Dear CSAC Members and County Colleagues all over California,

Allow me to take a minute of your time to wish you the brightest of holiday seasons, a very happy New Year, and a 2013 that is full of opportunity, success and service to the people of California.  Personally, I am immensely humbled by the trust you’ve placed in me to serve as your President for the coming year.

Our Immediate Past President, Mike McGowan set the bar exceedingly high. Under his leadership we have enjoyed a strong working relationship with the Governor and Legislature. That is evident in the success we’ve had in implementing AB 109, Public-Safety Realignment and the passage of Proposition 30 that guarantees funding for those services.

I have had the good fortune to work closely with Mike over the past several years, and I will continue to rely heavily on his good counsel in 2013. I know I can also count on our other officers, First Vice President John Gioia and Second Vice President Efren Carrillo, for their support and leadership as we approach another year of challenge and change.

When I became President of CSAC last month I asked that we make 2013 the Year of the Child in California county government. I ask you now again to join me in putting children first as we make important local decisions. I hope you will also join me and the CSAC Staff in continuing to assert our interests at the State Capitol.  More-so than in any other level of government Counties deliver the vital programs and services that keep millions of California’s children healthy, safe, and sheltered. Let us speak from the heart about that as we work with the Governor and the Legislative leadership in 2013.

We are anxiously awaiting the Governor’s budget proposal in January and possibly a special legislative session related to implementing the Affordable Care Act. More than ever, in 2013 it will be imperative that Counties speak with a strong and unified voice. I say that not just to increase CSAC’s political stature. I say it because now, more than ever, California’s children rely on us to speak for them in the halls of power.  So I ask you to join me in making CSAC a stronger more effective voice for them.

I know that County service can be taxing and time consuming. But I also know that CSAC’s strength, unity and clarity of purpose at the Capitol can make all of our jobs at home a little bit easier. Please consider participating more in CSAC and helping us play a larger role in shaping the state policies that inform our work at the local level.

I hope you find time to rest, relax and spend some quality time with friends, family and loved ones over the holidays so that we can all begin the New Year in full stride. The work we do is important, but the job of service begins at home. I thank you again for the trust you have placed in me and I am looking forward to working with you in the coming year on behalf of California’s 58 counties, and the people we serve.