Candidates for June Primary emerge
There is still time to consider running for office
It’s official. Plumas County District 3 Supervisor Sherrie Thrall intends to run for another term to represent the Chester/Lake Almanor area. There had been some speculation from District 3 constituents as to whether she would seek the position again so she made the announcement last week.
The other supervisorial seat up for election is that of District 5, currently held by Jeff Engel. Engel represents Graeagle and the Mohawk Valley, as well as portions of the Highway 70 corridor and East Quincy. Engel has yet to announce his intentions, but Blairsden resident Margaret “Mimi” Garner has taken out the initial paperwork. Garner is known to many in the Eastern portion of the county as one of the cofounders of Gold Mountain, and more recently for her efforts to promote tourism and economic development.
Unlike other elected officials — such as the Sheriff, District Attorney, Clerk-Recorder, Treasurer, Assessor and Auditor — who run countywide, only voters who reside in the district elect their supervisor. It’s important for constituents in those districts to assess the representation that they have received and ask themselves if they are satisfied. If so, great; but if not, this is the opportunity to make a change. Maybe you or someone you know has considered running for office, take a moment to consider this once-every-four-years opportunity.
Another elected position will also be on the ballot in June — that of Superior Court judge — and Janet Hilde will be running for another term on the bench. Judge Ira Kaufmann retired Dec. 31, 2017, but his position will not be on the ballot. Rather, Gov. Jerry Brown will appoint his successor. A handful of local attorneys have submitted an application to the governor’s office for the appointment, but thus far no one has filed to run against Hilde.
As for the seven other countywide offices, six of the incumbents have obtained papers to seek an additional term: Sheriff Greg Hagwood, District Attorney David Hollister, Treasurer Julie White, Assessor Chuck Leonhardt, Auditor Roberta Allen and Clerk-Recorder Kathy Williams. The seventh, County Superintendent of Schools Terry Oestreich, plans to take out the necessary papers and seek another term. She is the appointed superintendent of the Plumas Unified School District.
In addition to deciding whether to run for office, residents can prepare for the June Primary by ensuring that they are registered to vote. And Clerk-Recorder Williams reminds individuals who have moved — even within the same community — to reregister. This is particularly important regarding the supervisorial districts, which tend to meander and can have one side of a street represented by one supervisor, and the other side by another.
