Board bids farewell to Reagan, Kondylis

Outgoing Solano County Supervisors Barbara Kondylis and Mike Reagan talk Tuesday at the end of a ceremony recognizing their years of service as supervisors. (Brad Zweerink/Daily Republic)

FAIRFIELD — They’ve been on different sides of some hard-fought 3-2 votes over the years, but Solano County Supervisors Mike Reagan and Barbara Kondylis were both all smiles Tuesday as their colleagues gave them a two-hour-plus celebration.

They will both step down from the board Jan. 7. The Board of Supervisors presented them with plaques and then held a reception for them at the final meeting where they cast votes on county policies.

The focus was on the good times and the accomplishments. The only conflicting emotions were the tears shed. The mood was upbeat, but with an undercurrent of sadness, as two people left behind their public service careers with Solano County.

Kondylis has represented the 1st District, which is mostly Vallejo, since 1992 and chose not to run for re-election this year. Supervisor Linda Seifert, who joined Kondylis on the losing side of many 3-2 votes, gave her a plaque.

Seifert talked about Kondylis’ passion for such issues as keeping children safe and healthy. Kondylis would not compromise on children’s issues, to the point of voting “no” when she got most but not all of what she wanted, Seifert said. Those issues might pass 4-1, with Kondylis’ “no” vote registering her displeasure.

“When she chooses to be passionate about something, she’s so engaged and never gives up,” Seifert said.

Seifert also recalled the many times that Kondylis protested against practices she thought would allow pollutants to get into the environment. Kondylis would rattle off a list of potentially harmful chemicals as if she had a Ph.D, Seifert said.

State Sen. Lois Wolk, D-Davis, was among a parade of people who came to the microphone to praise Kondylis. She talked about how Kondylis did such things as helped establish a program with volunteer court advocates for foster youth.

“She has been a tireless advocate for families and for children and for those with less,” Wolk said.

Kondylis urged the board to keep working to give children a decent start to life.

“If they don’t get it at the very beginning, 0 to 3, it’s difficult for them to get it later in life,” she said.

She also urged the board to take global warming seriously.

Reagan lost the June election to Skip Thomson. He was elected to the board in 2004 to represent the 5th district, which though it contains small parts of Fairfield, Vacaville and Suisun City and all of Rio Vista, also covers vast areas of rural land.

Among Reagan’s achievements mentioned in a county report are being a“tireless advocate” for the county on Suisun Marsh and Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta issues, urging the board to take an active role in county economic development, helping to find solution to the problem wind turbines caused with Travis Air Force Base radar, and pushing for the expansion of such core rural industries as agricultural processing and landfills.

Supervisor Jim Spering presented Reagan with a plaque. He said Reagan wants to help people, but that there has to be the revenues generated for these types of programs. Spering put Reagan in a different category than “feel-good government.”

“Mike Reagan represents the reality side of government,” Spering said.

Reagan understands the issue of economic health that will allow people to better themselves, Spering said. He called Reagan a hard worker who can swiftly read lengthy county budgets and retain the information.

Wolk thanked Reagan for his work on Delta issues. Dixon Mayor Jack Batchelor thanked him for his efforts to bring a new veterans hall to Dixon. A Fairfield resolution presented to Reagan declared Tuesday as Mike Reagan Day. Several people noted Reagan has been known to read policy tomes into the night.

“To sum this up, this is sort of overwhelming,” Reagan said after the presentations.

He then presented flowers to his wife for the sacrifices she had to make during his years of public service. That included the time he spent doing the homework needed to do the job, he said.

“It’s been an honor to serve Solano County,” Reagan said. “I look forward to continuing to serve in some role.”

Reach Barry Eberling at 427-6929 or beberling@dailyrepublic.net. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/beberlingdr.

Barry Eberling

Barry Eberling has been a reporter with the Daily Republic since 1987. He covers Solano County government, transportation, growth and the environment. He received his bachelors of art degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara and his masters degree in journalism from the University of California, Berkeley.

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