Two apply for Logue's county seat

Applicants interested in the vacancy that will be left by Dan Logue on the Yuba County Board of Supervisors are already showing up in the governor's office, a spokeswoman said Wednesday.

Potential replacements include John Black, Joan Saunders and Katie Ertmer.

Logue, who was elected to the state Assembly 3rd District on Nov. 4, will be sworn in Dec. 1, leaving the community of Linda without representation on the county board.

A spokeswoman from the governor's office said the appointment process is a personnel matter and therefore would not release names of applicants already filed. They would only confirm applications have already been submitted.

The position will be open until it is filled, a process that could take up to six months. A recent vacancy on Colusa County Board of Supervisors took four months to fill.

Black, promotions and community director at KUBA, is among those interested in the position because he wants to help Linda gain a community identity. He said he intends to file his application soon.

"Linda's gotten the short end of the stick," he said. "I'm somebody who looks out for the people."

Though he's not held an elected position before, Black is active in the Yuba-Sutter Toys for Tots, he's helped plan the Olivehurst Christmas Parade and, he says, he's aware of the issues in Linda.

"I've lived here all my life," he said. "There's a lot of great things going on in this community, but I'm also aware of the crime here."

Black said he would work to increase police presence to fight that crime, if chosen by the governor's office.

In order to be appointed to the board, applicants must be a registered voter and reside in District 1.

Saunders, 70, a former Supervisor and member of the Linda County Water Agency, has already turned in her application.

Saunders said she wants to return to the board in order to help the community of Linda get more business and increased police protection.

"I just felt I needed to get involved again," she said. "I've lived here over half my life. It's my home and I want to give back to it."

Saunders served on the board from 1990 to 1994.

Ertmer, 26, a newcomer to politics, said she wants to bring a fresh perspective to the board.

"And maybe a little energy," the Yuba City planner said. "I won't be bogged down by all the old hatchets some other members might have."

She turned her application in on Monday.

Ertmer says her experience as a city planner and her background in land use could help in the county's General Plan Update process. The county is updating its current general plan through 2030.

"I can help with growth management and prioritize how to preserve agricultural land," she said. "And I know how things work at the staff level."

Supervisor Mary Jane Griego said regardless of who joins the board, she's willing to work with someone who has the future interests of Linda and Yuba County in mind.

"We can all sit on the board and say 'yea' or 'nay,' but what it comes down to is the community and what you've done for it," she said. "I generally like to work with people who are working for the community."

Contact Appeal-Democrat re-porter Andrea Koskey at 749-4709 or akoskey@appealdemocrat.com