County supervisor to lead regional council

When Kim Dolbow-Vann was elected to the Colusa County Board of Supervisors four years ago, no one could have predicted how bad things would get in California: a 12 percent unemployment rate and a seemingly endless budget crisis.

But the married 34-year-old Arbuckle native, and mother to 7-year-old Asa, isn't backing down from the challenges of local government.

"I love my job," Vann said Wednesday, as she picked up her paperwork for the June primary. "It is the most fulfilling thing I've ever done in my life."

The challenges, she said, is what keeps her jumping into the fray of state politics time and time again. It's also earned her the nod from the Regional Council of Rural Counties to serve in a leadership position in 2010.

As the county's representative on the board of directors for the Regional Council, Dolbow-Vann's work has earned her the praise of the organization and the seating of her as the second vice chairwoman.

"Kim's colleagues in 30 counties recognize that she works really hard for rural counties, especially Colusa County, and for her constituents in her own district," said Paul A. Smith, a spokesman for the Regional Council. "She's burned a lot of shoe leather at the state Capitol to protect vital programs."

In 2008, Dolbow-Vann was credited with helping a bill through the state Legislature designed to protect 13 rural counties, including Colusa and Glenn, from funding cuts that would have sent the county into a tailspin, Smith said.

As the organization's vice chairwoman of legislation last year, Dolbow-Vann testified at numerous hearings in the state Senate and Assembly. She was heavily involved in water legislation discussions and its affect on the North State, and lobbied extensively for keeping the Williamson Act funds in the state budget.

At the local level, Dolbow-Vann assisted in finalizing development agreements for the Pacific Gas and Electric Co. power plant project and securing the first permanent community college site in Williams.

In her hometown, she's secured funding for Arbuckle downtown redevelopment and helped in fundraising efforts to light the little league field, improve the branch library and downtown revitalization.

Vann said she is looking forward to taking on more responsibility with the Regional Council as a way to better help Colusa County survive state budget cuts and mandates.

Since 1973, the Regional Council has worked to improve the ability of rural county governments to provide services, reduce the burden of state and federal mandates and to promote a "rural" understanding among urban focused policy makers.

"What's amazing is that we can put partisan politics aside to work on issues that impact rural counties," Dolbow-Vann said. "Since most of our members don't have — and can't afford — lobbyists, it can be a tremendous resource."

The Region Council's biggest task, she said, is keeping the state from balancing its budget on the "backs of the local governments," particularly in taking money from state mandated programs, such as health and human services.

"Our board is organized and it is well recognized," Dolbow-Vann said. "They (state legislators) know they are going to see us in the hallway."

Dolbow-Vann's appointed to the second-vice chair position puts her in line to head the organization in two to three years, the first for a Colusa County supervisor.

"Kim's colleagues in the organization are pleased to see that she is taking on a leadership role," Smith said.

The Regional Council will install its new officers during a ceremony and reception in Sacramento on Wednesday.

Contact Susan Meeker at 458-2121 or smeeker@tcnpress.com.