Bill Hocker | Sep 11, 2015

NVR 9/11/15: Shepp enters Board of Supervisors race

Community Leader Diane Shepp throws her hat into the Supervisor Race

Community leader and former teacher Diane Shepp has declared her candidacy for the District 4, Napa County Supervisor seat in the upcoming June 2016 primary election.

Community development and education are the primary focus’ of Shepp’s professional career as a teacher (Vichy Elementary), nonprofit administrator, fund developer, and artist. Shepp, a third generation Californian, was the first and only member in her immediate family to graduate from college. She and her husband Alan have raised two daughters since moving to the Napa Valley in 1984.

When asked why she decided to run for County Supervisor, Shepp replied, “In the past 6-8 years I have witnessed a dramatic change in the Napa Valley and I am disturbed by what has been happening. We moved here for the natural beauty and quality of life of a rural community. The dark quiet skies at night were spectacular. The vineyards and wineries were primarily on the Valley floor. From any given point in the Valley you could be in an oak woodland in 20 minutes on a bicycle. Traffic was manageable.”

Shepp continued, “I have been listening to what the local neighborhood coalition groups are saying about the trucking of Napa City water to support hillside vineyards while local residents are asked to let their lawns go brown. The preservation of our watersheds is critical to the wine industry as well as the protection of agriculture. The cumulative effects of the growth of the hospitality industry is also of concern.”

Shepp is concerned about the future of Napa County and believes there are things that can be done, “if we begin now to implement measurers that positively address voters concerns.” The primary election is a little less than nine months away. “We have a lot of work to do to up the level of awareness. This may be my first Board of Supervisor race, however it’s the first Supervisor race for my opponent as well and the voters will now have a voice in who is chosen to represent them.”

The Planning Commission and eventually the County Board of Supervisors will soon have the opportunity to review the recommendations of Agricultural Protection Advisory Committee (APAC). “We must address the quality of life of local residents and neighborhoods. Can the working middle class, the backbone of our country afford to live here? Can locals easily drive to and from their jobs? to the grocery store? to the hospital? Is the current Board of Supervisors considering the health, welfare and safety of local residents equally with the monied investment interests? We will see how they address these concerns.”

Shepp served on the Napa County Grand Jury 2007-2008 and as Pro-Tempore of the 2008-2009 Grand Jury; President of the Napa County Chapter of the California Grand Jurors Association (CGJA) 2010-2011 and 2012-15; and is currently the Vice President of the statewide California Grand Jurors’ Association. A highlight of her CGJA tenure was in 2013. She was honored as the Angelo Rolando Memorial Award recipient, one of CGJA’s most prestigious awards. The award is presented each year to the person who has demonstrated outstanding participation at both the state and county level in support of CGJA’s goals and objectives, applied excellent leadership skills, and effectively accomplished goals and projects.

Appointed by the Napa County Board of Supervisors in 2007, to the Napa County Commission for Arts and Culture, Shepp sat as Chair of the Commission 2009-2012. She has held executive positions with the John Muir Festival Center, the Napa County Arts Council, the Solano County Arts Alliance, the University Art Museum Council-University of California, Berkeley, Napa Emergency Women’s Services and the Wildlife Rescue Center of Napa County.

Active at the local, state and national levels, Shepp is a founding board member of the Napa Valley Opera House Inc., Ag 4 Youth- Upvalley Ranchers, Napa Vision 2050, Protect Rural Napa and the Soda Canyon/Loma Vista Land Stewards. Shepp also served as a founding board member and Past President of the California Assembly of Local Arts Agencies; Past President of the Volunteer Council of the di Rosa Preserve: Art & Nature; Past President of Vichy Elementary Alternative PTA; served on the original faculty of Leadership Napa; and a former member of the National Assembly of Local Arts Agencies Leadership Committee.

Shepp is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, and the Getty Leadership Institute. A charter member of the Golden West Women Flyfishers, Shepp enjoys fly-fishing, and travel when not in her art studio.

Announcement PDF is here

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