It’s in March not June!
This year’s presidential primary is early
Plumas voters will be sent ballots Feb. 3
A candidate for District 2 Supervisor told us that while campaigning he has been alarmed to discover how many people are unaware that the election is less than two months away.
Californians are used to voting in June and November, but Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill to move California’s primary elections in 2020 to the beginning of March, three months ahead of when they were held in 2016, to increase the state’s influence in deciding presidential candidates.
Since Plumas County votes strictly by mail, that means voters will be receiving their ballots nearly a month before Election Day because ballots are scheduled to be sent out Feb. 3. That leaves very little time for candidates to get their message out.
There are three local Plumas County races on the ballot: the District 1, 2 and 4 supervisor contests. Voters in each of those supervisorial districts will choose between the candidates running to represent their area.
In District 1 (Eastern Plumas County and Portola) the choice is between Jason Christian, Dwight Ceresola and Bill Powers. A fourth individual, John Pato, has taken out papers to become an official write-in candidate, but is not yet an official candidate.
In District 2 (Indian Valley, portions of the Canyon, East Quincy and the Highway 70 corridor) the candidates are: Greg Cameron, Kevin Goss, Michael Grant and Phil Shannon.
In District 4 (Quincy and Meadow Valley) the choice is between Greg Hagwood and Melissa Bishop.
Voters in District 3 (the Lake Almanor Basin) will not be voting; Supervisor Sherrie Thrall is not up for election this cycle. Likewise voters in District 5 (Graeagle/Mohawk Valley) will have the continued representation of Jeff Engel.
As a service to our readers, we have included brief biographical information on all of the candidates, as well as their responses to some introductory questions. Even though supervisors are only elected by those who live within the district boundaries, they represent all of the residents of Plumas County once they are seated on the board.
Take the time to read about those who seek to represent you. The League of Women Voters is planning to host forums in each of the districts, and we encourage you to take the opportunity to see the candidates in person and hear their responses to questions posed from the audience.
A District 1 forum has been scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 23, at 7 p.m. in the Portola Memorial Hall.
A District 2 forum has been scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 29 at 7 p.m. in the Greenville Town Hall (behind the fire hall).
As this newspaper went to press, no firm date had been established for the District 4 forum.
Remember, the March 3 Primary will be here soon and the ballots will arrive even sooner.
