News Blog

News Blog

Jane Parker Launches Campaign for Reelection

Going against the grain could become a defining narrative of County Supervisor Jane Parker's bid for reelection, announced Thursday at the Seaside Oldemeyer Center. "When you're challenging the status quo, sometimes you stand by yourself," Parker said. "Having one or two votes on an issue is not enough to prevail."

While opponent Byrl Smith's campaign is framing Parker as a "no" vote on the Board of Supervisors, Parker's supporters say her outlying votes on controversial issues, like the Monterey-Salinas Transit headquarters plan on the former Fort Ord and the water purchase agreements that would've made the now-defunct Regional Water Project viable, are what they want from a representative.

Marina Mayor Bruce Delgado introduced Parker by saying, "Although she's not status quo, she can stand up to the status quo when it's appropriate."

"If I were a 4th-district voter, I’d be disappointed that my supervisor never wins," says Smith's campaign manager, Rick Taylor of L.A.-based Dakota Communications.

Parker highlighted a focus on government transparency and accountability in her record, and identified her upcoming priorities as securing a water supply for the Peninsula, updating Fort Ord's base reuse plan and securing a funding source for the veterans' cemetery, job creation and gang violence prevention.

"I'm looking at ways we can bring growth and development in a thoughtful way," Parker said, identifying the Dunes development in Marina and East Garrison housing as projects that are already entitled that she supports. "We have developments that are waiting to be built, when there is any market for new housing and commercial space," she added.

Smith's campaign plans to focus on job creation as well. Parker avoided negative remarks about Smith, but supporter Helen Rucker, a longtime Seaside activist and Monterey Peninsula Unified School District board member, criticizes Smith for seeking support from outside the district. "Your list of contributors tells us how you're going to vote," she says, referring to Smith's endorsement list which includes interests from broad areas of the Peninsula and the Salinas Valley. "[Parker] is one of us now and we'll listen to her. When people from the outside come in we don't listen to them."