a kiss.

Balto is very handsome with his brown eyes and soft, gray and white coat.

The shelter's evaluator said he has no food aggression and gets along well when introduced to other dogs his size.

He knows basic commands and walks well on a leash.

Balto is in kennel No. 13, ID No. 4310. He'd love a visit and a new home.

To fill out an adoption application online visit http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Dog___Cat_Adoption_Application.htm .

Lake County Animal Care and Control is located at 4949 Helbush in Lakeport, next to the Hill Road Correctional Facility.

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Visit the shelter online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control.htm .

For more information call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – A trailer home in Spring Valley was destroyed by a fire on Saturday night.

The first report of the structure fire at 3494 Wolf Creek Road came in at 8:45 p.m. Saturday, according to radio reports.

Northshore Fire Chief Jay Beristianos said the first arriving engine reported a fully involved structure.

Beristianos said the home – an old travel trailer with a large add-on and a porch – was unoccupied at the time, and no injuries or damage to exposures were reported.

Northshore Fire responded with three engines, two medic units, one water tender and three support apparatus with two command vehicles with 16 personnel. Lake County Fire responded on mutual aid with one engine and three personnel, Beristianos said.

Firefighting efforts were hampered due to a downed power line as a result of the fire, Beristianos said.

He said the home was a total loss.

Units cleared the scene about 2 a.m. Sunday. Beristianos said a deputy was left on scene through the night and reported that what was left of the structure reignited at around 3 a.m. Firefighters returned and put it out.

The cause of the fire is undetermined at this time but is believed to be accidental, Beristianos said Monday.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Looking for a dignified new friend to walk around the neighborhood with you?

This handsome male Doberman Pinscher is red in color with tan markings, and has a sweet disposition.

It appears that he has had some solid obedience training, as he knows basic commands and responds both to voice and hand signals, and walks well on a leash.

He's a large and grand-looking dog, and is expected to make a good companion for the person who appreciates him.

He's in kennel No. 23, ID No. 4461.

To fill out an adoption application online visit http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Dog___Cat_Adoption_Application.htm .

Lake County Animal Care and Control is located at 4949 Helbush in Lakeport, next to the Hill Road Correctional Facility.

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Visit the shelter online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control.htm .

For more information call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – As 2016 has gotten under way, home sales prices are on an upswing while the number of homes for sale has dropped.

The Lake County Association of Realtors, or LCAOR, reported that the January median sales price of single family residences in Lake County rose 7.6 percent over like sales in December 2015. The January median sales price was $232,500 compared to $216,000 in December.

The number of sales in January was 50 which was a 46.2-percent decrease from the 93 sales in December, LCAOR said.

“It is not uncommon to see the number of sales dip in January,” said Erin Woodward, 2016 LCAOR president. “People tend to be preoccupied with other matters in December and that is reflected in the January numbers. The fact that the median price increased over December’s has also been a pattern we have seen over the last few years.”

On a year-over-year basis, the number of sales increased 11 percent, going from 45 in January 2015 to the 50 sales in January 2016.

The January 2016 median price of $232,500 increased 46 percent over the January 2015 median sales price of $159,000.

Sales financed by cash accounted for 32 percent of the transactions, which was up from 25.58 percent of the sales in December and virtually the same when compared to January 2015 sales.

Conventional loans made up 36 percent of the sales, down from 53.5 percent of the sales in December 2015. However, FHA financed sales rose to 18 percent of the sales after financing 10.5 percent of the December sales.

On a statewide basis, the California Association of Realtors reported that existing, single-family home sales totaled 383,670 in January, down 5.4 percent from December 2015 and up 8.8 percent from January 2015.

The median sales price was $468,330 down 4.3 percent from December 2015 and up 9.2 percent from January 2015.

The California Association of Realtors reported that the highest median price in the state was $1.17 million in the city and county of San Francisco.

LAKE COUNTY HOME SALES NUMBERS AT A GLANCE

January 2016
Median price: $232,500
Median days to sell: 78
Units Sold: 50

December 2015
Median price: $216,000
Median days to sell: 92
Units Sold: 93

January 2015
Median price: $159,000
Median days to sell: 112
Units Sold: 45

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson on Monday filed for reelection in the Fifth Congressional District.

The district includes all of Napa County and parts of Lake, Sonoma, Solano and Contra Costa counties.  

“I am incredibly humbled to have a broadly diverse group of supporters including the endorsements of supervisors, mayors, city council members, sheriffs, as well as business and community leaders from our district,” Thompson said.

“I was born, grew up and still live in our district today. It is my highest honor and greatest privilege to work in Congress on behalf of my friends and neighbors at home. I have strong working relationships with local and county officials and community members,” he said.

“Together, we secured federal funds to rebuild after the 2014 South Napa Earthquake and the 2015 Valley Fire in Lake County. And, we acquired assistance to help revitalize Mare Island, invest in Sonoma County’s transportation infrastructure as well as complete the Napa flood project,” he continued.

“In Congress, my No. 1 priority is serving the people of our district. I have worked to grow our economy so that the hard-working people of our district can get ahead and succeed. I have supported job-creating investments in infrastructure and renewable energy, worked to reduce our debt with fiscally-responsible policies and preserved pristine lands in our district. And I’m leading the effort to make sure criminals and the dangerously mentally ill don’t have easy access to guns, while protecting the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding individuals to own firearms,” Thompson said.

“As your representative, I will continue to protect Social Security and Medicare, keep fighting for comprehensive immigration reform and strengthen our national security. As a Vietnam combat veteran, I will continue to support our veterans and their families,” he said.

“Together, we can continue working to find real solutions to the challenges we face today, and ensure that our district remains one of the best places to live, work, raise a family and start a business,” Thompson concluded.

The list of those signing Rep. Thompson’s nomination papers is included below.

Joanne Dowell, board director, Crockett Chamber of Commerce
Richard Zampa, retired president, District Council of Iron Workers of the state of California
Dan Romero, mayor, Hercules
William Shea, president, Rotary Club of Hercules
Jonathan Bash, president, Contra Costa Young Democrats
Tim Farley, Contra Costa Community College District Governing Board member
Carol Hatch, retired district director, Congressman George Miller
Rob Schroder, mayor, Martinez
Peter Murray, council member, Pinole
Roy Swearingen, council member, Pinole
Ridge Greene, chairman, Port Costa Conservation Society
Rob Brown, Lake County supervisor
Kelly Cox, former Lake County administrative officer
Wally Holbrook, former superintendent, Lake County Office of Education
Madelene Lyon, board president, Lake County Office of Education
David Weiss, vineyard management firm owner, Kelseyville
Peter Windrem, attorney at law, Kelseyville
Brian Martin, Lake County sheriff
Monica Rosenthal, small business owner, Middletown
Leon Garcia, mayor, American Canyon
Chris Canning, mayor, Calistoga
Richardo “Ricky” Hurtado, president, Democrats of Napa Valley Club
Hope Lugo, community leader, Napa
Ed Matovcik, businessman, Napa
Barbara Nemko, Napa County superintendent of schools
Joseph Peatman, attorney at law, Napa
John Robertson, Napa County sheriff
Garen and Sharalyn Staglin, business owners, Rutherford
Diane Dillon, Napa County supervisor
Janet Thompson, nurse, St. Helena
Jon Thompson, deputy sheriff, St. Helena
Robert Torres, grapegrower and business owner, Saint Helena
John and Beclee Wilson, economist and Napa County Poet Laureate, St. Helena
John Dunbar, mayor, Yountville
Terry Curtola, former mayor, Vallejo
Osby Davis, mayor, Vallejo
Erin Hannigan, Solano County supervisor
Anthony Intintoli Jr., former mayor, Vallejo
Jimmie Jackson, president, Vallejo Branch of the NAACP
Buck Kamphausen, business owner, Vallejo
LaGuan Lea, business owner, Vallejo
Jon Riley, vice president, Napa And Solano Counties Central Labor Council
Rosemary Thurston, vice president, Solano Community College District Governing Board
Dr. A.C. “Tony” Ubalde Jr., president, Vallejo Unified School District Board of Education
Hazel Wilson, trustee, Vallejo Unified School District Board of Education
Michael Wilson, former Vallejo City Council member
Margret Fishman, Santa Rosa Junior College Board trustee
Gina Belforte, mayor, Rohnert Park
Cheryl Diehm, retired, Santa Rosa
Chris Rogers, Santa Rosa Community Advisory Board member
John Sawyer, mayor, Santa Rosa
Suzanne Smith, executive director, Sonoma County Transportation Authority
William “Willie” Tamayo, business owner, Santa Rosa
Shirlee Zane, Sonoma County supervisor
Laurie Gallian, mayor, Sonoma
Mike Mulas, dairy farmer and grape grower, Sonoma
Ray Mulas, dairy farmer and grape grower, Sonoma