San Rafael, CA – The County of Marin honored District 4 Supervisor Steve Kinsey at the start of its December 13 Board of Supervisors meeting as the 20-year representative heads into retirement at the end of December.
Supervisor Steve Kinsey shares a laugh with Supervisor Judy Arnold.Kinsey’s final Board meeting began with a public acknowledgement at the Marin County Civic Center in San Rafael and included a written commendation and appreciative comments for the longtime Forest Knolls resident who served his final year on the Board as its president.
“Supervisor Kinsey has always supported County employees to pursue excellence in whatever we do,” said County Administrator Matthew Hymel. “His contributions over the past 20 years will benefit our community for years to come.”
Kinsey, a Marin resident since 1978, announced a year ago that he would not run for a fifth term. His 20 years as a Marin County Supervisor is among the longest tenures in County history.
A building designer by trade, Kinsey focused on agricultural growth and farmland preservation, watershed and fishery restoration, the integration of transportation and land use planning, and fiscally responsible government. He represented Marin on many other boards and commissions, including the California Coastal Commission, the Metropolitan Transportation Community, the Transportation Authority of Marin, and the Marin Agricultural Land Trust. He was a founding board member of the Marin County Children and Families Commission, now known as First 5 Marin, and has championed causes related to equity, working closely with communities of color to reduce the barriers to equal opportunities.
“Steve’s passion, attention to detail and thoughtfulness in a variety of issue areas throughout Marin County will leave a lasting and impactful legacy,” said District 5 Supervisor Judy Arnold, who is expected to replace Kinsey as Board President on January 3. “I think I speak for the entire Board when I say his delightful sense of humor, which lessened tension in many tough Board meetings, will be greatly missed. Steve was a true champion for those unable to be ‘at the table,’ and I know we will continue to work with him, albeit on the other side of the dais, to address equity for all.”
Kinsey, who plans to work as a consultant in between vacations with his partner Jean, said he was proud to list many of the County’s accomplishments during his two decades on the Board. He said investments in the next generations of Marin residents – the children and families – remains “unfinished business” and reducing impacts on the most vulnerable populations is “the most important thing we can do as a community.”
“We’ve done so well protecting our land that we need to step up and protect the people who are on it,” he said.
“Less rules, more relationships – that’s what moves a community,” he continued. “And if government can learn to be less regulatory and more the convener of partnerships, we will go further and further together. … I used to say to myself, ‘I want to be in government so I can get government off the backs of most people so we can back up the people who need us most.’”
Dennis Rodoni, a business owner from Olema, was elected to replace Kinsey as District 4 Supervisor in the November 8 General Election and will represent constituents living in about two-thirds of Marin. Rodoni is to be sworn in January 3, and Arnold is expected to become Board President.