Gavin Newsom to Appear at Supervisors’ Meeting

Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom, a Marin County resident, is scheduled to appear at the April 30 meeting of the Marin County Board of Supervisors to present a written commendation for the County’s top-ranked voter turnout in the November 2012 general election.

Newsom will present a Certificate of Honor at about 10 a.m., at the start of the regular Board meeting, in the Supervisors’ chambers at the Marin Civic Center’s Administration Building.

Marin was No. 1 in the state with a voter turnout of 87.37 percent last November. The last time Marin led the state in election participation was 1952.

Newsom, who lives in Kent Woodlands and spent time growing up in Marin, was elected the state of California’s 49^th lieutenant governor in November 2010 after serving as County Supervisor and Mayor in San Francisco.

The signed certificate reads, in part: “It is an honor to recognize the Marin County Board of Supervisors for their efforts in ensuring that all those eligible take part in our great democracy. I congratulate the Marin County Board of Supervisors on this accomplishment and I wish you the best in your future endeavors.”

Marin County Registrar Elaine Ginnold said the there is plenty of credit to pass around for the high voter turnout.

“This certificate is a recognition not only of our Board of Supervisors who make civic engagement a priority, but also to the voters of Marin County for their enthusiastic participation in the electoral process, to the poll workers who staff the polls on Election Day, to the voter outreach efforts of many community organizations, and to the employees of the Elections Department who strive to make sure that every vote counts,” Ginnold said.

Ginnold said she plans to bring the citation for the 1952 achievement – signed by then Gov. Earl Warren -- to the April 30 meeting. Marin had a voter turnout of 90.25 percent for that election.

“It is great that our residents are being recognized for having the best voter turnout in the state,” said Judy Arnold, President of the Marin County Board of Supervisors. “In all our communities, we are blessed with active, well-informed voters.”

Marin’s highest voter turnout was 90.8 percent for the November 2008 election.