Dodd kicks off his 2004 reelection campaign

Monday, October 13, 2003

By JAY GOETTING
Register Staff Writer

With one big election just completed, attention is beginning to focus on the March 2004 ballot.

Voters will be weighing in on presidential candidates and local measures regarding development along streams and in forests. They will also be casting their ballots for three seats on the five-member county board of supervisors.

Supervisor Bill Dodd has become the first member of the board who is facing re-election to formally announce he will seek another term. The other two supervisors facing the voters will be Mike Rippey and Mark Luce. Both have indicated they will run.

Earlier, former supervisor Harold Moskowite said he will go after the District Five seat held by Rippey. Moskowite is the only potential candidate so far to take out a petition to gather signatures in lieu of paying a filing fee. Dodd kicked off his campaign Thursday evening with nearly 200 people gathered at the Robert Mondavi Winery.

"I want four more years to continue doing what I'm doing," he told the group. Dodd defeated Supervisor Kathryn Winter in 2000. That contest went to a runoff when Sierra Club activist Chris Malan entered the race, forcing what some observers viewed as a divide in the county's environmental constituency.

At his kickoff, Dodd cited some of the county's capital improvements during his tenure as positive accomplishments. The new juvenile hall, the sheriff's office that is under-construction near the airport and the Wolfe Center for drug rehabilitation were examples of the forward progress noted by Dodd. He also said his service on the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and on the negotiating team for the county in its housing talks with Napa and American Canyon will continue to benefit Napa County.

Luce said last week that he will seek his third term. "I'm definitely planning on running," he said.

"I'm not as far along as Bill is." Luce ran unopposed in 2000. Also on the ballot will be Superior Court Judges Richard Bennett and Ron Young. Sitting judges are rarely challenged.

At least five local issues will also appear on March 2. The timber harvest and creek setback measures will appear, along with three Measure J matters dealing with the possible conversion of agriculturally zoned lands. Registrar of Voters John Tuteur said there could be some Upvalley school issues as well, but they remain to be determined.

Three of Dodd's colleagues on the board of supervisors, Rippey, Brad Wagenknecht and Diane Dillon were in attendance at the event. Dodd said the camaraderie the five-member body enjoy bodes well for the county.