Here is The Bee’s endorsement for Placer County supervisor repping the Rocklin area | Opinion

For two decades, Placer County’s Third Supervisorial District, which encompasses Loomis, Newcastle, North Auburn, Penryn and Rocklin, has been represented by Supervisor Jim Holmes, known in the county as “the face of the Foothills.” Now, that seat is up for grabs. And needless to say, the person chosen by voters to fill that seat has enormous shoes to fill.

If anyone understands a good fit for the job is, it’s Holmes. And we agree with his endorsement: businessman and farmer Anthony DeMattei.

Opinion

DeMattei never envisioned himself in public office. He carries on his family’s century-old farming legacy in California with the large mandarin orange ranch he owns and operates in Penryn. The long-time Placer County resident formerly served as the chief operating officer and vice president of the nation’s tenth-largest prune grower. He is still a board member of that company, which now does commercial real estate.

Through his citrus business, DeMattei came to know Holmes. It was the supervisor who asked him to apply for the Placer County Planning Commission — which DeMattei now chairs. With his Planning Commission experience, DeMattei realized that his insights into county operations, local agriculture and business could be valuable additions to Placer County’s Board of Supervisors.

The new board will be tasked with updating the county’s general plan, which dates back to 1994 — setting a vision and path for the region’s future. DeMattei wants to be “a big voice for water” and an advocate for housing. Having housed 11 families on his farming property, DeMattei also plans to fight for more workforce housing in the region.

“We have the best water in California, and I’d love to keep protecting that,” he said. “I have handled large budgets and been dealing with large labor union contracts since I was 25 years old. It’s important that we make sure that our budget money is put back into the community.”

Running against DeMattei for the District 3 seat are Placer County Republican Party Vice Chair Mike Murray and former Rocklin City Councilman Dave Butler, a public servant who has “worked at the intersection of business, community and government for much of the last 25 years.”

Murray also works as political and outreach director at the American Council, a Placer County-based Christian advocacy group that strives to bring a “Biblical worldview” to local office. A former campaign manager for Congressman Kevin Kiley, Murray declined to participate in an endorsement interview with The Bee’s Editorial Board, describing it as “a political ambush masquerading as a forum.” (The Bee does not endorse candidates who decline to meet with us).

Butler, meanwhile, impressed our board with his record of accomplishments in the Placer County region.

As vice president for public policy at the Sacramento Metro Chamber, Butler helped secure $20 million in state funding to help young people prepare for careers after graduation. He worked on a bipartisan agreement in the early 2000s that secured water access for Placer County and flood protection for Sacramento County. As board chair of the Rocklin Chamber of Commerce, Butler fought to protect and enhance the city’s parks and open spaces. And as district director for State Senator Tim Leslie, he led efforts to preserve the Capitol Corridor Rail Service from elimination by the California Transportation Commission.

However, it’s on issues like homelessness that key differences in leadership styles between Butler and DeMattei become apparent.

To reduce homelessness, Butler proposes that unhoused individuals who access county services or homeless shelters sign “a declaration of independence.”

“Here’s what you’ll do and here’s what the county will do to get you toward independence,” Butler said. But conditioning needed social services on signing a contract could create an artificial barrier to accessing necessary services and may be illegal.

This idea also plainly misses the two-way-street challenge with homelessness, which requires the board of supervisors to build affordable housing to get ahead of homelessness.

By comparison, DeMattei, who got choked up talking about the issue, said homeless people “need help, and we’re not helping them.” He talked about his personal experience trying to help unhoused individuals living in his orchards find shelter — “but there’s not enough shelters.”

Butler said he supports more enforcement efforts to prevent panhandling and public nuisances by homeless people. DeMattei said “sweeping” homeless folks off the street isn’t a solution, and proposed, instead, more services through partnerships with County Health and Human Services. We agree with him that this humane approach is what the county needs.

For all his success, DeMattei exudes humility and a desire to give back to his community that is informed by personal and professional experiences.

If elected, he would be one of just a handful of farmers who serve as supervisors throughout the state — critical voices, especially after years of difficult drought conditions, ongoing water wars and a changing climate.

Importantly, DeMattei plans to strike a delicate balance between careful development — for projects like additional affordable housing — in the county, and the protection of Placer’s beloved rural authenticity.

“People say they wish more places were protected and not turned into housing,” DeMattei said. “With my agriculture and land development experience, I think I can help navigate to make sure we don’t pave over Placer.”