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Editorial: Nick Bollman, regionalist
State loses an advocate for thinking broadly
Published 12:00 am PDT Thursday, November 1, 2007
Story appeared in EDITORIALS section, Page B6
At its most basic, California is a collection of fiefdoms. These include 58 counties and more than 470 cities, 1,000 school districts and 4,800 special districts.
For nearly two decades, one person led the effort in California to venture beyond these narrow fiefdoms and pursue regional solutions to problems such as traffic congestion, affordable housing and loss of open space.
His name was Nick Bollman, and when he died over the weekend at age 61, he left behind a record of achievement that deserves both recognition and continued commitment.
Bollman, a native of Oregon, came to California in 1987 to work 12 years for the Irvine Foundation and the Hewlett Foundation. He then went on to become founder and president of the California Center for Regional Leadership for six years.
During that time, Bollman helped fund and inspire regional civic organizations such as Joint Venture Silicon Valley, the Great Valley Center, the Sierra Business Council and Sacramento's Valley Vision. He was particularly concerned about the Central Valley, and how this farm region could create broader economic opportunities without endangering its agricultural heritage, or its sense of place.
As Bollman told the Los Angeles Times in 2001, his concept wasn't to "carve up the state into a new pattern or new set of rigid political jurisdictions." Instead, he sought to help local governments work together and breed a new group of activists, which he called "civic entrepreneurs."
Bollman moved to South Florida last year, but remained active on several fronts. Friends say he helped lobby Florida Gov. Charlie Crist to join with other governors, including fellow Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger, in agreements to combat climate change.
Although some might say Bollman wasn't wholly successful in overcoming the forces of fiefdoms, he created the seeds of a movement. That network must now carry on the task of thinking globally, acting regionally, and making California a better place to live.
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