Sierra County Supervisors Split Vote on Anti-Prop 50 Resolution

SIERRA COUNTY — At Today’s meeting of the Sierra County Board of Supervisors, Supervisor Sharon Dryden (Sierra Brooks) introduced a resolution urging voters to oppose Proposition 50. The proposition, currently being voted on throughout the state via mailed ballots before the November 4 election date, seeks to redraw California’s congressional districts with the goal of increasing the number of seats in the U.S. House of Representatives held by Democrats. The measure responds to similar redistricting in the state of Texas favoring Republicans.

The resolution introduced on Tuesday states that Proposition 50 would “marginalize rural voices by creating districts dominated by urban areas, diluting the ability of rural communities to secure fair and equitable representation.” The resolution argues that rural counties, including Sierra County, face significant underrepresentation in state and federal policy-making, and the redrawn districts would have “detrimental impacts on rural representation and community integrity.”

Dryden said she was compelled to introduce the item due to a large volume of correspondence regarding the proposition. She clarified that the item was originally meant to be introduced at the supervisors’ meeting on October 7. However, because the meeting was in Downieville and within 100 feet of a polling place, discussing the issue would have violated state electioneering laws. Plumas County also ran up against the same restriction and had to pull a similar resolution opposing Proposition 50 from its agenda due to electioneering concerns.

Dryden motioned to approve the resolution, and a second came from Supervisor Paul Roen (Sierraville), who said he had also received significant support for such a resolution. Supervisor Terry LeBlanc (Loyalton) pushed back, saying, “As far as I’m concerned, we represent all the people of Sierra County, whether they’re for it or against it. So my feeling is that they can go to the polls like I did… And I voted against it myself personally, but that’s just me. My feeling is that we represent the people of the county, and it should be up to the individual.”

Dryden and Roen voted in favor of approving the resolution, while LeBlanc and Board Chair Lee Adams voted against. Supervisor Lila Heuer was absent, so the vote was split 2-2 and no action could be taken. Although the resolution could come back before the Board, its next meeting is on election day and back at the Downieville courthouse, where electioneering laws take effect. In a statement to The Messenger, Heuer said she would have voted “yes” on the resolution.

Correction: An earlier version of this article stated that Lila Heuer would have voted “no” to the resolution before the board. After a call clarifying what vote we were asking about, Heuer confirmed that she would have voted “yes” to the resolution at the meeting.