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Power post vacuum Placer County voters have few options when it comes to choosing their local representatives by Graham Womack
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When Jennifer Montgomery resigned her seat on ratepayers are still getting a better than deal than the Placer County Board of Supervisors last with PG&E. spring to lead the Governor’s Forest Management “It was a business decision that was Task Force, 20 candidates vied to replace politicized,” Holmes said. her. Months after the board appointed Cindy Uhler’s board tenure has been sometimes Gustafson to complete Montgomery’s term, a stormy, with him aligning closely with quieter round of voting looms. developers and facing a 2010 recall effort. The five-member Placer County board makes But Uhler also fared well among voters in his numerous land use and policy decisions for one conservative district where President Donald of the fastest-growing areas in the Sacramento Trump received 53.5% of the vote in November region. But for years, largely the same people 2016 compared to Hillary Clinton’s 36.4%, have been making these decisions. And little according to the Placer Elections website. seems poised to change after the March 3 Uhler last won reelection by nearly 20 primary. percentage points over challenger Victor Bekhet. Just seven candidates filed by the Dec. This time, Uhler faces Suzanne Jones, who has 6 deadline for seats available in three board been affiliated with Defend Granite Bay, a group districts: Gustafson’s sprawling 5th District, opposed to development projects Uhler has which spans Auburn to Lake Tahoe; District supported. 3, which runs from Rocklin to Auburn; Uhler and Jones didn’t immediately and District 4, which includes reply to messages seeking comment. Granite Bay and east Roseville. Gustafson had a 26-year career Longtime incumbents Jim with the Tahoe City Public Just seven Holmes in District 3 and Kirk Utility District, where she candidates filed Uhler in District 4 have nine served as general manager. terms between them, and are She also spent five years for seats available running again. on the California Fish and in three board Holmes, who was first Game Commission and served districts. elected to the board in 2004, as CEO of the North Lake faces Craig Del Greco of Tahoe Chamber/CVB/Resort Newcastle and Mike Murray of Association. Rocklin. “I had worked closely with Placer “He’s done a lot in 16 years,” Murray County for decades,” she said. said. “Sixteen years ago, I was in high school.” Her challenger, Christopher Kershner, also A member of the Placer County Republican sought the appointment when Montgomery Central Committee and a trainer by day for stepped down. Kershner, an Auburn business Stampede Consulting, Murray said he was owner, ran unsuccessfully for Auburn City motivated to run by board decisions such as its Council last November. His three opponents all support of Pioneer Energy, which hiked its rates won, and each received at least 50% more votes after borrowing $18 million from the county in than he did. start-up costs. Kershner opted to run for public office after Del Greco, who was unavailable for participating in a series of lawsuits related to comment, has also voiced concern about Pioneer prisoner civil rights claims against the Placer Energy, asking its governing board at its Jan. 7, County Sheriff’s Office, following a February 2019 meeting to consider increasing its reserves 2017 arrest. by 10 times, according to meeting minutes posted “I think everyone needs to be stood up for, not online. just people with resources, financial resources,” Like Uhler, Holmes has been a voting Kershner said. member on Pioneer Energy’s governing board. Holmes defended the long tenures of some He has reported the board’s actions to his fellow supervisors, including 21-year member Robert supervisors and advocated for Pioneer to his Weygandt, up for reelection in 2022. constituents. Holmes defended the two-way “When you look at the record, we’ve done a relationship, telling SN&R that Pioneer’s great job,” Holmes said. □
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