The Daily Democrat
May 5, 2006

At Issue:
The Democrat endorsement for 3rd District Yolo County Supervisor.

Our Opinion:
Despite his opposition to the acquisition of Conaway Ranch, Woodlander Matt Rexroad is the most capable leader in the race for supervisor.

Of the three candidates pursuing the 3rd District Yolo County supervisor's post, we urge voters to support Matt Rexroad.

Rexroad has served as Woodland mayor for the past two years and as a councilman for four. During those years he has demonstrated excellent leadership skills and an aptitude for dealing with diverse groups, necessary for the sprawling 3rd District.

Not everyone agrees with Rexroad - we are critical of his opposition to the county's efforts at using eminent domain powers to acquire Conaway Ranch - but all respect him for his decisiveness and knowledge. Both are qualifications lacking in the other candidates.

Our chief reason for backing Rexroad, however, lies in his leadership, sadly lacking on the county board.

There are serious issues facing Yolo County, primarily centered around growth, flooding and the ever-shrinking funds coming from the state to fund county services.

While there's no question our current supervisors are knowledgeable about these problems, there is little in the way of innovative ideas coming from them. Our county has been fortunate in that supervisors have - to their credit - selected top-flight administrators, who know their stuff and have provided the intelligence and leadership necessary to run the county.

Characteristically, Rexroad has said that county management ought to be changed to utilize the chief executive officer structure common in business. The change would give more freedom and authority than the current county administrative officer has. That would allow a more efficient organization.

This is the sort of thinking we like to see and is typical of Rexroad. He's not afraid to take risks. For example, when the council couldn't arrive at a majority vote on setting an urban limit line for Woodland, Rexroad put together an initiative - known as Measure A - which calls on citizens to settle the matter. Measure A, although providing for growth, still limits sprawl, preserves agricultural land and will direct development toward infill property. It's a smart plan, which The Democrat supports.

It's true that Rexroad's political consulting firm Meridian Pacific could provide a future conflict, but no more than the conflicts posed by the jobs of other supervisors, past and present.

We urge Woodland voters to cast their ballots for Rexroad when they go to the polls on June 3.