COLUSA, CA (MPG) — Colusa County Supervisor Kent Boes will serve as second vice president of the California State Association of Counties (CSAC) in 2026, a statewide leadership role he said will help elevate rural issues and give Colusa County a stronger voice in Sacramento.
CSAC announced its 2026 officers during its 131st annual meeting in Sacramento, where county leaders discussed pressure on safety-net services, growing disaster impacts and new demands on local governments.
“Being elected as CSAC’s 2nd Vice-President, representing the 28 rural counties in all of California, is one of the greatest honors of my career and my adult life,” said Boes. “My colleagues from across the state have put their trust in me to represent the rural way of life in California and I will not let them down.”
CSAC is the statewide association representing California’s 58 counties. Boes said the group’s role matters most for smaller counties that do not have the same staffing or policy capacity as larger jurisdictions.
“Colusa County’s membership is CSAC is critical,” said Boes. “As a small rural county, we don’t have access to the resources that our larger, urban counterparts have, and CSAC helps close that gap.”
Boes said the position creates a direct opportunity to raise local concerns in statewide conversations.
“This is an opportunity to not only amplify the voice of Colusa County when it comes to state level politics, but also Northern California, and all of rural California,” he said.
CSAC elected Santa Clara County Supervisor Susan Ellenberg as president, Monterey County Supervisor Luis Alejo as first vice president and Inyo County Supervisor Jeff Griffiths as immediate past president.
“I am honored to step into this new role at the helm of this bold and effective organization,” said Ellenberg in the CSAC release. “As uncertainty grows and challenges multiply, the residents of California can continue to rely on their counties to remain unflinching in their commitment to work on their behalf.”
CSAC Chief Executive Officer Graham Knaus said counties face major issues that cut across regions and party lines.
“California’s counties are on the front lines of nearly every major challenge facing the state, from homelessness and behavioral health needs to climate-driven disasters and strained safety-net programs,” said Knaus.
Boes described CSAC’s work as county-focused advocacy that connects local impacts to state and federal decision-making.
“Put simply, CSAC advocates for California’s 58 counties, ensuring their priorities are represented at the state and federal levels,” said Boes. “Through strategic engagement with policymakers, coalition building, and clear communication of county impacts, CSAC drives legislative and regulatory solutions that support effective local governance.”
CSAC said the 2026 term will take place during a statewide election year in which voters will elect a new governor. Boes said he plans to bring what he learns back home.
“I look forward to learning as much as possible from all of our partners across this great state and bringing all of that knowledge back to Colusa County in the most impactful way I can,” said Boes.