🏛️ Mendocino County

CAL FIRE Suspends Burn Permits in Mendocino County
By Carole Brodsky, Ukiah Daily Journal · June 13
CAL FIRE will suspend all residential burn permits in Mendocino County beginning June 15 as fire danger rises.
Read more (subscription to the Ukiah Daily Journal may be required)

New Book Chronicles Mendocino County’s Cannabis Boom and Bust
By Lin Due, The Mendocino Voice · June 12
British historian Charlie Harris has published Mendo: How an Unlikely Group of Rebels Turned Cannabis into California’s Cash Crop, a history of Mendocino County’s cannabis industry from the back-to-the-land movement to legalization. The book traces the rise of the county’s marijuana economy and the dramatic collapse in prices that followed.
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Youth Turnout Surges as Ballot Count Continues
By Elise Cox, MendoLocal.News · June 12
Youth voter participation nearly doubled statewide compared to the 2022 primary, with ballots cast by voters ages 18–34 up 96%. In Mendocino County, Buffy Wright Bourassa maintained a narrow lead in the District 3 supervisor race while the community college bond measure remained below the 55% threshold needed to pass.
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Residents Face $600 Fines for Missing Jury Duty Hearings
By Savana Robinson, The Mendocino Voice · June 10
About 25 Mendocino County residents will be fined $600 for failing to appear at court-ordered hearings after missing jury duty.
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Fire Safe Council Awards $122,000 for Wildfire Projects
By Justine Frederiksen, Ukiah Daily Journal · June 10
The Mendocino County Fire Safe Council awarded $122,000 to 14 neighborhood groups, firewise communities, and fire agencies. Grants will fund emergency water supplies, communications equipment, and other wildfire-prevention projects.
Read more (subscription to the Ukiah Daily Journal may be required)

Invasive Pikeminnow Continue to Threaten Eel River Salmon
By Roger Coryell, The Mendocino Voice · June 9
Millions of Sacramento pikeminnow now inhabit the upper Eel River watershed, where they prey heavily on young salmon and steelhead. Researchers say long-term recovery depends on restoring colder river conditions rather than fish-removal efforts alone.
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Supervisors Approve Budget Despite Deficit Warnings
By Elise Cox, MendoLocal.News · June 9
The Board of Supervisors approved a $95 million General Fund budget that relies on $2.6 million in one-time funding to balance. Staff warned the county could face a $2.2 million deficit next year, along with rising health care costs tied to federal policy changes.
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No Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter Confirmed in Ukiah Samples
By Justine Frederiksen, Ukiah Daily Journal · June 9
Testing has not confirmed the presence of the destructive glassy-winged sharpshooter in grapevine samples collected from the Ukiah Costco. County agricultural officials say additional testing is underway and monitoring will continue.
Read more (subscription to the Ukiah Daily Journal may be required)

Museum Seeks Submissions for Cannabis History Exhibit
By Savana Robinson, The Mendocino Voice · June 6
The Mendocino County Museum is seeking stories, photos, and artwork for a traveling exhibit on local cannabis history. Submissions are due June 27, and the exhibit is scheduled to open in Willits this October.
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🚧 Covelo

Covelo’s Green Bridge Collapses Into Mill Creek
By Frank Hartzell, Mendocino Coast News · June 13
Covelo’s 101-year-old Green Bridge collapsed Friday evening while a vehicle was crossing it, sending the driver into Mill Creek with only minor injuries. Mendocino County had been working to replace the aging structure since 2012 but had not yet begun construction.
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🔭 FORT BRAGG

Fort Bragg Installs Scenic Viewing Binoculars Along Coastal Trail
By Savana Robinson, The Mendocino Voice · June 9
Fort Bragg has installed two free binocular stations near Glass Beach, giving visitors a closer look at whales, seabirds, marine life, and coastal scenery. Funded by the Blue Zones Project, the stations offer 10x and 20x magnification and are located south of the Glass Beach on the North Coastal Trail and on the South Coastal Trail near the parking lot.
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Harbor Seal Pups Need Space at Noyo Beach
By Frank Hartzell, Mendocino Coast News · June 7
Visitors are asked to avoid the north end of Noyo Beach during harbor seal pupping season, which runs through August. Wildlife officials warn that dogs and people can cause mothers to abandon their pups permanently.
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Free Driftwood Collection Allowed Through June 30
By Frank Hartzell, Mendocino Coast News · June 6
Fort Bragg is allowing residents to collect up to 50 pounds of driftwood per day from Noyo Beach through June 30. Collection must be done by hand during daylight hours, and officials caution against burning salt-soaked driftwood because it releases toxic compounds.
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🚔 LITTLE RIVER

Little River Man Arrested With Stolen Gun, Drugs
By Katy St. Clair, The Mendocino Voice · June 9
Deputies arrested a Little River man on a felony warrant after finding a stolen handgun and suspected methamphetamine during a stop in Fort Bragg. A vehicle search uncovered a loaded shotgun and additional narcotics, leading to multiple felony weapons and drug charges.
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🌊 POINT ARENA

Point Arena Surf Legend Featured in Telluride Film Festival
By Kat Gleason, Independent Coast Observer
A short documentary about Point Arena artist and surf legend Lester DaGradi screened at the prestigious Mountainfilm Festival in Telluride. The film, “Lester,” was directed by Point Arena restaurateur and filmmaker Paul Collins, marking his second appearance at the festival.
Read more (subscription to the Independent Coast Observer required)

Vandalism Forces Closure of Downtown Restrooms
By Kat Gleason, Independent Coast Observer
Point Arena temporarily closed its public restrooms after a string of vandalism incidents. City officials reported extensive damage, including broken fixtures, plumbing repairs, and repeated acts of vandalism inside the facility.
Read more (subscription to the Independent Coast Observer required)

🏢 UKIAH

Residents Pack Annexation Workshop
By Savana Robinson, The Mendocino Voice · June 11
More than 60 residents attended a city workshop on Ukiah’s proposed annexation of surrounding unincorporated areas. City officials said property taxes would not increase and noted residents could halt the proposal through a successful protest process.
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North Coast Opportunities Shutters Programs
By Roger Coryell, The Mendocino Voice · June 10
North Coast Opportunities has eliminated roughly seven programs over the past two years, including food delivery, community leadership and cancer support services. Local officials say the cuts represent a significant shift for one of Mendocino County’s largest nonprofits.
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400-Acre Burn Planned Along Highway 101
By Justine Frederiksen, Ukiah Daily Journal · June 9
Cal Fire plans to burn about 400 acres of grassland along Highway 101 between Ukiah and Willits later this month. The project is intended to reduce roadside fuel loads and improve firefighter safety.
Read more (subscription to the Ukiah Daily Journal may be required)

Deputy Breaks Arm During Arrest
By Elise Cox, MendoLocal.News · June 9
A Mendocino County sheriff’s deputy suffered a broken arm while pursuing a wanted man through a cluttered North State Street property. The suspect, Diego Vallejo, was captured with assistance from Ukiah police and booked on multiple warrants.
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No Invasive Sharpshooter Confirmed
By Justine Frederiksen, Ukiah Daily Journal · June 9
Testing has not confirmed the presence of the destructive glassy-winged sharpshooter in grapevine samples collected near the Ukiah Costco. County agriculture officials say surveillance remains active while additional laboratory results are pending.
Read more (subscription to the Ukiah Daily Journal may be required)

🎓 WILLITS

State Funds Highway 20 Corridor Study
By Justine Frederiksen, Ukiah Daily Journal · June 10
MCOG has received nearly $188,000 to study traffic flow, pedestrian access and intersection improvements along Highway 20 through Willits. The grant revives discussion of road-diet concepts that predate completion of the Willits Bypass.
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🎓 Rotary Club Awards 12 Student Scholarships
By Mathew Caine, Willits Weekly · June 12
The Willits Rotary Club awarded 12 scholarships to graduating students, including ten academic awards and two vocational scholarships. Recipients were honored at the Little Lake Firehouse.
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🏛️ CALMATTERS

Democrats Use Budget Leverage in Climate Spending Fight
By Alejandro Lazo and Yue Stella Yu · June 12
California Senate Democrats are blocking several of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s budget priorities to force him to honor a climate funding deal reached last year. At stake are billions of dollars for transit, affordable housing and clean water programs that could be cut in half under proposed changes to the state’s carbon market system.
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Lawmakers Block DMV Funding Over Immigrant Data Concerns
By Khari Johnson and Wendy Fry · June 12
California lawmakers are withholding $55 million from the DMV to prevent driver license information from being shared through a nationwide database. Critics warn the system could expose data tied to more than 1 million undocumented Californians and increase the risk of federal immigration enforcement.
Read more

Clarification: We added added information about the regular and special election for District 1, clarifying that two winners are James Gallagher and Mike McGuire. (June 12, 2026, 1:50 p.m.)

The latest analysis of ballots returned in the June 2 election shows that the number of ballots submitted by voters ages 18 to 34 increased 96% compared to the June 2022 primary, according to data released Thursday by PDI, a campaign software provider.

Across all age groups, 8,475,572 ballots have been tabulated, compared to 6,832,625 in the June 2022 primary at a similar point in time, according to PDI. The figures are not final and are likely to change as additional ballots are processed. The total number of voters in the June 2022 primary was 7,285,230 according to the Secretary of State.

Registered Democrats made up the largest share of voters in the 2026 primary. The number of registered Democrats receiving ballots increased 5.5% compared to 2022 data, while the number who returned those ballots rose 6%, growing to 4,248,511 voters so far, according to PDI.

The number of registered Republicans receiving ballots increased 13% compared to 2022 data, while the number who returned ballots increased 3%, growing to 2,435,946 voters so far.

Registration and turnout also increased among Latino and Black voters. Voters identifying as Black returned 37% of their ballots so far, matching the overall turnout rate. Voters identifying as Latino returned 26% of their ballots, up from 19% in 2022. While the number of registered voters identifying as Asian increased by 702,072 thousand, the percent of those who returned their ballots dropped to 28%, compared to 30% in 2022.

The AP estimates that 96% of votes have been counted statewide. Fifty-one out of the state’s 58 counties have counted more than 90% of their ballots. Out of the seven slowest counties, Mendocino County ranks last, with just 61 percent of the votes counted. (MendoLocal.News has asked the elections office why the vote count in Mendocino lags its peers, and we will write a second article based on that response.)

According to the latest count released by the Mendocino County Elections Office on Thursday, Supervisor Ted Williams is leading the race for the District 5 Board of Supervisors seat by a wide margin. Williams has received 1,795 votes, or 60% of ballots cast. Kevin Evans, his closest challenger, has received 659 votes, or 22%, while Todd Lyly has received 535 votes, or 18%.

The race for the District 3 Board of Supervisors seat remains closely contested, with Buffy Wright Bourassa holding a 53-vote lead over Eric Hart. So far, Bourassa has received 32% of the vote, Hart 31%, Clay Romero 24%, and Russell Green 13%.

The proposed bond measure for Mendocino-Lake Community College has not reached the 55% approval threshold required for passage. So far, 8,135 voters have supported the measure, while 7,022 have voted against it.

In congressional races, roughly 81% of ballots have been counted. In California’s 2nd Congressional District, incumbent Jared Huffman, a Democrat, is projected to face Republican Robin Littau in November, according to The Associated Press.

In the 1st Congressional District, Republican James Gallagher has received 62% of the vote with 93% of ballots counted in the special election to finish late Doug LaMalfa's term. In that election, Democrat Audrey Denney holds a 2,522-vote lead over Mike McGuire for second place. In a second election,to represent the district at the expiration of LaMalfa’s term this year, Gallagher received 82,893 votes or 44% and McGuire received 74, 462 or 40%. In that race, Denny received only 26,887 votes or 14.3%. The AP has called the race with Gallagher and McGuire as the winners.

In the statewide race for governor, Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton are projected to advance to the November general election, according to The Associated Press.

In the race for attorney general, incumbent Rob Bonta, a Democrat, is projected to face Republican Michael Gates in November.

The Mendocino County Elections Office is expected to release its next update by Monday, June 15 at 5 p.m.

A Mendocino County sheriff’s deputy suffered a broken arm while pursuing a Ukiah man wanted on multiple outstanding warrants Friday night, according to the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies were first dispatched at approximately 8:27 p.m. June 5 to a residence in the 3900 block of North State Street after receiving a report of a man causing a disturbance. According to the Sheriff’s Office, deputies found no evidence of a disturbance and were unable to locate anyone involved after speaking with a neighbor and checking the area.

About an hour later, at approximately 9:50 p.m., deputies were called back to the same address for another report of a disturbance.

The Sheriff’s Office said deputies knew that 31-year-old Diego Vallejo lived at the residence and that he had multiple outstanding arrest warrants, including a felony warrant alleging reckless evasion of a peace officer.

After receiving no response at the front door, a deputy reportedly observed Vallejo in the backyard and told him that he was under arrest on the outstanding warrants. According to the Sheriff’s Office, Vallejo fled on foot rather than surrendering.

The deputy pursued Vallejo a cluttered backyard that authorities described as containing aggressive dogs, patio furniture, makeshift fencing, disabled vehicles and landscaping materials.

During the chase, the deputy fell and suffered a fractured right humerus, the bone of the upper arm, according to the Sheriff’s Office. The deputy was transported to a local hospital, where the injury was determined to be a serious bodily injury.

Officers from the Ukiah Police Department responded to assist and ultimately took Vallejo into custody.

In addition to the outstanding warrants, Vallejo was arrested on suspicion of violating California Penal Code section 148.10, which makes it a felony to resist or obstruct a peace officer when that conduct proximately causes serious bodily injury to the officer.

Vallejo was booked into the Mendocino County Jail and is being held on $51,500 bail, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

Updated: Information about the date the board will vote on the final resolution was added to the bottom of the story, and additional clarification was added to the opening paragraph and headline, June 9, 2025 (8:19 a.m.)

The Mendocino County Board of Supervisors unanimously adopted a balanced budget proposal last week that relies on a one-time cash infusion to close an ongoing structural deficit and does not account for potential costs associated with recent federal policy changes or the City of Ukiah’s proposed annexation plans.

The county’s $95 million General Fund budget relies on $2.6 million in one-time funding, much of it generated through a recent accounting change that allowed the county to capture an additional month of state and federal reimbursements.

If the county does not identify new revenue sources or reduce expenditures, the projected shortfall for fiscal year 2027-28 is expected to reach $2.2 million.

The budget discussion followed roughly 30 minutes of impassioned public comment from county employees, many of whom criticized ongoing contract negotiations and proposed reductions to employee compensation.

Megan Wolf, a library assistant and secretary of the union’s executive board, called the proposed elimination of longevity pay “a slap in the face,” noting that employees receive just a 1% increase after 10 years of service.

“Right now you are saying we can’t even have that?” Wolf said. “It was already low and embarrassing.”

Rebecca Britton described commuting from Lake County because she cannot afford housing in Ukiah.

“Now it’s $20 more every time I fill up my gas tank,” Britton said, describing the financial pressures that have led her to consider seeking work closer to home.

Tracy Wright, a county employee of 26 years, got straight to the point. “We have workers coming in getting trained, and leaving our county,” she said. “What is that saying about our county?”

“Shame on all of you,” Wright told the board. “We are barely surviving.”

Later, during public comment on the budget itself, Patrick Hickey, a field representative for SEIU Local 1021, questioned whether the county’s structural deficit reflects a spending problem or a revenue collection problem.

Hickey noted that the county’s total fund balance has increased from $29.5 million to $80.5 million over the past seven years.

“The county has acknowledged that there are roughly $30 million in uncollected property taxes and has recently decided to stop pursuing some delinquent cannabis tax revenue,” Hickey said. “It’s not a revenue problem. It’s a collection problem.”

Deputy CEO Tony Rakes directed the board’s attention to changes resulting from HR 1, which was enacted last year. County officials said the measure is expected to increase demand for indigent health care services, which require a county match, as its provisions are phased in.

In addition, a proposed asset test could reduce the number of people who qualify for in-home supportive services, which could also mean less federal and state funding, Rakes said.

“It’s very worrisome, all these changes that are happening at once,” CEO Darcie Antle said.

Antle noted that California’s Welfare and Institutions Code Section 17000 requires counties to provide basic relief and support to indigent residents who have no other means of support and do not qualify for other assistance programs.

During public comment, Sheriff Matt Kendall raised concerns about the financial impact of the City of Ukiah’s proposed annexation of county territory, costs that are not reflected in the 2026-27 budget.

“I’d like to know how much that is going to cost us,” Kendall said, citing one estimate that projected a first-year cost of $150,000.

“That’s a deputy sheriff that we will lose in the first year,” Kendall said. “What’s it going to look like in the second year? What will it look like in the third year? I think that we need to take a good hard look at this and make a decision: Can we make this net zero?”

Supervisor Mo Mulheren, whose district includes the City of Ukiah, questioned whether the county’s analysis of the annexation could be technically accurate while still failing to capture the full picture.

Mulheren argued that annexation would shift law enforcement responsibilities in high-call-volume areas from the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office to the Ukiah Police Department, potentially allowing sheriff’s deputies to focus on underserved areas elsewhere in the county. She also noted that annexation could reduce county obligations for road maintenance and other infrastructure costs.

“I’ve spent the last six years trying to improve transparency and change the culture around how information is shared,” Mulheren said. “I’ve advocated for more context, more collaboration, and more open discussion. I thought we were making headway with that in this budget.”

Assistant CEO Sara Pierce said the county’s analysis to date has focused primarily on the loss of sales tax and transient occupancy tax revenue associated with annexation.

“We would welcome an independent consultant to vet it on both sides,” Pierce said.

Following the discussion the supervisors voted unanimously to directo the auditor-controller to prepare a final budget resolution for adoption by the board on June 23, 2026.

Read our coverage of the county budget:

Understanding the Accounting Shift That is Balancing the County Budget for the Next Six Months (March 5, 2026)

Mendocino County Overhauls Reserve Policy (March 30, 2026)

Proposed Ukiah Annexation Could Cost Mendocino County as Much as $27 Million Over 16 Years (May 6, 2026)

Former San Francisco Controller Says Mendocino County Must Overhaul Financial System (June 5, 2026)

💰 MENDOCINO COUNTY

Former San Francisco Controller Says Mendocino County Must Overhaul Financial System
Elise Cox, MendoLocal.News · June 5
Former San Francisco Controller Ben Rosenfield told county supervisors that Mendocino County’s outdated MUNIS financial system requires a complete overhaul estimated at three to five years and $3–5 million.
Read more

How Many Ballots Are Left to Count? 16,572
Elise Cox, MendoLocal.News · June 5
Mendocino County election officials reported 16,572 ballots remained unprocessed following the June 2 primary. The next vote tally is expected at 4 p.m. on June 11.
Read more

400-Acre Prescribed Burn Planned Along Highway 101 from Ukiah to Willits
Savana Robinson, The Mendocino Voice · June 5
CAL FIRE will conduct a 400-acre prescribed burn along U.S. Highway 101 from south of Ukiah to south of Willits between June 22 and July 9, 2026.
Read more

County Pays $1.5 Million to Settle Cubbison Civil Case
Mike Geniella, MendoLocal.News · June 4
Mendocino County supervisors settled civil litigation with former Auditor Chamise Cubbison for $1.5 million, with the agreement signed in mid-February 2026 but kept confidential until disclosure through a Public Records Act request that was fulfilled after the election.
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Ballot Printer Sues Mendocino County Over Unpaid Election Bills
Elise Cox, MendoLocal.News · June 4
Integrated Voting Systems sued Mendocino County seeking nearly $98,000 for unpaid invoices stemming from a ballot printing error in the March 2024 presidential primary.
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Preliminary Election Results for Mendocino County
Elise Cox, MendoLocal.News · June 3
With approximately 17% of votes counted in the June 2 primary, incumbent Superior Court Judge Patrick Pekin led in the contested judicial race while the Mendocino-Lake Community College District’s bond measure fell short of the required 55% threshold. In District 5, Supervisor Ted Williams led with 53% of the vote. In the District 3 Supervisors race, Eric Hart held a narrow five-vote lead over Buffey Wright Bourassa in early returns.
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Reports of Dead, Malnourished Sea Lions Are Increasing Along Mendocino Coast
Elise Cox, MendoLocal.News · June 3
Dead and malnourished sea lions are being reported in unusually high numbers along the Mendocino Coast, with the Marine Mammal Center sometimes receiving multiple calls a day.
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Mendocino County’s Animal Care Services Took in 294 Animals in the Last Six Months
Roger Coryell, The Mendocino Voice · June 3
Mendocino County’s Animal Care Services (ACS) reported to the Board of Supervisors that it took in 294 animals between Jan. 1 and May 29 with the following outcomes: 115 adopted, 34 returned to their owners, 52 transferred to rescues or the humane societies, and 44 euthanized. ACS received $1,225,106 in the 2026-27 budget and was not asked to make any cuts.
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Drug Store Robber Sentenced After Years as a Fugitive
By the Mendocino County District Attorney · June 4
A man involved in the 2019 armed robbery of a Willits Rite Aid pharmacy was sentenced Wednesday to five years in state prison after years of probation violations, missed court appearances and arrests in multiple states. The robbery involved the theft of more than 4,000 narcotic pills valued at over $30,000.
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One in Three Residential Parcels in Mendocino County Has No Home on It
Elise Cox, MendoLocal.News · June 2
Analysis of Mendocino County assessor data reveals that nearly 30% of residential parcels — more than 10,000 lots — lack homes, with 72% owned by absentee investors.
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Your Friendly, Neighborhood Spider-Stuntman
Carole Brodsky, Ukiah Daily Journal · June 2
Ukiah native Solomon Brende, who served as Nicolas Cage’s body double on Amazon Prime’s Spider-Noir and appeared Captain America, The Mandalorian, and Westworld, has recently purchased a home in Mendocino County.
Read more (subscription to the Ukiah Daily Journal may be required)

🚒 BOONVILLE

Saving a Fentanyl Overdoser Can Be Dangerous for First Responders — What Happened in Boonville
Frank Hartzell, Mendocino Coast News · June 2
A 31-year-old Boonville resident overdosed on fentanyl on May 29. First responders revived Jack Hayward with Narcan. Hayward then became combative and fled. A Mendocino County Sheriff’s deputy required hospitalization and surgery following the pursuit.
Read more

🍺 FORT BRAGG

Overtime Brewing’s Future Loomed Over Fort Bragg City Council Meeting
Elise Cox, MendoLocal.News · June 4
The Fort Bragg City Council heard from co-founder Stephen Duerr and residents urging the city to support Overtime Brewing as its lease on Elm Street nears expiration.
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What a Million-Dollar Home Sale Means for All of Us — and What the Company Store Actually Sold For
Frank Hartzell, Mendocino Coast News · June 4
A home in the cypress tree tunnel north of Seaside Beach on State Route 1 near Fort Bragg, listed at $1.595 million, is pending sale — representing a roughly 2,085% increase from its $73,000 purchase price in 1996. The Union Lumber Company Store also sold, for $2 million to Sierra Railroad Holdings.
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Fort Bragg City Hall Ballot Drop Box Overstuffed and Unusable Sunday Afternoon
Frank Hartzell, Mendocino Coast News · June 2
The ballot drop box at Fort Bragg City Hall was stuffed on Sunday afternoon around 2 p.m., preventing voters from depositing ballots until city staff emptied it at approximately 7:10 p.m.
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🌲 REDWOOD VALLEY

Redwood Valley Community Rallies Behind Recreation Center Project
By Monica Huettl, Anderson Valley Advertiser
Redwood Valley residents gathered at the Grange Hall on June 2, 2026 to support efforts to transform the abandoned Redwood Valley School campus into a community recreation center. The RVRC Steering Committee is pursuing state grant funding and has modeled their vision after the successful Jefferson Community Center in Eureka.
Read more (a subscription to the AVA may be required)

🌊 POINT ARENA

PA Residents Question Proposed Sewer Rate Increases
By Chelsea Randall, Independent Coast Observer
Point Arena residents are facing rising sewer charges—the average customer currently pays about $69 per month, this will rise to $92 per month the first year the proposed increase is implemented and reach $146 per month over a five-year rate plan.
Read more (a subscription to the Independent Coast Observer is required)

Trespassing Incident Reported at B. Bryan Preserve
By Chelsea Randall, Independent Coast Observer
A known transient was observed trespassing on the B. Bryan Preserve in Point Arena on May 29. The incident was reported to the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office, however deputies were not able to locate the trespasser.
Read more (a subscription to the Independent Coast Observer is required)

🎭 UKIAH

One Heart Institute Presents the 4th Concert Series, Musicians Retreat
Carole Brodsky, Ukiah Daily Journal · June 6
The One Heart Institute is hosting its fourth annual Mindfulness for Musicians Retreat June 21–28 at the Sudhana Center in Ukiah, featuring master classes with cellist Barbara Bogatin, jazz pianist Elio Villafranca, guitarist Alex de Grassi, and saxophonist Wenbo Yin. Three public concerts follow June 26–28, featuring world-class performers across classical, jazz, and contemporary genres.
Read more (a subscription to the Ukiah Daily Journal may be required)

Punk Rock Archive in the Making: Community Input Needed
Carole Brodsky, Ukiah Daily Journal · June 5
Alyssa Ballard, archivist for the Historical Society of Mendocino County, is building an archive of the county’s alternative music scene from the late 1970s through 2010, seeking recordings, zines, flyers, photos, and interviews from punk, metal, and hardcore participants countywide.
Read more (a subscription to the Ukiah Daily Journal may be required)

Two Creative Ukiah Summer Camps Opening in June
Carole Brodsky, Ukiah Daily Journal · June 4 (Ukiah, Willits)
Ukiah Players Theatre is running concurrent summer camps beginning June 8 — a teen comedy session and a series of outdoor skills camps teaching bow-making, fire-starting, and tracking for youth and teens.
Read more (subscription to the Ukiah Daily Journal may be required)

Ukiah Holds Annexation Scoping Meeting to Gauge Environmental Impact
Savana Robinson, The Mendocino Voice · June 4
About 20 community members attended the recent scoping meeting, many opposing the proposed annexation. Rincon Consultants is preparing a supplemental environmental impact report.
Read more

💧 WILLITS

Brooktrails Board Hears About Water Issues
Barbara O’Reardon, Willits Weekly · June 4
At the May 26 board meeting, General Manager Tamara Alaniz said Lake Emily has recently stopped spilling and residents will have to be diligent about water use restrictions. Customers who use more than 9,000 gallons per month will receive restrictor notices. Alaniz noted there have been taste and smell issues but assured residents “the water has been safe and treated.”
Read more

Trivia Takeover
Mathew Caine, Willits Weekly · June 4
Northspur Brewing, The Munchery, and Flying Dog Pizza are all hosting trivia nights on the following days: Northspur — first and third Wednesdays starting at 6:30 p.m.; The Munchery — second and fourth Thursdays; and Flying Dog Pizza — second and fourth Mondays starting at 6 p.m.
Read more

🏛️ CALMATTERS & STATE NEWS

Democrat Xavier Becerra Advances to November Race for California Governor
Jeanne Kuang, CalMatters · June 5
Xavier Becerra, California’s former attorney general and health secretary, has secured nearly 27% of the vote in the June 2 primary and will advance to the November gubernatorial election.
Read more

Trump Administration’s New Green Card Policy: 5 Things to Know
Wendy Fry, CalMatters · June 4
The Trump administration issued a sweeping policy directive requiring most temporary visa holders and humanitarian parolees to return to their home countries while awaiting green cards—a dramatic shift from decades of established practice.
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How a California tribal college is opening doors for Native students
Ella Carter-Klauschie, CalMatters · June 4
California is home to over 700,000 residents of tribal ancestry but there is only one confirmed tribal college. Two proposed Assembly bills aim to officially recognize tribal colleges in the state’s education code and ensure student credits transfer seamlessly to other universities—potentially opening the door for consistent state and federal funding.
Read more

California Cannabis Sales Generate $248 Million in Tax Revenue for Q1 2026
By California Department of Tax and Fee Administration
California’s legal cannabis retailers generated approximately $248 million in tax revenue during the first quarter of 2026. Since legalization in January 2018, cannabis sales have contributed more than $8.1 billion to the state, with excise tax revenue supporting childcare, early childhood development, medical research, youth substance abuse prevention, and environmental recovery programs.
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Ben Rosenfield, a widely respected budget professional who served as controller for the City and County of San Francisco from 2008 to 2023, delivered a message of tough love to the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday about its financial processes.

Mendocino County is struggling with a financial system so outdated and inefficient that it is hindering basic operations, consuming valuable staff time and potentially leaving millions of dollars in property tax revenue uncollected, he said.

“The root of these challenges are in large part due to a long-ago and incomplete implementation of the financial system that the county uses to perform the vast majority of this work,” Rosenfield said.

He noted that the Board of Supervisors has been informed of the issue before, including during a 2025 presentation by the Regional Government Services organization.

The county’s financial system is MUNIS, an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, a type of software used to automate and manage day-to-day operations. While ERP systems can be invaluable, they are also notoriously difficult to implement.

Rosenfield said other counties have successfully implemented MUNIS, but Mendocino County did not do so in a way that made the system fully usable.

“This results in a whole host of financial activities that require extensive staff time to navigate what should be more routine transactions, things like processing journal entries, preparing a budget, preparing financial tracking reports,” Rosenfield said. “In other cases, it leads to gaps that make it very challenging for the county to perform some of these tasks, things like bank reconciliation and others.”

A Three-Year Roadmap

The county hired Rosenfield in December following a scathing state audit that documented Mendocino County’s declining financial health. Dubbed the “Clark Kent of City Hall” by The New York Times, Rosenfield was tasked with providing the county a roadmap for modernizing and stabilizing its finances.

Rosenfield said Mendocino County needs to reimplement its ERP system, whether it decides to continue using MUNIS or chooses another provider. He estimated the project will take three years, cost between $3 million and $5 million, and require a dedicated staff of three to five employees, along with outside consultants.

The first year will focus on documenting existing processes and determining how they can be improved.

“We don’t want to too quickly jump to simply implementing the financial system without asking ourselves first, what do we want it to do for us and what do we want those processes to look like,” Rosenfield said. “That’s a mistake that often happens, and the result is that you end up with financial systems that embed the way you’re doing things today. The goal here is to imagine that we can do things in a more standard way that’s in place in many other places.”

The primary deliverable from the first phase will be a detailed work plan presented to the Board of Supervisors for approval. Rosenfield suggested the board receive quarterly or semiannual updates on implementation.

Uncollected Property Taxes

Turning to uncollected property taxes, which the California State Auditor estimated exceed $30 million, Rosenfield said the county is now able to produce reports of unpaid bills, known as aging reports.

The backlog is substantial. The county has records of more than 5,000 property ownership changes and building permits that still need to be evaluated for reassessment.

The backlog, which dates to 2008, has a cascading effect: It reduces revenue available for local services, creates significant additional work for employees in the assessor’s, auditor-controller’s and treasurer-tax collector’s offices, and creates uncertainty and “unfortunate surprises” for taxpayers.

Rosenfield pointed to high turnover in the assessor’s office as one of the most significant contributing factors. Since 2022, 24 staff members have left and 23 have been hired. The office averages 4.8 departures annually, meaning roughly one-quarter of the workforce turns over each year.

“That means they’ve lost institutional knowledge necessary to do work,” Rosenfield said. “It means they’re pulling people off the floor to train a never-ending chain of new people coming in the door.”

Rosenfield said it is important to interrupt what he described as a “negative workload cycle.” He recommended stabilizing staffing levels and developing a clear, measurable and public plan to eliminate the backlog. He warned that clearing it could take two years.

Accurate Budget Forecasts

One area where Mendocino County has made progress during the past 18 months is financial forecasting and reporting.

Rosenfield said the county’s budget forecasting compares favorably with that of its peers, with less than a 1% variance between original forecasts and actual results over the past four years.

However, he recommended improvements in summarizing key trends in quarterly reports and providing executive summaries that preview year-end results to minimize surprises.

Rosenfield also praised the county’s updated reserve policy.

“That has the potential to put the county in a much better place in the future to navigate multi-year financial cycles,” he said.

A Commitment to Move Forward

Supervisors expressed agreement with Rosenfield’s assessment and said they were prepared to approve the funding needed to implement the recommendations.

Supervisor Ted Williams described the roadmap as “shovel-ready” and asked CEO Darcie Antle what she needed from the board.

Supervisor Mo Mulheren said she would support additional staffing or consultants as necessary.

“I do know that it is having a lasting impact on our community to be so far behind in the property tax assessments,” Mulheren said.

Supervisor Madeline Cline described the roadmap as “the biggest opportunity for improvement for the county.”

She said the next step is “investing the resources, the staff, the money to set the county up for success moving forward.”

CEO Antle said she would huddle with her team and return to the board with a staffing request.

Mendocino County election officials estimate that 16,572 ballots remain to be processed following the June 2 primary election.

According to the county’s initial unprocessed ballot report, 9,177 ballots had been counted as of Thursday afternoon. The largest share of outstanding ballots consists of 15,148 vote-by-mail ballots received on or before Election Day.

Election officials also reported 862 vote-by-mail ballots received after Election Day, four ballots forwarded by other counties, and 558 provisional ballots awaiting processing.

An additional 233 ballots remain in the curing process because of missing or nonmatching signatures.

The county expects to release its next vote count update by 4 p.m. on June 11.

Mendocino County supervisors are paying $1.5 million to settle civil litigation with former county Auditor Chamise Cubbison, according to newly obtained documents.

The board’s agreement was reached weeks ago but kept concealed until disclosure of the settlement was obtained this week under a Public Records Act request.

A key document bearing the signature of chair Bernie Norvell of the Board of Supervisors is dated Feb. 16, according to the records disclosed. Earlier, on Feb. 10, Cubbison attorney Therese Cannata and Morin Jacob, the county’s lawyer, signed a document approving the form of the agreement.

Why the settlement has been kept secret so long remains a mystery.

No one at the county level, including Norvell, or the county’s outside attorney involved in the Cubbison case, responded to requests Thursday for comment.

Nor did District Attorney David Eyster who was a key participant in events that led to the Cubbison civil litigation after his disputed efforts to criminally prosecute Cubbison collapsed on Feb. 25, 2025, when his felony case accusing her of misuse of public funds was dismissed in Superior Court.

The settlement represents about half of the potential monetary damage that Cubbison might have obtained had she continued her legal challenge, according to knowledgeable civil attorneys.

Cubbison reportedly agreed to settle because she is ready to move onto to her new job as newly elected county Treasurer / Tax Collector, and end years of upheaval in her career after being targeted by Eyster.

Cubbison attorney Therese Cannata said Thursday that Cubbison is “pleased and grateful to have reached a settlement with Mendocino County and conclude this long and difficult chapter in her life.”

“Speaking for her entire legal team, we were honored for the opportunity to serve Ms. Cubbison,” said Cannata. She is a noted lawyer who has obtained statewide recognition for representing management-level public employees.

Morin Jacob, the managing partner of the San Francisco law firm of Liebert Cassidy Whitmore retained by the county as an outside attorney, did not return written requests for comment. Jacob was instrumental in advising the board in 2023 that it could suspend Cubbison as auditor without pay or benefits based on DA Eyster’s move to criminally charge her.

Eyster’s action, laced with backroom political intrigue, stemmed from a hotly disputed case involving overtime pay in the Auditor’s Office during the Covid pandemic. At issue then was $68,000 paid to former county Payroll Manager Paula June Kennedy for extra hours. Eyster claimed Cubbison had authorized use of a “secret pay code” but testimony during a criminal preliminary hearing revealed the payments were not hidden, and that current and past county officials knew about them.

Judge Ann Moorman, who presided over the criminal case, found that there was no criminal intent on the part of Kennedy or Cubbison.

Court records show that on April 17 the Cubbison civil case was formally dismissed by Moorman at the request of attorneys on both sides. Earlier, on Jan. 9, a trial date was vacated because the case had been ‘settled,’ according to court documents.

County officials still have not publicly acknowledged the outcome of a contentious case that rocked the county administrative center and triggered a political brouhaha that engulfed the county board.

Cubbison in October 2023 was abruptly suspended without pay from office and had to hire a noted Sonoma County defense attorney to defend her against Eyster’s criminal allegations.

The DA later hired an outside prosecutor at a cost to local taxpayers of about $200,000 to take the case to court. The county board meanwhile authorized about $400,000 to cover its defense costs stemming from the subsequent civil litigation.

In total, the Cubbison affair has publicly cost $2 million or more. The $1.5 million settlement “is intended as a full and final resolution by the parties to this agreement of the claims and the action,” according to the newly released documents.

A significant portion of the Cubbison settlement will go towards covering 17 months of missed retirement contributions when she was suspended from her job as elected Auditor.

It provides that $143,573 be directly paid by the county to the Mendocino County Employees Retirement Association to be credited to Cubbison’s retirement account to ensure she received full credit for the pay periods falling between Oct. 14, 2023, and Feb. 25, 2025, when she was suspended without pay.

The remaining $1,356,426 will be considered settlement of alleged personal damages and reimbursement of her attorney fees and costs, according to the document.

The settlement was entered “with the understanding that it is the result of a compromise of disputed claims and shall never at any time for any purpose be considered an admission of the truth of any of the allegations, claims, or contributions made by any party against any of the other parties.”

Cubbison returned to work in February 2025 in the Auditor’s Office the day after criminal charges were dismissed against her.

Cubbison pushed for a return of independent offices for Auditor-Controller and Treasurer-Tax Collector, which had been forcibly combined by the Board of Supervisors over public objections. In the background, some county supervisors and DA Eyster, were advocating eliminating the two offices overseen by elected officials and creating a new Department of Finance instead.

Board advocates wanted control of the two key county financial offices. Eyster resisted challenges by Cubbison and past auditors over his office spending practices, including hosting annual staff parties at a local steak house. County policies ban such gatherings.

The Board of Supervisors this past Tuesday approved making the two key county financial offices officially separate again as of July 5.

Cubbison, a veteran county employee, that same day was elected by voters to become the county’s new Treasurer /Tax Collector. The board appointed her as interim head until she is formally sworn in next January.

Megan Hunter, a Cubbison assistant in the Auditor’s Office, has been appointed interim Auditor/Controller until January, when she assumes leadership of that office after running unopposed in Tuesday’s primary election.

Integrated Voting Systems (IVS), the company that printed and mailed ballots for Mendocino County’s March 5, 2024 presidential primary election, has filed a lawsuit seeking nearly $98,000 in unpaid invoices.

The dispute stems from a ballot-printing error discovered shortly before the election. According to a complaint filed April 23, 2026 in Mendocino County Superior Court, the county notified IVS on February 7, 2024, that Republican ballots had been mailed every voter, regardless of their party affiliation. IVS acknowledged responsibility the following day, attributing the mistake to an incorrect data file provided by a third-party vendor hired by the company.

IVS CEO Eric Kozlowski described the error in detail to the Secretary of State on February 9, 2024: “The issue was created by a third-party vendor that sent us incorrect ballot images. These ballot images were created from a test file produced by the vendor for converting the black print from CMYK to Black only using a static republican ballot image. The vendor created the correct file also. When the images were posted to our FTP site, the vendor posted the test file instead of the correct live file. When we looked at the file for our internal QC (quality control), the header fields, watermark, and barcodes were all correct.”

IVS says it immediately reprinted corrected ballots and mailed them at its own expense. The complaint stated replacement ballots were delivered to the U.S. Postal Service by February 13, allowing the election to proceed as scheduled.

After completing its work, IVS issued three invoices to the county on March 27, 2024:

• Invoice 13340: $22,515.89

• Invoice 13341: $29,241.37

• Invoice 13343: $45,999.80

The invoices totaled $97,756.06.

The county did not pay the invoices. Instead, on July 25, 2024, Deputy County Counsel Brina Blanton sent IVS a settlement proposal alleging that the ballot error had cost the county approximately $107,705.93 in additional expenses. According to the proposal, those costs consisted primarily of staff time, including 675.5 hours of regular employee labor and 403 hours of additional staffing needed to provide extra help.

The county proposed that IVS waive the unpaid invoices and pay the county an additional $9,948.87.

In a September 24, 2024 response, attorneys Elizabeth Skane and William Mullins, representing IVS, requested documentation supporting the county’s claimed damages. The attorneys sought payroll records, timekeeping records, employment agreements, wage information, and election budgets from 2020 through 2024.

According to the lawsuit, communications continued throughout 2024 and 2025, but IVS contends the county was slow to respond and failed to provide sufficient documentation to justify its claimed losses.

The complaint states that the county eventually produced approximately 400 pages of records, including voter emails sent to the Elections Office and election timesheets. IVS argues that the records did not include hourly wage information or documentation showing actual labor costs, making it impossible to verify the county’s estimate of damages.

The lawsuit asserts five causes of action:

• Breach of Contract — IVS argues that it fulfilled its obligations under its agreement with the county and that the county breached the contract by refusing to pay for services received.

• Quantum Meruit — IVS claims the county accepted and benefited from election printing and mailing services and must pay their reasonable value.

• Common Counts – Services Rendered — IVS alleges it provided election-related services for which payment remains due.

• Account Stated — IVS argues that the county received and retained the invoices without timely objection, creating an obligation to pay the stated amount.

• Declaratory Relief — IVS seeks a court ruling establishing the county’s obligation to pay for services rendered and accepted, and determining that the county cannot withhold payment solely on the basis of internally generated labor estimates.

IVS is seeking $97,756.06 in damages, plus pre-judgment interest, attorneys’ fees where authorized, and court costs. The company is also asking the court to declare that Mendocino County remains obligated to pay for services it accepted and used during the 2024 primary election.

IVS did not respond to a request for comment.

In a statement to MendoLocal.News, Mendocino County said it is currently unable to discuss the pending litigation but expects to be able to respond to questions at a later date.

Correction: We misspelled the name of Isaac Whippy, the Fort Bragg city manager, in an initial draft of the story. We regret the error. (June 4, 2026, 2:45 p.m.)

Mayor Jason Godeke called the regular meeting of the Fort Bragg City Council to order at 6 p.m. on May 26.

Proclamations

The council recognized June 2026 as LGBTQIA2S+ Pride Month. Representatives from Spectrum and the Safe Space Project announced plans for a Pride parade on June 13.

The council also celebrated the 30th anniversary of Pacific Textile Arts, honoring the Alder Street organization for three decades of contributions to the local arts community.

Public Comment

Several speakers focused on the future of Overtime Brewing, a downtown brewpub that may be forced to close when its lease expires.

• Jenny Shattuck urged the council to help struggling businesses like Overtime Brewing and criticized the practice of levying fees, such as mandatory fire sprinklers and high capacity rates, on some businesses and not others.

• Overtime Brewing co-founder Stephen Duerr asked the council to reconsider its approach to retaining businesses such as Overtime.

• Jacob Patterson and Jay McMartin-Rosenquist also expressed concern about the brewery’s future, arguing that the city should do more to support locally owned businesses.

• Two residents revisited a long-running neighborhood dispute involving Evan Dick, who accused a city official of failing to address complaints related to his property. Patterson disputed Dick’s characterization of the situation.

Consent Calendar

The council approved the consent calendar unanimously, with the exception of Item 5C, regarding the Fourth of July fireworks display, which was pulled for separate discussion.

Council Reports

• Councilmember Lindy Peters highlighted the installation of binocular viewing stations along the Coastal Trail and raised concerns about speeding and RV parking near the fire station.

• Councilmember Tess Albin-Smith announced an upcoming Mendocino Transit Authority meeting and noted a vacant public representative seat for the coast.

• Vice Mayor Marcia Rafanan reported on an upcoming Parks and Recreation District ad hoc committee meeting and asked staff to explore ways the city might assist Overtime Brewing.

• Mayor Godeke announced plans to host a “Meet the Mayor” session at the Fort Bragg Farmers Market.

Fourth of July Fireworks Approved

The council unanimously approved a $50,000 contract for the city’s Fourth of July fireworks display.

Godeke said the item was pulled from the consent calendar because some residents had expressed interest in replacing fireworks with a drone show. He said a drone display would face logistical challenges and potential permitting hurdles, including issues involving the California Coastal Commission.

Public speakers largely favored keeping the traditional fireworks show. Paul Clark said the event remains popular and suggested reviving community fundraising efforts to offset costs. McMartin-Rosenquist also supported continuing the annual tradition.

City Manager Isaac Whippy said sufficient funding was available in the current budget to cover the higher cost of a Saturday night show.

Retail Recruitment Proposal Draws Skepticism

The council expressed reservations about a proposal to hire a retail recruitment consultant to help fill vacant commercial properties, including the former Rite Aid building.

Whippy presented results from a community survey of 386 respondents showing that while most residents shop locally, many leave the area for clothing, veterinary services and indoor family entertainment.

Charles Parker of The Retail Coach proposed a $27,000 contract to conduct market analysis and recruit retailers.

Public commenters questioned whether recruiting national chains was compatible with Fort Bragg’s existing formula business restrictions. Others suggested the city focus on local businesses or negotiate a more limited contract.

Council members were similarly cautious. Peters and Albin-Smith said residents had repeatedly identified healthcare services, urgent care and veterinary care as higher priorities than attracting national retail brands.

Godeke suggested referring the city’s formula business ordinance to the Community Development Committee for further review. The council took no formal action and directed staff to continue studying the issue.

Police Report Shows Drop in Violent Crime, Rise in Domestic Violence

Police Chief Eric Swift presented the department’s 2025 annual report.

The department responded to more than 10,000 calls for service, issued 305 traffic citations, seized 24 pounds of illegal drugs and recovered 18 firearms.

While assaults declined by 30 percent and DUI arrests fell by 27 percent, reported domestic violence incidents increased by 61 percent. Gang-related graffiti also rose sharply.

Swift reported that the department’s Care Response Unit helped reduce arrests involving unhoused residents by 28 percent and connected 71 people with rehabilitation services.

During council discussion, members focused on the increase in domestic violence and discussed potential partnerships with community organizations, including Project Sanctuary.

No action was required.

Blues Festival Seeks Long-Term Commitment

Event producer Pam Bell reported that the second annual Fort Bragg Blues Festival generated approximately $132,000 in revenue, a nearly 70 percent increase from the previous year.

Bell said the event generated 793 hotel room nights and raised $10,700 for local nonprofit organizations.

Seeking greater certainty for sponsors and performers, Bell asked the city to commit to supporting the festival for five years and to designate the first weekend in May as Fort Bragg Blues Festival Weekend.

Council members praised the event’s growth and its economic impact. Staff was directed to return with a resolution formally designating the first weekend in May for the festival.

New Music Festival Delayed Until 2027

Whippy and Tom Kavanaugh of the Idea Cooperative presented a proposal for a new fall music festival called Tide & Timber, aimed at attracting visitors in their 30s and 40s.

The proposed pilot event would cost between $60,000 and $80,000 and was initially envisioned for September 2026.

Several speakers questioned whether the city should be directly involved in organizing events and whether enough time remained to launch a successful festival this year.

Council members shared concerns about venue availability, staffing capacity and the compressed timeline. The council directed staff to postpone the concept until 2027 to allow additional planning and coordination.

Adjournment

The meeting adjourned following completion of the agenda.

Dead and malnourished sea lions are being reported along the Mendocino Coast in unusually high numbers, according to the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito.

Giancarlo Rulli, a spokesperson for the center, said staff have been receiving reports from the Mendocino Coast as often as several times a day over the past two to three weeks. While that is a significant increase for the area, it remains far below the numbers seen elsewhere in California. In Santa Cruz County, for example, more than 300 dead sea lions were reported last year.

Rulli said the overall number of dead and stranded marine mammals reported along California’s 600-mile coastline remains within historical norms. However, scientists are concerned about a persistent marine heatwave affecting coastal waters.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), coastal sea surface temperatures off California are among the warmest ever recorded for this time of year, rivaled only by conditions observed during the powerful 1997–98 El Niño and the “Warm Blob” marine heatwave of 2014–15.

Young, recently weaned sea lions are particularly vulnerable, Rulli said. Changes in ocean conditions can affect the availability of traditional prey species at a time when juvenile animals are still developing the skills needed to forage successfully on their own. Stranded animals can suffer other ailments such as pneumonia.

The Noyo Center for Marine Science did not respond to a request for information about local reports of dead or stranded sea lions, making it difficult to quantify the extent of the problem on the Mendocino Coast.

Sarah Grimes, the stranding coordinator for the Noyo Center, said in an email that a cause of death had not yet been established for the young grey whale that was found dead at Virgin Creek Beach at the end of April.

NOAA Fisheries cautions that the presence of a seal or sea lion on the beach does not necessarily mean the animal is sick or injured. Marine mammals commonly come ashore for a variety of reasons including to rest, breed, molt, and avoid predators.

Signs that an animal may be in distress include severe injuries such as excessive bleeding or open wounds, extreme emaciation, or unusual behaviors including persistent head shaking, seizures, disorientation, foaming at the mouth, or eating rocks or sand. Animals displaying these symptoms should be reported to the National Marine Mammal Stranding Response Network.

In Mendocino County, reports can be made to the Marine Mammal Center at (415) 289-7350.

Members of the public can also help by keeping their distance from marine mammals and ensuring that pets, especially dogs, remain leashed on beaches. This precaution is particularly important from late May through October during pupping season.

The Mendocino County Registrar of Voters reported preliminary election results on Tuesday after the polls closed at 8 p.m. The numbers printed below were produced at 12:00 a.m. The final vote count is not expected for several weeks. After the November 2024 election, the final official results were run on December 3, 2024.

This morning’s count, which is largely based on absentee ballots mailed before June 2, reflected the vote of roughly one in six registered voters.

Few voters cast ballots in every race. The governor’s race drew the greatest participation, with 9,035 ballots cast out of 9,177 counted so far

Governor’s Race

Voters also participated heavily in the election for the California Senate — 8,625 were ballots cast — and State Assembly — 8,669 ballots were cast.

State Senator (2nd District)

State Assembly (2nd District)

Measure A

A bond measure for the Mendocino-Lake Community College District did not reach the required 55% threshold needed to pass in early voting — 8,056 voters cast ballots.

Superior Court Judge

A contested race for superior court judge revealed strong support for the incumbent, Judge Patrick Pekin. The 5,760 votes received by Pekin in early voting exceeded the 5,697 votes received by Judge FredRicco McCurry who ran unopposed after being appointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom last year. Pekin also received the highest percent of the vote of any candidate in any race in early voting

Mendocino County Board of Supervisors — District 3

The District 3 Board of Supervisors race proved to be the most highly contest race in the primary election, with Eric Hart leading Buffey Wright Bourassa by five votes in early voting — 1,499 ballots were cast in early voting, or about 14% of registered District 3 voters.

Mendocino County Board of Supervisors — District 5

Supervisor Ted Williams, the incumbent, appeared to have a decisive edge in the District 5 race. Turnout for early voting was strong with 1,946 ballots cast, or 17% of the registered vote

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In a county where teachers sometimes sleep in cars, nurses sometimes have to choose between a campsite and a hotel room, and families spill over into aging RVs and converted sheds, an analysis of parcel data reveals an uncomfortable reality: nearly 30 percent of parcels classified as residential have no homes on them.

The analysis, conducted by MendoLocal.News, examined county assessor data and identified more than 10,000 parcels classified as vacant residential — land designated for housing but lacking a residential structure. The finding is striking in a county that continues to struggle with housing affordability and availability.

For context, the California Department of Housing and Community Development last year determined that Mendocino County must plan for 6,456 housing units between June 30, 2027, and August 15, 2035. The figure reflects projected household growth, vacancy rates, overcrowding, affordability challenges, homelessness, and housing lost in emergencies.

The analysis

The gap between land designated for housing and actual housing production raises a fundamental question: what is really driving Mendocino County’s housing shortage?

During election forums, several Board of Supervisors candidates pointed to permitting and regulatory processes as significant obstacles. District 3 candidate Russ Green said the core problem is permitting. District 5 candidate Kevin Evans suggested streamlining approvals for workforce housing and long-term rentals. District 3 candidate Eric Hart emphasized government efficiency and the need to work with homeowners whose residences are not compliant with building codes.

Yet the large number of vacant residential parcels suggests the issue may be more complex. The MendoLocal.News analysis found that 72 percent of vacant residential parcels are owned by individuals, trusts, or other entities with mailing addresses outside Mendocino County.

The finding raises questions about the extent to which vacant land is being held as a long-term investment rather than being developed for housing. However, county officials, real estate agents, and contractors caution that ownership patterns alone do not explain why so many residential parcels remain undeveloped.

Buildable lots that are impossible to build on

Supervisor Ted Williams, who represents the central and southern coast as well as portions of inland Mendocino County, warned that a parcel’s mailing address may have little to do with whether housing is ultimately built there.

Williams cited a long list of factors that can make a residential parcel difficult or impossible to develop, including lack of road access, insufficient water supplies, steep or unstable terrain, high fire hazard severity zones, wetlands, environmental restrictions, septic limitations, and unresolved title or estate issues. Parcels located in the Coastal Zone face additional regulatory requirements.

As a coastal supervisor, Williams is familiar with those challenges. Communities such as Little River, Manchester, Gualala, and Elk have some of the county’s highest rates of absentee ownership among vacant residential parcels, and they also face some of the most significant barriers to development.

No water, no house

The challenges are not confined to the coast. Brooktrails, outside Willits in District Three, illustrates how infrastructure limitations can prevent housing from being built even when land is designated for residential use.

Brooktrails alone accounts for roughly 40 percent of all vacant residential parcels in Mendocino County. Water availability remains a major constraint. As of January 2025, the Brooktrails Township Community Services District reported that only 19 new water connections were available for prospective homebuilders. Existing customers are limited to 9,000 gallons of water per month.

Brooktrails highlights a broader issue: in many parts of Mendocino County, infrastructure has not kept pace with the land designated for residential development.

“Some parcels may lack water, sewer, septic suitability, road access, fire-safe access, utilities, or may face environmental, topographic, coastal, subdivision, or General Plan constraints,” said District 3 candidate Buffey Bourassa. “That distinction matters. A parcel may be classified for residential use, but still not be realistically buildable without major infrastructure or policy work.”

Worthless lots that seem like bargains

Brooktrails originated as a massive subdivision project in the 1960s and 1970s. Thousands of lots were sold, but many were never developed. Today, many remain low-value parcels with limited development potential. The average assessed land value of a vacant Brooktrails parcel is approximately $5,645, compared with about $29,000 countywide.

“Unfortunately, some parcels cycle repeatedly through tax auction,” Williams said. “Buyers unfamiliar with local conditions purchase lots believing they can build, later discover the water limitations or infrastructure costs, stop paying taxes, and the parcels eventually return to auction again.”

Outside Mendocino County’s cities and community services districts like Brooktrails many vacant residential parcels lack access to public water and sewer systems. Property owners must install wells and septic systems at their own expense while navigating increasingly stringent state and local regulations. In some locations, site conditions make either a well or septic system impractical or impossible.

Even where infrastructure is available, economics can present another barrier.

“Today, residential construction commonly costs roughly $400 to $500 per square foot once materials, labor, utilities, road improvements, engineering, and compliance costs are included,” Williams said. “In many parts of Mendocino County, the cost to build exceeds likely resale value or rental return.”

A call for better data

Both Williams and Bourassa said the findings highlight the need for a more detailed inventory of vacant residential land.

Williams said he believes the long-term solution lies in updating the General Plan and defining where future development makes sense. “Housing is most feasible where infrastructure already exists or can realistically be supported, particularly water, sewer, roads, and emergency services,” he said.

Bourassa suggested a detailed inventory could become the foundation of a countywide housing strategy.

“I would support a coordinated review between the Assessor’s Office, Planning and Building, MCOG, special districts, and community partners so we can separate data issues from real housing opportunities and focus on solutions that actually move housing forward,” she said. “Are we making the best use of land that is already designated for housing? Before asking communities to absorb new development pressures, we need a clearer understanding of where the real opportunities are and what barriers are standing in the way.”

Forward motion of a 10-acre vegetation fire at the 12000 block of State Road 253 has been halted, according to a spokesperson for CAL FIRE.

Firefighters from CAL FIRE and the local Anderson Valley Fire Department continue to battle the blaze, assisted by multiple engines, a dozers, and a water tender. Fire fighting air craft have been released.

The Palmer Fire reported by Watch Duty around 1:45 p.m. on June 1.

View the fire live at:

https://cameras.alertcalifornia.org/?pos=38.8376_-123.3512_10&id=Axis-GrizzlyPeak1

MendoLocal.News will update this story as more information becomes available.

A 22-year-old man was arrested Sunday following a Ukiah Police Department investigation into allegations of sexual assault involving a teenage girl and the possession of child sexual abuse material.

According to Sgt. August Kinney, the investigation began in April after the father of a 16-year-old girl reported that his daughter had been sexually assaulted by an adult male.

Police said detectives determined that the girl had engaged in sexual activity with Giovanni Buriel, 22, and that she alleged some encounters were nonconsensual. During the investigation, detectives learned Buriel possessed child sexual abuse material on his cellphone and in cloud-based storage accounts.

Detectives obtained search warrants for those accounts and reported finding more than 600 images depicting child sexual abuse material.

On May 29, detectives obtained a no-bail Ramey warrant for Buriel’s arrest. He was taken into custody without incident in Patterson, CA on May 31 and booked into the Mendocino County Jail.

Buriel was arrested on suspicion of rape by force, oral copulation with a minor, possession of child sexual abuse material, and possession of more than 600 images depicting child sexual abuse material.

Ukiah Police Arrest Man in Stabbing Case

Ukiah police arrested a man Saturday in connection with a stabbing that occurred earlier this year in the 100 block of Luce Avenue.

According to Sgt. August Kinney of the Ukiah Police Department, Bobby Roston is accused of stabbing an adult man in the torso following a verbal altercation. The victim suffered injuries that were not life-threatening and was treated and released from a local hospital.

Police said they were unable to locate Roston immediately after the incident. When officers contacted him on May 31, investigators determined that he had also failed to comply with sex offender registration requirements within the City of Ukiah.

Roston was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and failure to register as a sex offender. He was booked into custody pending prosecution.

Charges are allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.

🏛️ MENDOCINO COUNTY

Mendocino College Owes $204 Million in Bond Interest from Measure W, Which Was Approved in 2006

By Elise Cox, MendoLocal.News · May 29

Mendocino-Lake Community College District is asking voters to approve a $98 million bond while carrying $203.9 million in existing debt from a 2006 measure, with repayment extending to 2052. One 2022 Capital Appreciation Bond received $17.8 million but will require $87.26 million at maturity.

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Measure A Flyers Suggest Bond Would Fund Fire Academy Already Paid for by State

By Elise Cox, MendoLocal.News · May 27

Campaign flyers for Measure A, sponsored by the Mendocino College Foundation, claim the bond will fund a fire academy, but California already announced $20 million in state funding for that facility in March 2026. The measure would authorize $98 million in bonds requiring property owners to repay approximately $210 million total over 35 years, with more than half going to financing costs and interest.

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A New Vision for Mendocino College Gets Lost in the Fine Print

By Elise Cox, MendoLocal.News · May 29

Mendocino-Lake Community College District is promoting Measure A to fund new facilities in nursing, fire science, and trades across three campuses, but voter materials obscure those specific projects behind lengthy legal language required by California law. District officials acknowledge a communication gap between the visionary master plan driving the initiative and the dense laundry list of approved spending items voters actually see.

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Ballot Measure A: Fort Bragg Resident Questions True Costs to Homeowners

By Carole Brodsky, Ukiah Daily Journal · May 26

Fort Bragg resident Dennis Miller has presented to local city councils and Democratic clubs arguing that the Mendocino-Lake Community College District’s $98 million Measure A bond conceals its true cost through what he calls “misinformation by omission.” Miller contends the bond could cost property owners up to $400 million in principal and interest, and advocates for a limited-time assessment with a sunset clause as a less expensive alternative.

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Four Candidates Claim ‘No Reportable Interests’

By Elise Cox, MendoLocal.News · May 30

Four candidates in Mendocino County’s upcoming primary election filed Form 700 disclosure statements reporting no disclosable interests, raising questions about compliance with California’s conflict-of-interest reporting requirements.

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Supervisors Approve Changes in the Business Improvement District for Lodging

By Elise Cox, MendoLocal.News · May 26

The Mendocino County Board of Supervisors approved governance changes for the county’s tourism organization and directed staff to investigate eliminating a 3% administrative fee. Board Chair Cally Dym said spending would be directed toward areas where the marketing dollars are generated.

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Complaints Mount Over Neglected Vineyards as Mendocino Wine Industry Faces Intensifying Economic Pressure

By Elise Cox, MendoLocal.News · May 26

The Mendocino County Board of Supervisors directed its agricultural commissioner to enforce minimum maintenance standards for vineyards after receiving complaints that neglected properties are spreading pests and disease to neighboring farms.

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Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter Pests Not Found in Nymph Tests on Grapevines, But Vigilance Is Urged

Mendocino County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office

The Mendocino County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office has completed inspections of grapevine plants shipped from Burchell Nursery in Fresno County to the Ukiah Costco Wholesale store. While initial laboratory testing by the California Department of Food and Agriculture confirmed that nymph samples were not glassy-winged sharpshooter (GWSS), the department continues heightened surveillance to protect local vineyards.

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Kittens Are in Season Across Mendocino County

By Roger Coryell, The Mendocino Voice · May 31

The Mendocino County Animal Shelter expects a seasonal influx of kittens driven by unspayed cats. Despite having funds available for spay and neuter services, a critical shortage of veterinarians is leaving contracts unfulfilled.

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Mendocino County Budget Hearings on Tuesday

By Roger Coryell, The Mendocino Voice · May 30

County supervisors will hold budget hearings Tuesday and Wednesday on a $106.7 million spending plan that relies on $2.6 million in carryover funds to achieve a legally required balanced budget, masking what officials call a structural deficit. The board will also consider an urgency ordinance to accelerate splitting the combined Auditor-Controller/Treasurer-Tax Collector position into two offices by June, rather than January 2027.

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🚤 FORT BRAGG

Longhorn Ranchers Buy Old Thanksgiving Coffee Site

By Frank Hartzell, Mendocino Coast News · May 28

Longhorn ranchers Evan “Mac” Siller and Andrea Siller purchased the historic Thanksgiving Coffee building at 19350 South Harbor Drive in Fort Bragg for $240,000, with plans to demolish it and build an upscale charter boat operation.

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🇺🇸 Mendocino Coast Communities Mark Memorial Day

By Frank Hartzell, Mendocino Coast News · May 25–26

Memorial Day services were held in Mendocino at Zenith Hill and in Fort Bragg at Rose Memorial Park, where American Legion Post Sequoia 96 drew more than 70 attendees and unveiled a new veterans memorial honoring all six branches of the U.S. armed forces.

The observances also recognized local fallen: Clyde Lucas, a Mendocino High graduate killed by a land mine in Vietnam whose name was recently restored to the school’s football scoreboard, and the Iversen brothers — two Mendocino Coast natives killed aboard the USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor — whose names appear among 45 Mendocino Coast servicemen on bronze plaques at Fort Bragg Veterans Hall.

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Driftwood Collection Allowed at Noyo Beach Until June 30

By Savana Robinson, The Mendocino Voice · May 29

Fort Bragg is permitting residents to collect driftwood from Noyo Beach through June 30 to reduce fire hazards ahead of the Fourth of July fireworks.

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📱 GUALALA

From Private Posts to Federal Raids: The Growing Government Dragnet Targeting Online Dissent

By Elise Cox, MendoLocal.News · May 26

Federal agencies are using administrative subpoenas under a 96-year-old customs law to compel tech companies to reveal the identities of anonymous social media users who criticize government officials or monitor enforcement activities.

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Escrow Closes on Gualala Hotel

By Kat Gleason, Independent Coast Observer · May 28

Amar Ventures, based in San Jose, has closed escrow on the Gualala Hotel, according to real estate broker Jared Herschler.

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📮 LEGGETT

Leggett Post Office Reopens June 15 After Fire Damage

United States Postal Service

The Leggett Post Office will reopen Monday, June 15, 2026, at its original location at 67674 Drive Thru Tree Road following repairs from fire damage. The updated facility will offer full retail and PO Box services during regular business hours, with 24-hour access to the PO Box lobby.

Customers should retrieve any remaining mail from the temporary Garberville location by June 12. PO Box customers will need to present photo identification to receive new key assignments beginning June 15.

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💧 POTTER VALLEY

FERC Opens Public Comment Period on Potter Valley Hydroelectric Project Surrender and Decommissioning

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has initiated the environmental review process for the proposed surrender and decommissioning of PG&E’s Potter Valley Hydroelectric Project. The agency will prepare an environmental impact document and is seeking public input on environmental effects and possible alternatives.

Two public scoping meetings are scheduled in Ukiah on June 23 and 24. Written comments must be submitted by July 24, 2026.

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🏫 POINT ARENA

Kashia Elementary School to Merge with Horicon

By Kat Gleason, Independent Coast Observer

The Sonoma County Committee on School District Organization voted on May 22 to permanently close Kashia Elementary School and merge the district into neighboring Horicon School District. Enrollment has remained in the single digits since the 2021–22 school year. Students from Kashia Elementary in the past have attended Point Arena High School.

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🥕 UKIAH

Ukiah’s State Street Garden Closes June 30

By Roger Coryell, The Mendocino Voice · May 28

A nearly 20-year-old community garden in Ukiah operated by North Coast Opportunities is closing June 30 after the property owner terminated the lease with only 15 days’ notice — far short of the 90-day clause intended to allow gardeners time to harvest crops. Gardeners with spring plantings still in the ground say they received no advance warning and are scrambling to find alternative plots.

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Redwood Credit Union Offers Community Financial Counseling

By Carole Brodsky, Ukiah Daily Journal · May 24

Redwood Credit Union has opened a remodeled Ukiah branch offering free financial coaching to members and non-members alike, with five coaches on staff locally and more than 100 across all locations. Programs include a Down Payment Assistance Program with forgivable grants of up to $25,000 for first-time homebuyers and savings tools that helped members save more than $5 million during their first year.

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City of Ukiah to Collect Comments on Annexation Plan Monday

By Justine Frederiksen, Ukiah Daily Journal · May 29

The City of Ukiah will hold a public scoping meeting June 1 at the Ukiah Valley Conference Center to gather comments on the environmental impacts of its proposed annexation plan, which would incorporate unincorporated territories currently served by two county water districts. Written comments will be accepted through June 8.

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Forgotten Women Revered at Grace Hudson Museum Exhibit

By Carole Brodsky, Ukiah Daily Journal · May 31

Grace Hudson Museum’s Look Again: Portraits of Daring Women features woodcut and collage portraits of overlooked historical women by artist Julie Lapping Rivera, inspired by The New York Times’ Overlooked obituary series. The exhibit opens June 5 during First Friday, runs through August 16, and includes work from 15 Mendocino County artists.

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Mendocino College Holds 53rd Annual Commencement

By Maureen Jennison, Willits Weekly · May 28

Mendocino College celebrated its 53rd commencement ceremony on May 22, awarding degrees and certificates to 527 students. Student Trustee Sara Munoz delivered the keynote address, and Abigail Strock performed the national anthem.

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Redwood MetalFest Celebrating 10th Year

By Carole Brodsky, Ukiah Daily Journal · May 28

Redwood MetalFest Chapter X returns to Alex Thomas Plaza in Ukiah on June 13 from noon to 10 p.m., featuring 21 performances and more than 100 musicians. The free, family-friendly event is headlined by Holy Divers, a tribute to Ronnie James Dio, and has grown from roughly 150 attendees at its 2012 debut to about 3,000 attendees last year.

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🚂 WILLITS

Skunk Train Expands Offerings on Their Willits Line

By Carole Brodsky, Ukiah Daily Journal · May 27

The Skunk Train is launching Railcoaster pedal-powered railbikes on a 15-mile round-trip route through the Noyo River Canyon from Willits, along with a new mid-century-styled Presidential Class railcar called The Noyo. This fall, the railroad will also partner with Flynn Creek Circus for performances deep in the redwood forest accessible only by rail.

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Willits Car and Bike Show Draws Hundreds

By Mathew Caine, Willits Weekly · May 28

At least 193 cars and motorcycles participated in the 44th annual Willits Car and Bike Show, held last Sunday along Commercial and Main streets. The event was dedicated to John Yde.

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🏛️ CALMATTERS

Homelessness Declines in California and Across the Country, New Federal Report Shows

By Marisa Kendall, CalMatters · May 30

Summary: California and the nation saw homelessness decrease for the first time in years, according to a federal report released Friday. California’s homeless population dropped 2.8% to 181,934 people, while the country overall saw a 3.3% decline.

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California Overhauls Carbon Market — Critics Say It’s a Giveaway to Oil

By Alejandro Lazo, CalMatters · May 29

Summary: California regulators approved a controversial overhaul of the state’s carbon market on Friday that could direct billions of dollars in free pollution permits to oil refineries and other major polluters. The changes, backed by Gov. Newsom’s administration amid rising gas prices and refinery closures, are expected to reduce state climate program funding from $4 billion to $2 billion annually.

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It’s Form 700 season — the time when candidates for elected office publicly disclose their economic interests, including sources of income, investments, business positions, gifts, and real property holdings.

The disclosures serve an important purpose. California’s Political Reform Act requires public officials to identify financial interests that could create conflicts of interest and, in some circumstances, disqualify themselves from participating in governmental decisions that may have a material financial effect on those interests or those of their immediate family members.

Failure to make required disclosures can result in administrative, civil, and, in some cases, criminal penalties. The Fair Political Practices Commission has repeatedly emphasized that omissions attributed to oversight or misunderstanding do not necessarily excuse reporting violations.

Form 700 statements are public records. Agencies are generally required to make them available promptly upon request and no later than the second business day after receiving a filed statement.

However, a coastal resident who requested copies of candidates’ Form 700 filings waited approximately six weeks for scanned copies from the Mendocino County Elections Office. When the documents were eventually provided, they did not initially include a filing for judicial candidate Colby Friend, who is running for Superior Court judge. The Registrar of Voters subsequently followed up with a cover page that stated that Colby was attaching disclosures for investments and real property, but these were not provided to the resident.

Among the candidates whose filings were provided, four reported no disclosable interests:

• Todd Lyly, candidate for Fifth District supervisor

• Kevin Evans, candidate for Fifth District supervisor

• Clay Romero, candidate for Third District supervisor

• Megan Hunter, candidate for Auditor-Controller, who is running unopposed

Neither Lyly nor Hunter checked the form’s “No Reportable Interests” box, although both signed their statements under penalty of perjury. When contacted by MendoLocal.News, Lyly and Romero said they would review their filings for accuracy and amend them if necessary. In addition to a single family residence, which Lyly is not required to disclose, Lyly owns 2621 N. State Street, which is zoned commercial. Evans said his filing was accurate. Hunter did not respond to a request for comment.

Among the remaining candidates, Russell Green, a candidate for Third District supervisor, filed one of the most extensive disclosures, listing investments, business interests, and real property holdings.

Fifth District Supervisor Ted Williams disclosed a technology consulting company and his position on the Golden State Connect Authority board. County Superintendent of Schools Nicole Glentzer disclosed a partnership interest in Circle X Cattle Company. Assessor-Clerk-Recorder candidate Tonya Mounts disclosed her role as chief executive officer of Mounts Family LLC, which she described as a mechanical shop located at 359 N. School Street in Ukiah.

Superior Court Judge Patrick Pekin disclosed the law office where his wife, an attorney, is employed, as well as rental property income.

Superior Court Judge Fredric McCurry disclosed income received by his spouse, as well as individual stock holdings in Amazon and GameStop. Green also reported multiple stock investments.

Treasurer-Tax Collector Chamise Cubbison disclosed her position as a trustee of the Mendocino County Employees Retirement Commission and reported an investment, her husband’s business entity, and a personal loan from Lorie Leaf.

Buffey Bourassa, a candidate for Third District supervisor, disclosed income of less than $2,000 from Buffey Bourassa Consulting, described on the form as “tribal consulting liaison.”

Eric Hart, also a candidate for Third District supervisor, reported less than $500 in income from property located in Willits.

Required disclosures

Required disclosures can range from relatively minor gifts to ownership interests in multimillion-dollar businesses. Form 700 disclosures generally fall into several categories:

1. Gifts. Gifts valued at $50 or more from a single source during the reporting period must generally be disclosed. For example, a dinner at a restaurant that costs more than $50 and is paid for by someone else may be a reportable gift. Transportation provided without charge may also be reportable under certain circumstances, depending on who provided it and the purpose of the trip.

2. Income. Sources of income totaling $500 or more generally must be disclosed. Candidates must also report certain economic interests held by a spouse or registered domestic partner. If a spouse or domestic partner is self-employed, the business entity may also be reportable.

3. Business ownership. Candidates must disclose business entities in which they hold ownership interests that meet reporting thresholds.

4. Loans. Certain personal loans must be disclosed. Additional restrictions apply to loans received from public officials, employees, consultants, contractors, or others connected to the agency associated with the office sought. Under some circumstances, a loan that is not repaid may be treated as a gift.

5. Real property. Real property interests valued at $2,000 or more generally must be disclosed.

6. Investments. Investments worth $2,000 or more in business entities doing business in, planning to do business in, or otherwise affected by the jurisdiction must generally be disclosed. Diversified mutual funds and similar investment vehicles are typically exempt from disclosure.

7. Business and nonprofit positions. Candidates must disclose positions such as director, officer, partner, trustee, employee, or management roles in business entities and nonprofit organizations, even when those positions are unpaid.

In addition to disclosure requirements, California law limits the value of gifts that many public officials may receive from a single source during a calendar year. For 2025–26, that limit is $630.

Clarifications: This story is available to be republished under the Creative Commons 4.0 license. (CC BY 4.0) by an media organization operating in Mendocino County.
We added a statement from Mr. Karas that the district is not operating in the red. (May 29, 2026)

Mendocino-Lake Community College District is asking voters to approve a $98 million general obligation bond to renovate and expand its campuses across two counties. What the district is not telling voters is that it already owes $203.9 million on bonds from a measure passed nearly two decades ago — and that local property owners are responsible for every dollar.

Measure A, which will appear on the June 2 ballot, would fund new and renovated facilities at the district’s main campus in Ukiah and centers in Willits, Fort Bragg, and Lakeport, as well as the Coastal Field Station, just north of Point Arena. If approved, the measure would roughly double the district’s total outstanding bond obligations.

The district’s existing debt stems from Measure W, a $67.5 million general obligation bond that voters in Mendocino and Lake counties approved in November 2006 with 62.4% of the vote. Nineteen years later, records show the district has issued 90 individual bonds across seven separate sales — and the final payment will not be made until 2052, nearly a half-century after voters went to the polls.

A Debt That Grew

Mendocino College issued its first bonds under Measure W in March 2007. It issued a second and final authorized series in August 2011. Then it refinanced — twice. A September 2015 refunding restructured $48.6 million in outstanding bonds. A March 2022 refunding restructured an additional $62 million.

Each refinancing extended the district’s obligations further into the future.

The district’s audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2025 — prepared by San Diego-based certified public accounting firm CWDL and issued December 8, 2025 — show the district carries $99.4 million in bond liabilities on its books. When all future principal, interest, and accreted growth on those bonds is counted through their final maturity, the total obligation reaches $203.9 million, according to the statements and MendoLocal.News research.

That figure is nearly three times the $67.5 million voters authorized in 2006.

The Bonds Voters Don’t Know About

The most consequential piece of the district’s debt is largely invisible to the public.

Buried in the district’s bond history is a class of securities called Capital Appreciation Bonds, or CABs. Unlike conventional bonds that pay interest every six months, CABs pay nothing until maturity. The debt simply grows — year after year, silently — until a lump-sum payment comes due.

The district issued CABs as part of both its 2011 bond series and its 2022 refinancing.

The largest single bond in the district’s portfolio is a 2022 CAB that matures in 2050. Records filed with the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board show the district received approximately $17.8 million when it sold that bond. Taxpayers will owe $87.26 million when it comes due — a ratio of nearly five to one.

More striking: a separate set of CABs issued in the district’s 2011 bond series were never retired in the 2022 refinancing. Because CABs typically cannot be called before maturity, those bonds are still accreting on the district’s books. As of June 30, 2025, the remaining 2011 series carries $23.5 million in carrying value, with future obligations totaling $62.4 million extending through 2052 — the last payment date for any Mendocino College bond.

The district’s own audited statements describe annual CAB accretion — the year-over-year growth of unpaid interest — as interest expense. That figure totaled $4.6 million in fiscal year 2025 alone.

Taxpayers Are Already Paying

General obligation bonds are backed by local property taxes, not tuition or state funds. Every dollar the district borrows under Measure W must be repaid by property owners in Mendocino and Lake counties.

In fiscal year 2025, the district collected $4.1 million in local property tax revenue specifically designated for bond capital repayment, according to its audited financial statements. That levy will continue each year — the the amount can vary — until the final bond matures in 2052.

Measure A, if approved, would authorize the district to levy additional property taxes to service the new debt — on top of the existing levy. Because taxes are levied according to assessed value — which has little or no relationship to a property owner’s ability to pay — residents who bought property in the last six years after the pandemic run-up in prices are required to contribute significantly more than their neighbors — on top of their higher baseline taxes.

The district’s audited financial statements also show it ended fiscal year 2025 with a negative net position of $20.8 million, meaning its total liabilities exceed its total assets by that amount. In 2024, the district ended the fiscal with a negative net position of $20.9 million

The District’s Response

Mendocino-Lake Community College District officials responded to a request for comment on the district’s existing bond obligations with a link to the most recent audited financial statements. The district did not comment on the relationship between that debt and Measure A.

Mr. Karas took issue with a statement that the district has been operating in the red for the last two years, as reflected in its negative net position. “We have a balanced budget and reserves meeting State guidance,” he said in an email.

The district’s bond oversight committee, a citizen panel required by California law, reviews expenditures under Measure W. The committee’s most recent public report is dated 2015. It did not contain any information about continuing taxpayer indebtedness.

California law enacted in 2013 restricted school districts from issuing new CABs after concerns about the instruments. Whether Measure A bonds could be structured as CABs, and under what restrictions, was not addressed in the district’s public ballot materials.

A Pattern Statewide

Mendocino College’s bond history is not unique in California. Community college districts statewide have used CABs to lower near-term debt service costs while pushing large obligations decades into the future — a practice that drew scrutiny from state legislators and the California State Auditor beginning in the early 2010s.

What distinguishes Mendocino College’s situation is that its oldest CABs — issued in 2011 and still outstanding — survived a 2022 refinancing that was designed in part to reduce the district’s long-term costs. Because CABs cannot be called early, those bonds will continue growing for nearly three more decades regardless of what voters decide on Measure A.

Measure W was approved in 2006 for $67.5 million. Nearly two decades of borrowing, refinancing and compounding interest later, the total bill has grown to $203.9 million. Local property owners are currently paying $4.1 million per year toward that debt and will be doing so until 2052.

Measure A would start the clock again.

Read our previous stories:

A New Vision for Mendocino College Gets Lost in the Fine Print (May 28, 2026)

Measure A Fliers Suggest Bond Would Fund Fire Academy Already Paid for by the State (May 27, 2026)

Tim Karas has spent six years watching young people leave Mendocino County

They drive north to Humboldt County or south to Sonoma, chasing nursing degrees and other certifications that Mendocino College does not offer.

“Everyone wants us to expand nursing,” said Karas, the superintendent/president of the Mendocino-Lake Community College District. “Fire, marine science, the trades. That’s what people ask me about when I go around the community. Why don’t we have more nurses? Why don’t we have more paramedics? Why don’t we have more plumbers?”

The answer, he has concluded, is concrete and steel, as well as up-to-date laboratories and electronic infrastructure — or rather, their absence.

Now, Karas has pinned his hopes on Measure A, a $98 million bond measure on the June primary ballot that would fund new and renovated facilities at the district’s campuses in Ukiah, Fort Bragg, and Willits. If approved by 55 percent of voters, the measure would authorize the district to borrow from bond investors, with taxpayers repaying the principal and interest — a total of roughly $210 million — over the life of the bonds.

The vision is straightforward: build the specialized facilities that would allow Mendocino and Lake County residents to train for well-paying careers without leaving home. A new Allied Health and Career Technical Education Complex in Ukiah. A rebuilt Mendocino Coast College Center outside Fort Bragg. An expanded North County Center in Willits, housing programs in Fire Science, Sustainable Construction and Lab Science.

But there is a problem. Almost none of that appears in the materials voters are actually reading.

Lost in the boilerplate

The full text of Measure A, as it appears in the voter guide, reads less like a mindful plan to steward public monies for the greatest impact and more like a laundry list of projects drafted by a committee determined to spend tens of millions of dollars because they can.

The money, it states, can be used to build or renovate “science buildings, advanced technology buildings, wellness/allied health facilities, culinary arts facilities, arts and woodworking buildings and facilities, nursing and physical therapy facilities, agricultural facilities and buildings, early childhood education center ... student services and welcome centers, bookstore, dining, food services, physical education facilities, visual and performing arts facilities including theaters and galleries, classrooms, and buildings, bus stops, parking lots ... affordable student and workforce housing units ... the construction and installation of on-premises, cloud-based, or hybrid data center and related infrastructure.”

The list runs to well over one hundred items.

“Why are you going to fund a parking lot?” Karas acknowledged voters have asked. “We’re not. But that’s where the hard part is — the list is like a legal form. You have to put all the stuff there as boilerplate.”

The language is standard practice for California community college bonds, which are governed by strict constitutional requirements. Bond attorneys routinely include exhaustive lists of permissible expenditures to protect districts from legal challenges. But the effect, in a rural county with few reporters and a skeptical electorate, has been to obscure the very projects the measure was designed to fund.

“The ballot language doesn’t say ‘Willits Center’ or ‘Ukiah Allied Health Building,’” Karas conceded. “It highlighted programs more than places. And I know what that means because I’m in the weeds. But voters aren’t.”

Three campuses, one chance

The district’s case for Measure A is rooted in a Comprehensive Facilities Master Plan covering 2025 to 2035 — a 250-plus page document that lays out, in granular detail, what the bond money would actually build.

In Ukiah, the centerpiece is a new 17,800-square-foot Allied Health and Career Education Complex designed to replace a cluster of aging temporary buildings and consolidate signature programs — nursing, culinary arts, middle college — into the heart of campus. Several of the district’s main buildings, including MacMillan Hall and Lowery Hall, are candidates for deep renovation or outright replacement. The campus’s original structures date to the 1970s, built for an era when nursing shortages and fire science academies were not among the college’s central missions.

“Those programs didn’t even exist when the campuses were built,” Karas said. “They were all added in the 2000s.” The buildings, he added, were never designed for them.

On the Mendocino Coast, the plan calls for demolishing the existing main and art buildings at the Fort Bragg center and replacing them with a single, consolidated 28,750-square-foot facility housing academic, scientific and arts programs, including a dedicated Environmental and Biological Sciences Center. The Krenov School for Fine Woodworking — a program with a national reputation — would be relocated and expanded on the same campus.

In Willits, the situation carries particular urgency. The district has already secured approximately $20 million in grants for the North County Center expansion — $12 million from California’s Proposition 2, roughly $4 million from a federal Economic Development Administration grant, and $4 million in non-reimbursable funds. The planned 18,500-square-foot building would house career technical education programs in Fire Science, Sustainable Construction and Lab Science.

But nearly all of those grants are reimbursement-based: the district must spend the money before it can recover it. The bond money will provide the initial cash flow to pay construction workers and contractors. It’s critical to moving forward.

The federal portion carries additional uncertainty. With the current administration’s posture toward federal spending in flux, Karas said he feels pressure to break ground before the political climate shifts further. “Our project somehow made its way through both administrations,” he said. “Both lenses still found value in it. Maybe we have a unicorn. But the best thing I can do once we have money is to actually do the construction.”

A communication gap

The disconnect between Measure A’s ambitions and its public presentation has not gone unnoticed.

Critics have focused on the bond mechanism itself — pointing out that of the roughly $210 million voters would ultimately pay, more than half represents financing charges and interest to bond investors. The cost of the bond are also not equally distributed. Newcomers who purchased properties following the run-up in values during the pandemic will pay multiples more than their neighbors, compounding gross inequalities in public services funding created by Proposition 13.

Karas does not dispute the math. But he argues the framing misses the point. Community colleges in California have no general fund allocation for capital construction. Bonds are not merely the conventional path — they are, under the state constitution, essentially the only path. “I do not know an example of a community college district in California that used something other than bonds for facility construction,” he said.

What he acknowledges more readily is that the case for those bonds was never clearly made to the public. The district’s voter outreach materials — mailers, a website, a FAQ page — describe the bond in general terms but fail to connect the dots between upgraded classrooms and a 35-year tax on property owners.

“The ballot language maybe could have had a better pointer to the facility master plan, which is the driver,” Karas said.

The Mendocino College Foundation, a separate nonprofit entity, has funded the campaign in favor of Measure A. The district, as a public agency, is legally constrained in its campaign activities — a distinction that has contributed to fragmented messaging.

A vote that comes down to trust

Measure A needs 55 percent approval to pass — the threshold California sets for local school and community college bonds. Karas said that if the measure fails in June, the district is unlikely to return to voters with another attempt anytime soon.

A $120 million bond measure proposed in Humboldt County in 2024 underscores the stakes — the bond fell short of the required threshold with just 52.6% support.

Julie McGovern, executive director of the Mendocino College Foundation, wants voters to understand the level of accountability that is baked into Measure A.

She pointed to the district’s last bond measure, Measure W, passed in 2006, as a model of what rigorous stewardship looks like in practice. A report to the community, published in 2015 after all Measure W funds had been expended, documented spending down to the cent. An independent citizens’ oversight committee — composed not of college employees but of community members with an interest in responsible use of public funds — reviewed the books annually throughout the life of the bond.

“I don’t think anybody wakes up in the morning and says, ‘Yay, I want to pay more taxes,’” McGovern said. “But we do have to see the long-term picture. If every other college district in California is putting out a bond measure to improve their facilities and we are not, then our students and our community will be left behind.”

It is, she acknowledged, an argument that depends on trust — trust that the specific projects described in the facilities master plan will actually be built and that the oversight mechanisms will function as designed.

Whether voters in Mendocino and Lake counties are prepared to extend that trust, at a cost of roughly $210 million over the life of the bonds, is a question the June ballot will answer.

Editorial Note: We are adding links to the bottom of this article to provide additional information about this measure.

Correction: An article published in the Mendocino Voice, and quoted below, misstated permissible spending under Measure A. The district clarified in interviews that staff training and employee salaries would not be covered, though the Voter Guide does list staff training as one of the allowable expenditures. (May 28, 2026 3:36 p.m.)

A series of political flyers about Measure A — a 35-year levy on property owners — has raised concerns among voters about claims and costs.

The most recent flyer arrived Tuesday, claiming that Measure A “will expand safe, modern classrooms and labs to train the firefighters we desperately need — people who will live and serve right here in our communities, including wildfire training and making the updated Firefighting Academy a reality.”

However, in March, the state of California announced a $20 million investment to fund a new 19,000-square-foot building on the Mendocino College Willits campus specifically for a new fire academy.

According to state Sen. Mike McGuire, who spoke at the funding announcement ceremony, the building will house training programs in fire science, construction and energy technology, laboratory services, and healthcare workforce development.

“I couldn’t be more excited that we are building the newest Fire Academy on the North Coast right here in Willits,” McGuire said.

Measure A would authorize the sale of $98 million in general obligation bonds and obligate Mendocino County property owners to repay approximately $210 million in principal and interest — roughly $3,800 per assessor parcel over three and a half decades.

However, because of the structure of the tax, people who purchased property within the last six years could pay substantially more. The voter information guide also notes that the total cost of the bond could exceed current estimates.

“The foregoing information is based upon projections and estimates only,” the guide states. Amounts such as the estimated $210 million debt service “are not maximum amounts and durations and are not binding on the district.”

Dennis Miller, a Fort Bragg retiree, has been speaking out about the cost of the bond at public meetings.

“There’s not a lot of information about how much bonds cost, and to me it is unbelievable,” Miller recently told the Willits City Council.

Miller said he is not opposed to funding education but would prefer a parcel tax, which would directly fund the college. According to the voter guide, more than half of taxes levied on property owners would go toward financing fees and interest paid to bondholders.

Despite the much higher long-term cost to taxpayers, government entities sometimes favor general obligation bonds because they can pass with 55 percent voter approval, compared with the 66.66 percent threshold generally required for parcel taxes.

In a letter to the editor published by The Mendocino Voice, B.B. Kamoroff of Willits noted that while the flyers portray Measure A as supporting “affordable education,” the voter guide lists more than 100 potential projects eligible for bond funding.

Kamoroff cited projects including dining facilities, bookstores, theaters, galleries, athletic and wellness facilities, performing arts spaces, a data center, land acquisition, demolition work, roads, parking lots, irrigation systems, vehicles, furniture, elevators, generators, and administrative costs.

“The funds will also go to pay assessment reviews, planning costs, staff training, and to the district for employee salaries,” Kamoroff wrote.

Kamoroff described it as “regrettable” that the flyers misrepresent how the money would be spent.

Additional stories:

Ballot Measure A: Fort Bragg resident questions true costs to homeowners, Ukiah Daily Journal, May 26, 2026

A New Vision for Mendocino College Gets Lost in the Fine Print, MendoLocal.News, May 28, 2026