Introducing Napa County’s first all-female Board of Supervisors
Left to right: Joelle Gallagher, Belia Ramos, Liz Alessio, Anne Cottrell and Amber Manfree.
Napa County Facebook Photo
Napa has made history as the second county in California, following Los Angeles in 2020, to have an all-female Board of Supervisors. New members Amber Manfree and Liz Alessio joined incumbents Belia Ramos, Joelle Gallagher and Anne Cottrell on the board officially earlier this month at a swearing-in ceremony.
The newly composed board had its first meeting last week and is slated to have its second this Tuesday where they will cover issues including the creation of an Ad Hoc Committee on Community Inclusivity. The meetings and topic agendas are open to the public online and in person.
But what exactly is the role of county supervisors and how is the board adjusting?
To understand the board’s impact, it’s important to know how each district is represented.
Gallagher, elected in 2022, represents District 1, which covers most of the city of Napa and surrounding areas of Browns Valley. Anne Cottrell, elected the same year, is in charge of District 3, covering the upper valley including Yountville, St. Helena and Calistoga.
Belia Ramos, elected in 2016, and the first and only Latina so far to be on the Board of Supervisors, represents District 5, overseeing the city of American Canyon, Coombsville and the Avenues and the County Industrial Area.
Districts 2 and 4 will be represented by the newest elected members. Alessio (D2) will serve northwestern Napa, including Browns Valley, while Manfree (D3) will cover northeastern Napa and the Lake Berryessa area.
“There is a lot of energy in the office this first week,” Gallagher told Napa Valley News Group. “Supervisors and new board aides are discussing, learning and questioning.”
The role of a county supervisor is complex and obscure, making it understandable that even supervisors themselves may need guidance at first.
“The Napa County Board of Supervisors is the primary governing body responsible for legislative and executive functions within the county,” according to the county website. They serve as the main authority for making laws (legislative) and managing county operations (executive).
As a legislative body, the board creates and passes local ordinances, approves the county budget, and determines how funds are allocated for public services such as safety, infrastructure and social programs.
On the executive side, the board oversees county operations by managing departments like health services, public works and law enforcement while ensuring policies are effectively implemented. Additionally, the board appoints key officials, such as the chief administrative officer (CAO), who help manage the county’s daily operations.
In essence, the Board of Supervisors makes the rules for Napa County and ensures they are enforced while overseeing public services and resources for the community’s benefit.
“The county is a big ship and we essentially help steer the ship,” Cottrell told NVNG. She is focused on community resilience, “from fire resilience to making sure that our kids, elderly and immigrants and all are thriving.”
Board members serve four-year terms, with no term limits, according to the county website. Ramos, the longest-serving current supervisor, told NVNG that one of her top priorities is to “continue to expand on innovative ways to address the community’s growing demand for behavioral health.
“Lead with your heart,” she added. “The result is bringing your most authentic self to the table where decisions are made for all.”
While the board’s jurisdiction over municipal services, like land use and roads, is limited to unincorporated areas, its authority extends countywide for services such as Corrections, and Health and Human Services.
Manfree, who has a background in natural resource management and is an environmental scientist, hopes to “increase transparency in governance,” during her first term she said via email. “…if you are from an underrepresented community, no one is going to hand you power. You have to go out and get it.”
To attend Board of Supervisors meetings, submit public comments, or review the agenda, visit the county website.
