Placer’s main governing body elects new leader. Here’s what you should know about her

Placer County’s main governing body has a new leader.

Cindy Gustafson, supervisor for District 5, was unanimously elected to lead the Board of Supervisors in a meeting Tuesday.

“I anticipate this will continue to be a challenging time for leadership,” Gustafson said in a statement. “The COVID-19 pandemic has generated a tremendous amount of community engagement thanks to the convenience of virtual meetings, and also much more divisiveness. I intend to continue our county’s efforts to model and request a tone of civility to ensure a welcoming environment that encourages community engagement in our public meeting process”

Gustafson was elected to the board in April 2019 after serving as the general manager of Tahoe City Public Utility District and CEO of North Lake Tahoe Resort Association. She’s been a resident of the Tahoe Basin for more than 35 years and represents the largest geographic region in the county, spanning from Auburn to North Lake Tahoe.

Gustafson became an active member of the board in the last two years, advocating for housing solutions for residents and workforce of the Tahoe Basin and supporting business owners during the COVID-19 pandemic.

She also advocated for emergency preparedness for the county, and was involved in having the state’s insurance commission come to Auburn to address fire insurance non-renewal issues. She has been a vocal proponent of bringing reliable, fast broadband internet service to rural communities.

In her duties as board chair, Gustafson will be responsible for managing the meetings to ensure procedures are followed and facilitating public comment, setting agenda priorities and acting as spokesperson for the board.

The board also elected Supervisor Jim Holmes to serve as vice chair for 2022. Holmes was elected to the board in 2004 and represents the communities of mid-Placer County, including Loomis, Penryn, Newcastle, North Auburn and parts of Rocklin.