San Rafael, CA – Judy Arnold and Damon Connolly will be honored for their many years of dedicated service to the people of Marin County as members of the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, December 20, at the Civic Center’s Board Chamber. The public session is open to all.
Damon Connolly and Judy Arnold Arnold, from District 5 in Novato, is retiring after 16 years on the Board and three turns as Board President. Her final official meeting was on December 13.
Connolly, from District 1 in the greater San Rafael area, won the Assembly District 12 seat during the November election. He was sworn in December 5 and his final official meeting with the Board of Supervisors was on November 16.
At the December 20 session, Board President Katie Rice will open the 9 a.m. meeting by introducing a Board resolution to commend Connolly. She will then allow for public comment, followed by remarks from the Board. No earlier than 10 a.m., Rice will introduce a Board resolution to commend Arnold, open the mic again, followed with remarks from the Board.
Arnold, a Marin resident since 1966, served as staff to former State Senators John Burton and Carole Migden and served two years on the Novato City Council. In 2006 she was elected to the Board of Supervisors to replace former Supervisor Cynthia Murray and subsequently won three additional four-year terms.
Arnold’s County tenure focused on many of her most passionate priorities: emergency preparedness, economic vitality, improving and expanding transit options in Marin, and educational efforts. Some of Arnold’s major accomplishments include creation and key support of the Marin Economic Forum, the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) system, the expansion of the South Novato branch of the Marin County Free Library, and the lifesaving Vial of L.I.F.E. program for first responders.
“It has been my honor and privilege representing the best district in the best county in California,” Arnold said. “Novato is a vital community that cares about issues and the people they affect. Serving this diverse and active community has been a joy.”
Connolly, a Marin resident since 1997, was elected as District 1 County Supervisor in 2014, replacing Susan Adams, following his tenure on the San Rafael City Council. He was reelected in 2018.
Connolly was known locally as a strong advocate for environmental causes and sustainability, a compassionate response to homelessness and mental health, proactive transportation policies, and improved infrastructure for bicyclists and pedestrians. While on the Board, Connolly worked on the preservation and acquisition of affordable housing and helped launch the Landlord Partnership Program. Connolly and Arnold jointly led the Marin Economic Recovery Taskforce during the pandemic and created the County’s first Economic Vitality Strategic Plan.
“I am honored to have the opportunity to continue serving the community at the state level,” Connolly said. “Representing District 1 on the Board of Supervisors was an amazing opportunity given to me by the voters. I am looking forward to bringing that experience and a local voice to Sacramento.”
“I want to recognize the long and distinguished public service career of Supervisor Arnold,” said County Administrator Matthew Hymel. “I also want to thank Supervisor Connolly for all his significant contributions to the County and look forward to continuing our partnership in his new role in the State Assembly.”
The Board of Supervisors plans to formally welcome two new members during its first meeting of the new year, on January 10. Eric Lucan, a longtime Novato City Council member, will represent District 5. Mary Sackett, a former aide to Connolly, will represent District 1. Since Connolly was sworn into the Assembly on December 5, Sackett was appointed by the Governor to represent District 1 on December 6 for the remainder of the year.
The new Board plans to vote on a new Board President for the 2023 calendar year during the January 10 meeting.
As with all Board meetings, the Board chamber will be open to the public in Suite 330 of the Marin County Civic Center, 3501 Civic Center Drive, San Rafael. Viewers and participants are welcome online as well; instructions about the videoconference are on the Board’s webpage.
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