MONTEREY COUNTY — Monterey County Supervisor Chris Lopez was installed as the chair of the Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC), a service organization that champions policies on behalf of its 40 member counties.
Lopez, who represents South Monterey County in District 3, took the Oath of Office on Jan. 17 as administered by State Sen. John Laird and will lead the advocacy organization throughout 2024.
“RCRC serves a critical role for rural counties in California, promoting a greater understanding of the unique challenges our communities face,” Lopez said. “This will undoubtedly be a year of difficult moments for all Californians. With budget deficits at the state level and a deeply divided congress in D.C., I believe our collective work is more important than ever to make sure our rural communities and their issues remain prioritized. From property insurance and wildfire prevention to broadband deployment and water resiliency, and the most basic questions about funding of road infrastructure, we stand ready to partner for solutions.”
RCRC’s Board of Directors is headed by four officers composed of elected county supervisors from the organization’s 40 member counties. Monterey County has been a member of RCRC since 2019.
Joining Lopez on the leadership team are Modoc County Supervisor Geri Byrne as First Vice Chair; Mariposa County Supervisor Miles Menetrey as Second Vice Chair; and Butte County Supervisor Doug Teeter as Immediate Past Chair. The newly installed 2024 Officers will guide the organization in shaping public policies for California’s rural counties.
“While there are many challenges and opportunities ahead, it is not lost upon me that the Speaker and Senate Pro Tem designee are both from rural communities for the first time in our lifetimes. Rural California is rich in leadership,” Lopez added. “Building upon the dedicated work of prior RCRC leadership, I am honored to serve as 2024 Board Chair, and I look forward to working in concert with my 39 colleagues and their boards to advance the interests of rural counties and their residents throughout California at both the state and federal level.”
