Napa mayor latest to consider run for supervisor

By JILLIAN JONES
Register Staff Writer

Napa Mayor Jill Techel is considering a run for Napa County supervisor next year in what could shape up to be at least a three-way battle with incumbent Brad Wagenknecht and former Napa Police Chief Dan Monez.

“I’ve thought maybe somewhere down the line, when I’m done being mayor, I’d be interested in doing that,” said Techel, who still has three years left in her term. But she noted that she lives in District 1, which is Wagenknecht’s district, and that the seat comes up for election in 2010. “I’ve said I will explore it, but that’s about as far as I am right now.”

Techel, 61, said numerous people have approached her about running for supervisor in District 1 —  which includes Carneros, west Napa, Browns Valley and Mount Veeder — but she said discussions are “way preliminary.”

“I think right now I’m enjoying what’s happening with the city of Napa,” she said. “On the other hand, there’ve been people coming to me that have said, ‘You’ve shown good leadership at the city; would you consider moving that over to the county?’”

Techel declined to say specifically who has approached her about the election. She noted only that they have been “a mix of people,” including business people and residents who would like to see improved relations between the city and the county.

“People are checking to see who the candidates might be out there,” Techel said, adding that the same people who approached her might have approached other potential candidates as well.

Wagenknecht said he is surprised to hear Techel is considering a campaign against him, but he is good-natured about the challenge.

“The job of supervisor is a great job; I didn’t know it was that great,” he said. “I’ve very much have enjoyed Jill’s leadership on the city, and I’m surprised. I’d heard that Dan (Monez) was thinking about it, but I had not heard that Jill was.”

Techel said she will wait until she makes a final decision before she unveils her campaign platform. She did say that, if elected, she would seek to improve city-county relations and to place housing in cities rather than in unincorporated county areas.

Techel said she would maintain her current position on the mixed-use development proposed at the former Napa Pipe site. Located in south Napa County just outside Napa city limits, the project has been a hot-button issue for both county and city officials, with the city pushing for jurisdiction over the project.

“No matter where I would sit, I feel that, philosophically, that it would be an issue that (should be) looked at within the city,” Techel said. “Growth really needs to happen in the incorporated areas.”

Techel also looks favorably on the controversial eco-village proposed in Angwin. She called the eco-village a “well thought out project” and said she would be “thrilled if a developer came to Napa with a project like that.”

As for whether the residential development is appropriate for the rural Angwin town, Techel said, “I haven’t sat with that lens on to look at it … (but) I do think we have to share housing Upvalley and downvalley.”

Techel, a Republican, moved up to mayor five years ago after two terms on the Napa City Council. Wagenknecht, a Democrat and slow-growth advocate, has also served on the Napa City Council and held his seat as supervisor for 11 years.

Monez is also considering a campaign for the supervisor in District 1. A Republican, Monez has said he would represent a moderate voice on the board.

Race may form in Upvalley

Meanwhile, the race may be heating up in District 3 represented by Supervisor Diane Dillon.

Michael Haley, an Upvalley vineyard owner and president of the Napa Valley Taxpayers Alliance, said he is considering a campaign against Dillon, who has represented the large — and often tumultuous — Upvalley district for two terms.

“I want to do it,” he said, “but I don’t want to do it unless I feel like I have a reasonable chance of winning.”

Haley said he will make a decision in the next two weeks.

Haley, 55, said he would represent a different voice on the board with regard to growth than Dillon, a Democrat who — like Wagenknecht — traditionally votes according to a slow-growth philosophy.

“You could end up killing the goose that laid the golden egg by trying too hard to control everything,” Haley said, adding that the need for affordable housing in Napa County could be the Agricultural Preserve’s Achilles heel.

“I’m concerned that we could become so rigid and so ‘nothing but grapes’ that we could end up through the backdoor hurting the Ag Preserve,” Haley said. “The Ag Preserve includes some development rights. We need that because people have other needs besides growing grapes. People need a place to live.”

Dillon said that her slow-growth votes have always adhered to the General Plan, which is dedicated to preserving agriculture.

“I think that if we were going beyond the dictates of the General Plan, then there could be some merit to that statement,” Dillon said. “But I don’t see that this board is behaving in any way that is not just purely within the spirit of the General Plan.”

Dillon said she stands on her record, and challenges Haley to offer up specific examples in which she has voted out of accordance with the General Plan.

“If he wants to engage in that dialogue, that’s great,” she said.

After growth, Haley said he would also run on a platform of fiscally conservative planning.

“Our government revenues in California are going to go down, and they are going to go down a lot,” Haley said. “I have the strength and willingness to make the cuts that need to be made.” In particular, Haley said the county must cut the salaries of its most expensive employees and deal with what he says is an out-of-control pension system.

Haley has lived in Napa County for the last six years and owns a vineyard in the unincorporated area just south of Yountville. Before his current position as president of the loosely organized Napa Valley Taxpayers Alliance, Haley served on the board of the Napa Valley Land Stewards Alliance. A registered Republican, Haley said he plans to re-register as an independent.

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