George Rebane
We have been told forever by the Left that our county’s Board of Supervisors is a non-partisan governing body. No one believes it, especially our progressives, but the message must be repeated endlessly to the county’s light thinkers. The existential fact is that the supes are all partisan and readily exhibit their individual ideologies during their terms of office. I always get a kick out listening to someone argue that they are among the pure and untainted when they assess and evaluate social policies – ‘I don’t care much for politics’, ‘I’m not an ideologue; I make my decisions on the merits.’
Today we are gearing up to elect three new supervisors next year. Nate Beason, our senior and three-term supervisor from District #1, will (sadly) not seek a fourth term. His seat will be contested for by the very liberal Heidi Hall, and the (best that I can tell) left-center bike shop owner Duane Strawser. This leaves a yawning spot for someone of a more conservatarian bent to also throw their hat in the ring. Actually, someone obviously from the Right might do very well next November since there is a good chance that Hall and Strawser will then split the Left vote. But as we all know, election season brings out the political chameleon in those seeking office.
Mr Strawser may wrap himself in a new cloak for the coming year, and that will make things interesting. I am not familiar with the man’s voting record during his turn on the Nevada City city council. But given the perennial silly season that that elected body has enjoyed over the years (decades?), a more conservative candidate could make it hard for Strawser to conveniently tack starboard during the coming months. More knowledgeable heads about the county’s local governments should weigh in on this possibility.
In any event, the Nevada County BoS slots are very political, and whoever fills them will determine how much the county will bend over to grab its ankles when the diktats come down from on high. And in the worst case the supes may go on a regulatory binge to save us all again from climate change, chemical food additives, pedestrian safety, hate speech, various forms of marijuana, low cost housing, and fatty foods. It has happened before, and today we are in a much weakened state when it comes to welcoming more of leviathan’s tender mercies into our lives. Just look at the highly educated yokels demonstrating on our university campuses.
rebanesruminations.com 
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