COLUSA COUNTY, Calif. — Criticism of Gov. Gavin Newsom is coming from a rural county leader, saying his recent news conference in Colusa County was more about optics than substance.
Newsom’s office offered ABC10 a spirited reply.
Since late November, in the wake of the Presidential election, Newsom has been visiting red counties – including Fresno, Kern and, this week, Colusa - as part of his California Jobs First tour.
On Tuesday, he spoke at a historic farm in Colusa County called Davis Ranches, where he discussed - among other topics - investments in California’s water supply strategy, including the $4 billion Sites Reservoir Project, which state lawmakers have fast-tracked.
“What could have taken, quite literally - and was intended by those that oppose the site at Sites - years and years took only months because of that streamlining. It worked,” Newsom said.
On Friday, however, Colusa County’s Administrative Officer Wendy Tyler published this criticism, saying the Governor’s visit was organized “without any meaningful engagement or collaboration,” missing “an important opportunity to have a true dialogue about the real issues affecting rural California voters.”
“This was done for optics,” she told ABC10 in an interview Friday. “He wasn't here to truly learn about red counties. He was here to just simply tell us all the wonderful things, in his assessment, that he and the Legislature have done on water and economic development, and - quite frankly - we need more conversations on those topics, because even with what has been done, it's not enough.”
She said she would’ve liked to help organize a roundtable with a wide cross-section of county stakeholders, but her office learned the official time, date and location of Newsom’s event the evening before it happened.
"They didn't talk with us. They kind of talked at us,” Tyler said. “There are nuances to rural California that I think are really missed in the bigger picture in Sacramento, and - particularly - with the Governor.”
ABC10 asked Governor Newsom’s office to respond to this criticism, and they did—calling it a “nonstory.”
A spokesperson sent ABC10 a group photo from Tuesday’s event, pointing out that Tyler’s boss – Colusa County Supervisor Daurice Kalfsbeek-Smith – was with the Governor throughout the entire event and joined him for a private meeting before the news conference, even though she had supported his recall - they linked to a Facebook post of hers from 2021.
“The regional Jobs First plan at the heart of the event was a locally-led effort that involved hundreds of community leaders in the area. The Governor is continuing his work across the aisle — including with those in Colusa County who supported his recall — because he believes in bipartisan partnership to grow our economy, support businesses, and create well-paying jobs,” said Governor’s Office spokesperson Izzy Gardon.
ABC10 shared the response with Tyler, who found it dismissive.
“I would think the Governor might - and his staff, you know - might show a little understanding for the lack of communication that was had with the local government,” she said.
ABC10 asked Tyler why she chose to publish her criticism. She said many county offices were receiving phone calls from residents angry about Newsom’s visit and message, so she wanted to set the record straight and make clear that the Board of Supervisors had no part in organizing this event.
"We had nothing to do with this visit and the way it was handled. Zero,” Tyler said.
The Governor, she added, is welcome back for a substantive conversation any time.
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