Napa County Board of Supervisors Endorses Proposition 50
The Napa County Board of Supervisors voted 4-0 on Tuesday to endorse Proposition 50 on the Nov. 4 ballot, citing the importance of Napa residents having a voice in California’s redistricting process and advocating for election fairness nationally.
Supervisor Belia Ramos, who sponsored the board resolution to inform Napa County voters about the upcoming special election, in which the Prop 50 redistricting measure is the only item on the ballot, noted during the hearing that national partisanship has already cost Napa at least $36 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster relief and preparedness funding.
“Proposition 50 protects fairness in representation and strengthens the voice of our communities. Here in Napa County, we know the importance of making sure every person — from our vineyard workers to our small business owners, families, and seniors — is counted and heard. Prop 50 is about transparency, accountability, and ensuring that politics doesn’t outweigh people,” Ramos said.
Supervisor Joelle Gallagher noted that Prop 50 is different from how the state of Texas redistricted its Congressional map because “in California, the voters will decide instead of politicians.”
Supervisor Liz Alessio noted that the measure will “ensure that the voice of Napa County residents reaches that House of Representatives.”
Board Vice Chair Amber Manfree noted before the vote that “California didn’t choose this fight, but we can make a difference nationally.”
The vote followed a rally to support Prop 50 on Monday in which more than 100 supporters including Congressmember Mike Thompson, State Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire, Supervisors Ramos, Gallagher and Manfree, and dozens of Democratic Party and labor union leaders came together to express their support for the measure and for Supervisor Ramos’s resolution.
A video of yesterday’s rally is available here.
“We all have to do everything we can to make sure Prop. 50 passes. People are trying to rig elections nationally and we can’t let that happen” Rep. Thompson said. “The livelihoods of everyday working men and women are at stake.”
