Candidate filing has closed for the Del Norte County Board of Supervisors Primary election.• District 1 1st District Supervisor Darrin Short. Courtesy Photo #placement_573654_0_i{width:100%;max-width:550px;margin:0 auto;}var rnd = window.rnd || Math.floor(Math.random()*10e6);var pid573654 = window.pid573654 || rnd;var plc573654 = window.plc573654 || 0;var abkw = window.abkw || '';var absrc = 'https://ads.empowerlocal.co/adserve/;ID=181918;size=0x0;setID=573654;type=js;sw='+screen.width+';sh='+screen.height+';spr='+window.devicePixelRatio+';kw='+abkw+';pid='+pid573654+';place='+(plc573654++)+';rnd='+rnd+';click=CLICK_MACRO_PLACEHOLDER';var _absrc = absrc.split("type=js"); absrc = _absrc[0] + 'type=js;referrer=' + encodeURIComponent(document.location.href) + _absrc[1];document.write('');Incumbent Darrin Short will run uncontested. Short will begin his second term, January 2, 2025• District 2: 2nd District Supervisor Valerie Starkey. Courtesy Photo Valerie Starkey seeks her second term. Starkey spent her adult career in probation in Sonoma County. She returned home to successfully run for the board in 2020. Starkey shares her vision. “It is with confidence that I assert the community’s desire for enhanced Healthcare accessibility, safer streets and improved road conditions.”Starkey touts her continuous communication with Sutter Coast Hospital and exploring avenues to mental health services. Addressing safer streets, Supervisors Starkey and Dean Wilson formed an ad hoc working group with the sheriff, addressing homelessness issues. Starkey notes her efforts in listening to her constituents and bringing people together. Candidate for Dist. 2, Rivers Drown. Courtesy Photo Rivers Drown cites his life as one of service… “Whether serving my country while in the Navy, as a corrections sergeant at Pelican Bay State Prison, coaching youth sports or serving at my local church.” Drown expresses his concern and alarm that Del Norte is No. 2 (per population ratio) in state opioid overdoses.“It is imperative we put mechanisms in place to greatly reduce illegal narcotics (including fentanyl) from pouring into our community and ruining lives. Theft is out of control. We must attach consequences for those who offend. I envision a county that is not only safe for our residents but safe for our visitors when they come to our beautiful corner of California,” states Drown.• District 5 5th District Supervisor Dean Wilson. Courtesy Photo Dean Wilson is the Incumbent 5th District supervisor. Wilson is serving the balance of the Bob Berkowitz’ term through January 1, 2025. Berkowitz passed away in office three years ago. Wilson defeated Sue Masten following the passing of Berkowitz in a special election in 2022.Retired Del Norte Sheriff Wilson seeks re-election for his own four-year term. Wilson cites crime and homeless camps as high priority challenges. Wilson touts the recent $10.8 million state allocation to develop programs designed to limit homeless encampments to select locations.“I’m running because I know what work has been done and what work still needs to be accomplished in order to find solutions to our issues,” states Wilson. Candidate for Dist. 5, Linda Sutter. Courtesy Photo Linda Sutter self-identifies as an investigative reporter and states she’s running because the county is facing challenges in the areas of commercial and sport fishing, pension liability, lack of law enforcement services, economic blight and a lack of medical services. Sutter states there is a serious lack of transparency and accountability.“The consent agenda is rubber stamped approved without informing the public what is going on,” says Sutter, who vows, if elected, will not vote for any new taxes.Sutter along with Donna Westfall were recently recognized by the Howard Jarvis property tax lobby group as tax fighters of the year in California.Heather Polen, Community navigator, True North advocacy group is running for the board of supervisors in District 5. Polen issued the following statement: “I’m running for office because I believe our county can do better…I’m tired of a political system that lacks common sense and ordinary kindness. I’m worried about the lack of true fiscal responsibility and sound, transparent, long-term budgetary planning. In my (Dist. 5) neighborhood, we face real issues on housing affordability, crime, lack of healthcare, road maintenance, good jobs and food insecurity. I’m worried about the growing poverty rate among our elderly population.My commitment is to bring effective, inclusive accountable leadership that truly represents the needs of every citizen.The primary election date is Tuesday, March 5. Absentee ballots will be sent out approximately two weeks before the election. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('ad-1515727'); });