Engagement Strategy

Develop Relationships with Elected Officials & County Staff

• Bridget Powers (at large seat) sites on the Sacremento, Placer County, and City of Auburn Economic Development boards and has potential to be a good ally.
• Commissioners Daniel Woodward, Nathan Herzog, and Robyn Dahlgren oversee the majority of the project footprint in their districts.
• Nathan Herzog has a vested interest in secondary education and is the Dean the School of Education at William Jessup University.
• Robyn Dahlgren is a member of the Placer chapter of 100+ Women Who Care which provides financial support to local non-profit agencies. She could be a good resource for to partner with regarding community giving needs in the region. 
• Anthony DeMattei (Loomis) is a member of the Placer County Farm Bureau Board and has voiced concerns regarding development and land use taking away farm land in the region. 

• Appointed in 2022
• Auburn resident
• served 3 terms as the mayor of Auburn
• 13 years as an Auburn city council member
• 4 years as an Auburn Planning Commission member
• Professional affiliations include the Sacramento Area Commerce of Government, Placer County Economic Development Board, City of Auburn Economic Development Board and Auburn Airport Business Park Association

• Reappointed in 2021
• Lives in Auburn 
• Worked at the U.S. Forest Service prior to Placer County Planning Commission appointment
• Bachelor’s degree in Forest Management at Colorado State University

• Appointed in 2021
• Served in the U.S. Air Force, where he served as a pilot and general officer
• Recently retired as Vice President of General Dynamics information systems
• Voted yes to provide the Board of Supervisors with a recommendation to extend the conditional use permit of the Placer Government Center homeless shelter this year

• Reappointed in 2021
• A resident of Meadow Vista and a managing partner of A&J Farms in the Sutter Basin
• 50 years of experience in environmental, community and transportation planning

• Appointed in 2021
• Placer County resident for 25 years
• Two children attend Del Oro High School
• Owns and operates Highland Orchard, a mandarin orchard
• Member of the Placer County Farm Bureau Board
• Served on the Placer Union High School Agriculture Advisory Committee, Del Oro High School Agriculture Committee and Sierra College Agriculture Advisory Committee
• Potential for land use concerns

• Dean of the School of Education at William Jessup University
• Award-winning educator
• Doctorate in philosophy from Capella University and also holds a master’s degree in multicultural education
• Athens’ project footprint falls predominantly in Herzog’s region, District 2.

• Reappointed in 2022
• 25 years of public sector consulting experience
• Served on the Roseville City Council from 2012 to 2018
• Serves as a Court Appointed Special Advocate with Placer CASA representing children in family court 
• Member of the Placer chapter of 100+ Women Who Care which provides financial support to local non-profit agencies.
• Small portions of the southern-most bounds of the Athens Solar Project footprint may fall into Dahlgren’s region, District 1

• Bonnie Gore (Roseville) shows a concerted interest in economic development and education access across the county.
• Robert Weygandt (Lincoln, Sheridan, Rocklin) served on the Placer Legacy program, an open space plan that “preserves the diversity of plant and animal communities in the County and addresses a variety of other open space needs, from agriculture and recreation to urban edges and public safety.” Recommend asking identified allies if the plans agenda can work hand in hand with the solar project or will create opposition before approaching Robert directly. 
• Shanti Landon (Lincoln, Sheridan, Rocklin) is running for Supervisor and identities is fiscally conservative while supporting balanced growth and development. Her growth and development priorities align perfectly with large scale solar but we would need to test the waters to ensure she feels the same way.
• Jim Holmes (Loomis) claims that his greatest goals during the term of office are to preserve and protect the agricultural heritage of the county.
• Suzanne Jones (Placer) is dedicated to educational programs for early childhood education and community schools and served on the California County Boards of Education (CCBE).
• Cindy Gustafson (Auburn) has a background in real estate and worked full-time for Perini Land Development, a construction and real estate development firm. While with the Tahoe City Public Utility District, Cindy secured and administered $30 million in grant funding for a variety of capital projects including bike trails, sidewalks, water and sewer system upgrades, community buildings, public parks, beaches, and environmental restoration projects.

• Served on the Roseville City Council from 2012 to 2018, including time as Vice Mayor and Mayor.
• Her focus is on economic development, fiscal sustainability, public safety, and positive collaboration between local jurisdictions.
• Represents the County on multiple committees, including South Placer Wastewater Authority JPA, Western Placer Waste Management Authority, California State Association of Counties (CSAC), and the Greater Sacramento Economic Council.
• Serves as Chair for the Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG) for 2021.
• Active member of the Roseville Chamber of Commerce, twice chairing the Chamber’s regional economic development event.
• Founding chair of the Lighthouse Counseling and Family Resource Center and served on the Roseville City Schools Foundation Board.
• Currently serves as a Trustee for William Jessup University.

• Member of the Placer County Board of Supervisors since 1995.
• Recently re-elected to his seventh four-year term.
• Bachelor's and master's degrees in finance and management from the University of Southern California. 
• Served as a county planning commissioner, member of the county economic development board, and community college instructor. 
• Involved in Placer Legacy program to protect land, water, and open space within the county.

• Running for Supervisor.
• Identifies as fiscally conservative while supporting balanced growth and development.
• Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from California State University, Sacramento. 
• Worked as a freelance journalist and contributor to the Huffington Post. 
• District Director to Placer County Supervisor Robert Weygandt, where she focuses on policy analysis and development, constituent relations, and coordinates with various local officials and departments on County issues. 
• Board member at Lighthouse Counseling & Family Resource Center, a Rotarian, and a member of Assemblyman Kevin Kiley’s Civic Advisory Committee.
• An adoptive mom of four children from foster care; passionate about helping meet the needs of kids living in the foster care system.

• Elected in 2005 and serving his 4th term. 
• Represents the 3rd District, including a portion of North Auburn, Ophir, Newcastle, Penryn, Loomis, and the majority of Rocklin.
• Claims that his greatest goals during the term of office are to preserve and protect the agricultural heritage of the county and insure quality, customer-friendly government services.
• Attended local schools, graduated from Placer High School and Sierra College. He has a bachelor’s degree in political science from Humboldt State University.

• Ran for State Assembly in 2016.
• Elected to the Placer County Board of Supervisors in March 2020.
• Served four back-to-back terms on the Placer County Board of Education
• Served on the Policy Advisory Committee, the California School Boards Association (CSBA) Legislative Committee, the California County Boards of Education (CCBE) Legislative Committee as trustee (including one year as the committee chair).
• Dedicated to educational programs for early childhood education, special education, alternative education, community schools, and juvenile court schools.
• Bachelor’s degree in Human Biology, with a minor in Chemistry from California State University, Sacramento.
• Received a Juris Doctor from Lincoln Law School of Sacramento and is a current member of the California State Bar Association. 
• Past years of service include working for the Department of the Army in the Accounting Division, Transportation Division, The Army Criminal Investigation Division in the United States and Europe; and, for the Office of the Program Manager in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. 

• Appointed to the Board of Supervisors in 2019.
• Moved to North Lake Tahoe in 1983.
• Was a part-time Field Aide to then Placer County Supervisor Mike Fluty before becoming a full-time employee for Perini Land Development.
• Worked at the Tahoe City Public Utility District for 26 years.
• She secured and administered $30 million in grant funding for bike trails, sidewalks, water and sewer system upgrades, community buildings, public parks, beaches, and environmental restoration projects.
• Served on the California Fish and Game Commission.
• CEO of the North Lake Tahoe Resort Association and North Tahoe Chamber, until she was appointed as the District 5 Supervisor for Placer County.
• Chaired the Marine Life Protection Act Blue Ribbon Task Force, charged with developing recommendations for protecting the State’s waters along the North Coast of California.
• Volunteered for a number of departments and commissions, including transportation, education, environmental stewardship, economic development and land use.

• Appointed after the dismissal of Todd Leopold over harassment charges on June 3, 2022
• Became Assistant County Executive officer in 2019
• Previous City Administrative officer City of Redmond, WA.2001-2018
• Established Washington Tech Cities Coalton
• Held senior positions working in policy analysis, land use planning, community development, and project management with the cities of Sacramento, Coronado and Redondo Beach

• Newsome oversees the public facilities in Placer County
• Other than the former County Executive Officer Newsom is the County employee quoted most in information on the solar panels being used by the county.
• Panels are part of county’s sustainability plan approved by the Supervisors in 2020. 

Economic Development Outreach