Clay Romero of Willits, a machinist who campaigned unsuccessfully for the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors in 2022, is making a second run for the District 3 seat.
Romero was defeated by Supervisor John Haschak, who is not seeking re-election in June.
District 3 covers the region including Covelo, Laytonville, and Willits.
Romero, who has lived in Mendocino County since he was 14, attended Laytonville High School. He moved to Willits in 1979, where he has lived for 47 years.
“I would like to approach this job in a way that helps people feel more unified,” Romero said in an interview with The Mendocino Voice.
He said one of his priorities would be improving meeting decorum and ensuring that community members feel heard at county meetings.
“When people come to a Board of Supervisors meeting, I want them to feel welcomed and listened to,” he said.
If elected, Romero said his priorities would be those things he believes are most important to the community: public safety, economic stability, environmental cleanliness, freedom for residents to pursue business and other projects, and fairness in how community members are treated.
“I know the world isn’t fair, and I get that,” Romero said. “It’s really important to treat people fairly. It should be obvious; you want people to understand that they’re being heard and considered.”
Romero said he would like to see the business application process become smoother for entrepreneurs in the region.
“I’d like to see that when someone goes to take out a permit, to build a house or start a business, the county actually shows a vested interest in their success,” Romero said.
“When people put money down to get a permit, that money usually just goes into the county’s bank account. I wonder if people would appreciate it more if the county didn’t get the money until all the permit requirements are met.”
Romero, who said he has written a book of poems, said his hobbies include tap dancing.
He said that he is also passionate about helping his local community.
“It just kills me when people are so divided over all kinds of things,” he said. “I know people will disagree on many issues, but at the end of the day, we are neighbors first. Let’s focus on the things we agree on so we can do good for this county.”
The election that could decide the District 3 supervisor seat will be held June 2 during California’s statewide primary. If no candidate receives a majority of votes, the top two vote-getters will advance to the general election in November.