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Kate Sears
Marin Supervisor Kate Sears announces she'll retire in 2020
Southern Marin Count Supervisor Kate Sears sent out a notice today titled, My Future Plans and the Way Ahead, in which she announced that she would not seek another term come the 2020 election. Her announcement read as follows:
Update from Kate
I wanted to let you know that I plan to retire after I complete my current term as Supervisor at the end of 2020.
I have enjoyed beyond my expectations serving the people of southern Marin since 2011. Who knew the work of a county supervisor could be so interesting, varied, challenging, fun and rewarding! And none of it could be done well without great colleagues, talented County staff, and smart and engaged constituents. I will continue to devote my energy and attention to this work for the next year and a half.
Budget time is a time for taking stock and reflecting. In June, the Board of Supervisors approved a $630.7 million budget for fiscal year 2019/2020. Our county is in good shape financially and we are committed to significant, ongoing priorities: improving disaster preparedness; investing in County infrastructure (roads, fire stations, libraries); preserving affordable housing for our workforce, seniors and low-income residents; addressing sea level rise and climate change; and eliminating inequities in County policies and programs.
Planning for sea level rise and climate change has been a key focus for me and I’m proud to lead the County’s BayWAVE sea level rise vulnerability and adaptation initiative, and to have launched “DRAWDOWN: Marin” – a campaign to dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions community-wide. We are making significant progress on these initiatives and will continue to do so through 2020.
Ever since I was a child, I have loved to swim. Being in the water is my way to relax, to exercise muscles challenged by sitting in a lot of meetings, and to meditate in motion. Sometimes changing pools helps stretch your mind and improve your stroke, and that’s what I intend to do in January 2021. There are many appealing “pools” to consider – helping to reduce plastic trash in the oceans, working with animals, expanding the nationwide reach of climate litigation. There are musical instruments to play, hikes to take, lakes and lagoons to explore. As C.S. Lewis said, “You’re never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.”
In the meantime, there is important and exciting work still to be done. I hope you will join me on the front lines of increasing fire readiness, in implementing practical GHG emission reduction projects through DRAWDOWN: Marin, and in re-envisioning a more just, equitable and socially interconnected community that will strengthen our resilience in a changing world. I look forward to continuing to work together to benefit our community through 2020.
As always, you're welcome to reach me at ksears@marincounty.org.
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