Statement From Colusa County Administrative Officer Wendy Tyler Regarding Governor Newsom’s Visit

Colusa County is deeply disappointed that Governor Gavin Newsom chose to visit our community as part of his statewide tour of "red" counties without coordinating with local officials. This visit, which was conducted without any meaningful engagement or collaboration, missed an important opportunity to have a true dialogue about the real issues affecting rural California voters.

In 2019, the Colusa County Board of Supervisors formally invited Governor Newsom to visit our region to engage directly with local stakeholders on critical issues such as water management, agriculture, and economic development, among others. Despite the Board's proactive outreach, we never received a response. It is disheartening that the Governor has now chosen to visit under the guise of dialogue, but without any effort to engage those of us who represent and serve the people of Colusa County.

This visit, assembled hurriedly and conducted without transparency or coordination, does not reflect the values of collaboration and mutual respect that are essential for addressing the challenges facing rural communities. Instead, it appears to have been more about optics than substance-resulting in a missed opportunity to work together on issues that matter most to our residents.

If Governor Newsom is genuinely interested in fostering constructive dialogue with Colusa County, we would welcome the opportunity to host him for a meaningful conversation with local leaders, including representatives from the County, water districts, agricultural community, business sector, and other local stakeholders. Together, we could address the pressing concerns of our residents and identify practical solutions to the unique challenges of rural California.

We remain committed to advocating for the people of Colusa County and look forward to a future opportunity for genuine collaboration with the Governor and his administration.

Wendy Tyler

Colusa County Administrative Officer

-###-