By Samuel Strait – Reporter at Large – March 31, 2022 While for the most part Del Norte County is almost never on the Governor's radar, frankly in the higher realm of Sacramento's Lords and Ladies, no one there has realized California extends so far to the North. Hence; it was a shock to learn that Governor Empty Suit, Gavin Newsom, had the strength to raise his scepter to anoint one of the County's Democrats to the position of Supervisor of Del Norte's District Five. Susan Masten, age left blank, after all she is a lady, has been appointed to replace Bob Berkowitz by our lord in Sacramento until the end of 2022. I guess the haste with which Bob's position was hoisted upon the ballot in June has gone for naught. It is not clear whether the position will remain Ms. Masten's should she not make it past the primary in June or the November encounter with the voters. Only time will tell. Ms. Masten has been an active participant in local politics particularly with the Yurok tribe and the Klamath Township for several decades and currently lives in Klamath, California. A graduate of Oregon State University in Liberal Arts, Masten has been a loud voice for Native Americans for years, including time in Washington DC, and the State Capitol. She is listed as the owner of the Steelhead Lodge in Klamath Glen. Much of her claim to fame surrounds her active participation in the "fishing wars" of several decades ago, and she has continued to fight for Native American rights since. Both Chair and Vice Chair of the Yurok tribe from the late nineties until 2015, Masten has had considerable experience in a leadership role in Klamath, but has yet to break through with the voters in the larger arena of the entire County. It is likely that much of this issue stems from having a foot in each of Del Norte and Humboldt Counties. In Del Norte County, Klamath is but a portion of the voting block as many of the Fifth District's voters lie to the south and east of Crescent City proper. Ms Masten's accomplishments have earned her plenty of accolades over the course of her time in both County's. Unless something changes, June will be her first test with the voters in District Five where she faces off with former sheriff, Dean Wilson, David Jones, current member of the Klamath Chamber of Commerce, Dave Markel, resident of the Bertsch Tract, and Terri Colton, who previously sought the seat in 2016. The question now becomes whether or not Hair Gel's appointment was welcome or seen as more interference in local politics, something he hasn't had much interest in unless it is appointing another of his party to fill a vacant position. Whether or not the County's voters have had it with California's Democrats may shortly become plain in the coming primary, Ms. Masten's first test. Accolades are one thing, but Democrat leadership has acquired considerable tarnish over the past year at the Federal level and at the State level as well. Local Democrats have not fared much better….