Dodd named chairman of Napa supervisors

Thursday, January 10, 2002

By JAY GOETTING
Register Staff Writer

Bill Dodd is now chairman of the board of supervisors.

The leadership transition was done with ease. But it wasn't always that way, according to supervisors.

The Tuesday switch was much smoother than one would see in Afghanistan, 20-year board veteran Mel Varrelman quipped, but there was a time when electing a new board chairman rivaled a power shift in that troubled country.

Varrelman made the motion that saw Dodd, who represents District 4, take the top post. For the past several years, the chairmanship has rotated according to district.

Dodd would have been chairman in 2001 according to the new system, but waited a year since he had just taken office last year.

District 5's Mike Rippey served as chairman last year instead.

Brad Wagenknecht will serve as vice-chair.

Dodd looked back at his first year in elected office and noted, "at times it gets political."

Dodd commended outgoing chair Rippey for an outstanding job, "even during contentious moments."

The chairman of the Board of Supervisors runs the meetings and signs a mound of paperwork at the conclusion of each session.

While there is no additional power in the position, the chair often represents the board at functions, other meetings and ceremonial events.

That same board leadership was also installed in the several other bodies the five members make up including the Board of Equalization, Napa County Public Improvement Corporation, Housing Authority, Silverado Community Services District, Lake Berryessa Resort Improvement District, the Napa-Berryessa Resort Improvement District and the Monticello Public Cemetery District.