Sackett best pick in tight District 1 race

On the June 7 ballot, voters in the county's First Supervisorial District have to choose between three candidates to replace Damon Connolly, who has represented the San Rafael-centered district for two terms.

Connolly is giving up the job to run for Marin's seat in the state Assembly.

Two well-qualified women — Mary Sackett and Gina Daly — lead the field.

Sackett, who has served as Connolly's aide and has earned high praise from those she has worked with, is the IJ's recommendation for the job.

San Rafael City Schools Trustee Gina Daly, a former aide to U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein and a former president of the Terra Linda Homeowners' Association, has the knowledge and background to do the job. But Sackett's local resume is deeper and her support from within the district and from the county's elected leadership is an impressive testament of the track record she has built.

Still, it's a close call. They agree on many issues.

Sackett doesn't come across as a flashy or ambitious politician. Instead, she's studied, diligent and focused on solving local problems.

She says she will work to improve public oversight and transparency in all levels of county and regional government. County government can be too insular. It's only by regularly challenging that way of conducting the public's business that change will take place.

Sackett says increasing public involvement includes creation of a citizen oversight committee for the Marin County Sheriff's Office, an oftmentioned proposal that Sheriff Robert Doyle has steadfastly opposed.

Sackett, who has lived in Marin for 20 years and worked as a private attorney, also puts the need for increasing shelter options for Marin's homeless and affordable housing opportunities across our high-priced county among her priorities.

Daly, on the other hand, says she would bring a “fresh perspective” to the job of representing the First District and leading county government. For example, she's critical of the county's handling of the much-needed, but controversial repairs and renovations at Marin City's Golden Gate Village, the county's largest public housing complex. She says the debate is a reflection of a “history of neglect” by the county.

Sackett says the county “has turned a corner” by shelving a controversial redevelopment plan for Golden Gate Village and supporting Supervisor Stephanie Moulton-Peters' efforts to build a strong consensus for another proposal.

Daly was elected to the school board in 2020 and moved to Marin eight years ago.

A third candidate, construction business owner George Saribalis, refused our invitation to share his views with the IJ editorial board.

Still, Saribalis' candidacy could mean that no candidate gets better than 50% of the vote, throwing the race into a November runoff between the top two vote-getters.

In a new county supervisor, we would like to see a stronger commitment to informing and involving residents and businesses in county decisions — before they are made or on the supervisors' agendas.

The same goes for regional agencies such as the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit board, the Transportation Authority of Marin and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission.

From a practical standpoint, Sackett knows the Civic Center, its varied responsibilities, its staff and its politics. Her learning curve would not be as great as it would be for her opponents. The endorsements Sackett has earned from the San Rafael Chamber of Commerce and the North Bay Leadership Council are important impressive signs of support for her leadership.

Daly promises change.

Both Sackett and Daly can get the job done.

But in a choice between the two, the IJ editorial board gives Mary Sackett the nod in the June 7 race for the job of representing the county's First District.