Placer residents from Colfax to Tahoe would be best served by this supervisor candidate | Opinion

The Placer County official with the toughest job might be the District 5 Supervisor. From Ophir to Colfax, Dutch Flat to Big Bend, North Star to Kings Beach and Carnelian Bay to Homewood, the district contains almost 80% of the county’s geographic area. Roughly two-thirds of District 5 residents live in unincorporated areas — meaning they rely on their county supervisor for representation and advocacy.

The concerns of residents are vast and varied — from homelessness and housing prices to traffic congestion going to and from Lake Tahoe, California’s insurance crisis and the ever-present threat of wildfires.

The District 5 supervisor needs to know the region inside and out. Supervisor Cindy Gustafson, the incumbent who has served in this seat since 2019, has proven time and again that she’s up for the task. A 40-year resident of District 5, Gustafson knows the region like the back of her hand.

“I work for everybody,” Gustafson said. “My job isn’t to care what color your voter registration is.”

Gustafson brings with her an impressive 26-year career working at the Tahoe City Public Utility District, which includes eight years as general manager. She also served on the California State Fish and Game Commission, Tahoe Truckee Unified School District Board of Trustees and as CEO of the North Lake Tahoe Resort Association and North Tahoe Chamber.

Gustafson is just one in a talented pool of candidates vying for the position; running against her is current Supervisor Jim Holmes, who has represented District 3, which includes Rocklin, Loomis and Penryn, for nearly two decades. Holmes’ place of residence was drawn out of his district and into District 5 in the county’s 2021 redistricting process.

Holmes is the true embodiment of a public servant: A humble leader who puts his constituents before himself. His neighbors know him for his kind, good-natured demeanor and his selfless dedication to improving Placer County. It is regretful that he’s been districted out of public service.

When it comes to the challenging feat that is representing the entirety of District 5, we don’t doubt that Holmes is up for the task. But it’s Gustafson’s proven, effective record of leadership in this region — in addition to her life-long career serving both her constituents and Californians statewide — that voters should look to and trust in.

If re-elected, Gustafson would be part of the much-needed task of updating county plans, including a current general plan that dates back to 1994 (certain community plans are even older — some date back to the 1960s).

“We need a lot of public engagement — the communities themselves have to weigh in, because we represent them, this is not about our opinion,” she said. “(We need) not just the loudest voices, but the broadest number of voices to participate.”

Gustafson said she would support updating county plans to include a variety of housing types and infill development to support new, younger homeowners moving into the county.

“My sons can’t buy a home in Placer County,” she said. “(We need) to put that infill development where there’s transit, jobs and services. That’s going to be critical to protecting the rural areas but having a thriving economy that’s open to all.”

Notably, Gustafson has a laser focus on issues that will have the greatest impact on and for her constituents, instead of involving herself in so-called culture war issues that have preoccupied other local officials, including Placer County school boards. Parental notification policies, for example, which would require teachers to notify parents if their child identifies as transgender or non-binary, have been approved by some districts in the county.

“I don’t support these (policies),” she said. “Some of these rules are coming out of fear of other people instead of about what’s good for the kids and the parents. I would much rather see more social services and support than rules about how we’re going to notify parents. If kids are struggling with their identity for whatever reason, sometimes they need someone who’s safe to go to outside the home.”

Also running in the race for District 5 Supervisor are Wayne Nader, a retired regional manager for government banking in California, Nevada, Utah and Arizona and a member of Placer County’s Charter Review Committee as well as Rick Chowdry, a mechanical contractor who runs a 200-person commercial heating, ventilation, air conditioning and plumbing contracting firm.

Chowdry did not voice strong or informed opinions on pressing county issues, nor did he have a strong vision for Placer County’s future.

Nader, on the other hand, is a knowledgeable candidate who is not shy about calling out the current Board of Supervisors for “troubling” decisions “that appear to have a bias toward special interest rather than the community’s interest.” Nader is an important voice needed on commissions, like the one he currently serves on, to keep county officials accountable.

It’s clear that District 5 residents would be well served by either Holmes or Gustafson. But at this critical juncture, as the Placer County Board of Supervisors update county plans with their vision for the future, Gustafson’s unmatched insight into the needs of her community will prove invaluable.

This story was originally published February 3, 2024 at 7:00 AM.