Dennis Donohue launches county supe campaign.

Mayors did most of the talking Tuesday when former Salinas mayor Dennis Donohue officially launched his campaign for county supervisor. 

They included four of the five mayors presiding over cities in District 4, currently represented by Supervisor Jane Parker, who is seeking a third term. 

Donohue offered brief remarks. "I will promote effective communication and collaboration," he said.

The mayors introducing him had much stronger words, particularly criticism directed toward Parker. 

"Opportunities for business have been lost," said Salinas Mayor Joe Gunter.

The choice to come out swinging for Donohue wasn't necessarily an easy one, he added: "I have to work with the other person until Dennis wins in June." (In the two-way election for District 4, there will be a winner in the June primary election and no November runoff.) 

Del Rey Oaks Mayor Jerry Edelen celebrated Donohue's past record as "solidly pro-growth," and criticized Parker for allying herself with environmental groups. 

"The opponent is supported by radical no-growth zealots that care more about trees and fish than our residents," Edelen said. 

Seaside Mayor Ralph Rubio, who was rumored to be mulling a run for the county supervisor seat himself a few months ago, said Donohue, a former mayor, would be a good partner working with cities. 

"We need someone who understands the bigger picture, our cities," Rubio said. "We need to work together to ensure this community remains economically viable." 

Other supporters at Donohue's announcement included leaders from the agricultural and business communities, like Salinas Valley Chamber of Commerce President Paul Farmer, Grower-Shipper Association President Jim Bogart and Monterey County Farm Bureau Executive Director Norm Groot. 

While Donohue's take on the issues is more tempered than the mayors who introduced him, he agrees that economic growth is the basis of his platform. "In Bill Clinton's words, it's the economy, stupid," Donohue says. 

"I understand business and agriculture's needs. As District 4 supervisor, it's important to be a bride to all those interests." Donohue himself is the former long-time president of Royal Rose, a large agricultural business specializing in radicchio. 

Donohue also says he rejects the mayors' portrayal that Parker's stance on protecting environmental resources is at odd with economic development: "There's been a false narrative that there's a conflict between environment and the economy," he says. "In fact, that's economic opportunity." 

Incidentally, that will be the topic of a talk Parker plans to give Friday afternoon when presenting to the Monterey County Business Council. 

"It’s not an either/or with environment and economy," Parker says. "They go together [in areas like[ workforce recruitment and retention. When people have access to trails and a lovely environment, it serves as a magnet to draw highly qualified people. 

"I’ll talk about that intersection of the environment with the economy."

Parker says she looks forward to debating the issues, and reflects proudly on her efforts over the past seven years in office to improve basic government functions, like a tradition of regular performance evaluations for top county staffers (a practice that was scrutinized in the media and by the district attorney, who found no evidence of wrongdoing), and a training scheduled for Thursday afternoon for county leaders on principles of governing with racial equity. 

Parker says she'll continue to work with all the mayors, even in light of their comments on her and her opponent's environmental stance. "If my opponent and his allies’ statements are anything to go by, I think there’ll be a clear choice for the voters," she adds.

In a separate race for county supervisor, former United Way CEO Mary Adams is challenging incumbent Dave Potter who represents District 5, which includes the Monterey Peninsula, Big Sur, and the Highway 68 corridor. 

Campaign finance reporting is due Jan. 31, but Adams' campaign released her total fundraising figure for 2015 today, and say she raised about $100,000 last year, a significant sum for a first-time candidate. 

Potter's team has not yet completed their accounting of his 2015 finances, but Potter says, "It will be interesting to see who her supporters are and what interest groups they represent."

Adams says her supporters reflect a "far-reaching grassroots campaign."

The numbers—and the donors—will be in in just a couple of weeks.