FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE—Release No. 001
Contact: Stephen or Suzanne Mikesell— 758-0223 or 757-2521

Accompanied by his wife, surrounded by friends and supporters, and standing on the Yolo County farmland he has pledged to protect and preserve, Yolo County Supervisor Dave Rosenberg made it official, announcing today that he would run for re-election to the Board of Supervisors.

"I've worked hard to serve my constituents and to preserve the good farmland and open space we all cherish in this County," said Rosenberg in making his campaign announcement. "I enjoy this job entrusted to me by the people, and hope to continue to work on the public's business."

The dramatic backdrop for Rosenberg's announcement was an agricultural field in the area between Davis and Woodland. Rosenberg, who represents both Davis and Woodland, has made the preservation of farmland a central theme during his first term of office as a Yolo County Supervisor. In particular, he has stressed the creation of urban limit lines meant to preserve agricultural land between Davis and Woodland.

During his announcement, Rosenberg noted that he has spent the last nine months discussing his potential re-election with his constituents. "Frankly, I was overwhelmed with the outpouring of support and the encouragement to stand for re-election," said Rosenberg. "Some 600 regional leaders and local residents have already endorsed me for re-election, reflecting the breadth and diversity of my community. I've never enjoyed this level of support, and it tells me that I'm doing right by people. I intend to respond by placing my name before the voters in the March 7 election and asking for their support for another four-year term of duty."

Rosenberg has a reputation as a hard-working and a high-energy supervisor. During his three years on the Board of Supervisors, he has never missed a meeting or a vote of the Board. This comes on the heels of 12 consecutive years on a city council where he never missed a meeting or a vote. This unprecedented 15-year perfect voting record has earned Rosenberg the title of "Iron Man" of local government.

In announcing his re-election bid, Rosenberg highlighted his accomplishments during his first term in office, and also looked to the future if selected for a second term in office.

During his first term, Rosenberg identified the following 10 major accomplishments: (1) Opening Yolo County Government up to the public. Rosenberg emphasized the fact that Board meetings are now (on his recommendation) telecast on cable television, the new county newsletter provided to members of the public, his cable TV show "YoloTalk" which explores different aspects of county government, and his regular office hours for the public. (2) Preservation of agricultural land. "I'm proud that Yolo County is recognized as California's leader in preserving farmland," said Rosenberg. Ninety-five per cent of Yolo County is zoned for agricultural uses. (3) Ensuring the county's financial stability. Rosenberg highlighted the restructuring of county investment policies which removed county investments from foreign banks and placed them in U.S. based investments, and the fact that Yolo County now has a $1 million reserve, complying with a pledge Rosenberg made in the last election. (4) Moving Yolo County technologically into the 21st Century. (5) Promoting and enhancing the environment. Rosenberg pointed specifically to the new technologies used at the county's landfill and his work protecting the wetlands and wildlife in the Yolo Bypass. As a member of the Yolo-Solano Air Quality management District board, Rosenberg was instrumental in negotiating the largest fine against a polluter in the district's history. (6) Making public safety a top priority of the Board of Supervisors. Rosenberg noted the creation of Criminal Justice Cabinet, new law enforcement positions created, and the new facilities for the district attorney. (7) Stimulation of Yolo County's economy. Rosenberg initiated Yolo County's first Economic Summit and is Chair of the county's Economic Development Council. "Our goal is to provide good jobs for everyone in this county and increase our prosperity," said Rosenberg. (8) Focus on children's issues. Rosenberg was the driving force behind the county's first Children's Summit. This summit allowed hundreds of service providers to work together to find better ways to serve children in need and children at risk. (9) Restructuring of County Government. Under Rosenberg's watch, Yolo County Government has undergone massive reorganizations and mergers. Eight departments have been combined into four. New leadership, including Yolo County's first Hispanic County Administrative Officer, have moved Yolo County forward. (10) Ensuring that Yolo County employees receive adequate compensation for their work. "It makes no sense to train employees only to lose them to other counties that pay higher wages," said Rosenberg. "Morale of the county team has improved on my watch."

Looking to the future, Rosenberg said he would focus on the following: (1) Develop a new Woodland-Davis bike path. (2) Bring a new tomato processing plant to the county. (3) Implement his "GreenLine Plan" to create urban limit lines for the cities in Yolo County. (4) Fight the proposed (530) area code change. (5) Double the size of Grassland Regional Park from 320 acres to 640 acres. (6) Build a new juvenile hall in Yolo County. (7) Develop a South Davis Branch of the Yolo County Library, serving South and East Davis, Willowbank and El Macero. (8) Work with UCD to develop a new hotel-conference center on campus. (9) Move the county landfill into broader use of new technologies, including the production and sale of energy (electricity) from methane. Perhaps sell the energy to the proposed Davis Municipal Utility District. (10) Develop a Peer Court for Yolo County, where teens can help other teens who run into trouble in the criminal justice system.

Additionally, Rosenberg pledged to work with other supervisors throughout California to restore funding shifts that have taken local tax dollars and shifted them to the State. "If we can recover even a portion of these shifted funds," said Rosenberg, "we can start investing in the infrastructure, roads, and buildings we need for the future."

Rosenberg also noted several local projects he will continue to work on including the development of a new water system for Willowbank, odor issues confronting his constituents in the Southeast area of Woodland, street overlays and median maintenance in El Macero and the like.

Rosenberg, 53, was first elected to the Yolo County Board of Supervisors in 1996 and was sworn into office on January 6, 1997. He served as Chairman of the Board in his first year in office, and he currently serves as Chairman of the Yolo County Economic Development Council and as Co-Chairman of the Yolo County Criminal Justice Cabinet. Rosenberg also serves on the Board of Directors of the Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District, and as Board liaison to the Diversity Advisory Committee, the Area 4 Agency on Aging, and the Arts Council. He is also one of the Board's liaisons to the University of California at Davis, the City of Davis, and the Judiciary. Rosenberg also serves as an appointee of the California Speaker of the Assembly to the California Council on Criminal Justice and as an appointee of the Governor of California to the State Lottery Commission. Locally, he serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the Yolo Basin Foundation (educating the public about the wetlands and wildlife in the Bypass) and as a member of the Advisory Committee to the Yolo Land Trust (protecting and preserving agricultural land).

Supervisor Rosenberg represents the very diverse and large Fourth District on the Board of Supervisors, encompassing North, South and East Davis, the Olive Drive Neighborhood, the Royal Oaks Mobile Home Park, El Macero, Willowbank, and the Southeast Area of Woodland. His District borders Solano County to the South, the Deep Water Channel to the East, Woodland to the North, and Highway 113 to the West. The Fourth District is, by far, the most populous of the five supervisorial districts in Yolo County, and is the second largest geographically.

Dave Rosenberg has been married to Lea Rosenberg for over 30 years. They have two adult children, Jason (27) and Janis (21) and one grandson, Jonathon (2). Dave Rosenberg holds a B.S. (Journalism) from Cal Poly and a J.D. (Law) from UCD. He is a commissioned officer veteran of the U.S. Army, having served on active duty in Europe as a Special Services Officer in the Adjutant General's Corps. The Rosenbergs moved to Yolo County in 1971. They have been active in Yolo County, Davis and Woodland for decades. Lea was selected Davis Citizen of the Year in 1991 and has served as President of the Davis Arts Center, the Davis PTA Council, and the Davis School Arts Foundation among many community organizations. She is currently active in support of the Soroptimists and All Things Right & Relevant (a non-profit organization benefiting 12 county mental health organizations). Dave has served three consecutive terms as a member of the Davis City Council and served two terms as Mayor of Davis. Dave is in his first term on the Board of Supervisors. He currently assists numerous community organizations as auctioneer during fundraising events.

"I enjoy working for folks as a county supervisor," said Rosenberg. "Frankly, I enjoy cutting the red tape for people and making sure government works FOR the people, not AGAINST them. I look forward to continued service to the folks who live with me in the Fourth District."

Paid for by Friends of Dave Rosenberg, ID# 950270
Mariko Yamada, Campaign Manager. Vic Bucher, Treasurer
Please send contributions to "Friends of Dave Rosenberg", Post Office Box One, Davis, CA 95617