FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Carolyn Jhajj
Communications Director
916-447-4806
cjhajj@rcrcnet.org
SACRAMENTO, CA – On Wednesday, January 17, 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. Supervisor Lopez took the Oath of Office as administered by State Senator 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,” said Supervisor Lopez. 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 DC, 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 Supervisor Lopez on the leadership team are Modoc County Supervisor Geri Byrne, as First Vice Chair, Monterey County Supervisor Geri Byrne, 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,” added Supervisor Lopez. “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 thirty-nine colleagues and their boards to advance the interests of rural counties and their residents throughout California at both the state and federal level.”
ABOUT RURAL COUNTY REPRESENTATIVES OF CALIFORNIA (RCRC)
The Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC) is a forty-member county service organization that champions policies on behalf of California’s rural counties. RCRC is dedicated to representing the collective unique interests of its membership, providing legislative and regulatory representation at the State and Federal levels, and providing responsible services for its members to enhance and protect the quality of life in rural California counties. To learn more about RCRC, visit rcrcnet.org and follow @RuralCounties on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
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2024 RCRC Chair and Monterey County Supervisor Chris Lopez
RCRC 2024 Officers: First Vice Chair Geri Byrne, Chair Chris Lopez, Second Vice Chair Miles Menetrey, and Immediate Past Chair Doug Teeter