If Efren Carillo wants to gain the trust and respect of those constituents in western Sonoma County who opposed him-nearly the same number that elected him-he would do well by taking a page from Presidend-Elect Obama's play book. If Mr. Obama can appoint his primarary rival Hillary Clinton to the post of Secretary of State, surely Mr. Carillo can do the right thing for the Fifth District and keep Rue Furch on the Planning Commission.
As the Press Democrat, which endosed Mr. Carillo, acknowledged, Ms. Furch's knowledge of the Fifth District is encyhclopedic. She understands the issues and challenges the district faces better than anyone.
With sixteen years on the Commission, she contributes a long view and a depth of understanding. Mr. Carillo, for example, has not experienced the devastating impact of an extended drought; he was a boy when we endured the last one. Ms. Furch has direct experience of the two seven year droughts in recent times, in the 1970s and the mid 1980s to 1993.
It is common knowledge among those who pay close attention to west county politics that many of Efren Carillo's supporters and handlers-Eric
Koenigshofer, to name one-want Rue Furch replaced. Mr. Carillo has promised that he will be an independent supervisor who works for the district, not for the special interests of his supporters. He could go a long way towards showing his independence and doing the right thing by reappointing Rue Furch to the Sonoma County Planning Commission.