Bill O’Brien won’t seek another term on Stanislaus County board, endorses Kristin Olsen

Stanislaus County Supervisor Bill O’Brien said Thursday he will not seek a fourth term on the Board of Supervisors and is endorsing termed-out state Assemblywoman Kristin Olsen for his District 1 seat, which represents the Riverbank and Oakdale areas.

The surprise announcement shook up the local political scene. Olsen confirmed Thursday that she wants to continue her political career as a county supervisor.

“I have been extremely lucky and proud to represent the great residents of District 1 for the past 12 years,” O’Brien said in his announcement. He continued, “Kristin has done a phenomenal job representing us in the state Assembly.”

In a news release, Olsen praised her fellow Republican’s work as a county supervisor. Olsen was a Modesto councilwoman from 2005 to 2010 before she was elected to the Assembly.

In January, Olsen said she would not seek Cathleen Galgiani’s 5th Senate District seat in the fall but wanted to devote more time to family. She is serving her final year representing the 12th Assembly District and was Assembly minority leader last year.

“I’ve spent the past five years commuting to and from Sacramento, and it’s left me with a lasting impression: Stanislaus County is home and it’s where I want to be,” Olsen said in her announcement. “Though it’s unexpected, I’m really excited by the opportunity to continue serving the Central Valley and working to make our community a better place to live, work and raise a family.”

O’Brien, who was first elected to the Board of Supervisors in 2004, said he wants to concentrate on business and family. He said he is considering a run for an elected office in 2018 but did not disclose which office.

“It wouldn’t be right to seek re-election to the board while possibly considering a different office,” his news release said. “I owe it to my constituents and my colleagues on the board to step aside.”

O’Brien was mayor of Riverbank for two terms and served two years as a councilman before becoming a county supervisor. He will stay in county office until his term expires at year’s end.

His mention of a possible campaign bid in 2018 stirred speculation he will run for the Legislature in the 8th Senate District or in the 12th Assembly District, which includes parts of Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties. Tom Berryhill, R-Twain Harte, terms out of the 8th District Senate seat in two years.

O’Brien said he began considering a change in course in January and talked with Olsen. He made the decision within the past two weeks, he said.

The supervisor said he talked with three of his colleagues on the county board before Thursday’s announcement. The two announcements came a day before the close of the county filing period for the June primary, though Friday’s deadline will extend for five days because the incumbent is not running.

Supervisor Vito Chiesa said he did not know about O’Brien’s intentions before they talked on Thursday.

“He really has not said anything to anyone,” Chiesa said. “He has been keeping it under wraps. I am selfishly disappointed. He is one of the smartest people I have been around. He knows the policy. He will be sorely missed.”

O’Brien also broke the news to board Chairman Dick Monteith before going public.

“He definitely wanted to talk to me before I heard it from someone else,” Monteith said, noting that O’Brien talked about the need to focus more on business and family.

The chairman said he had talked with O’Brien previously about possibly serving in state government.

“I have always felt like Bill would possibly enter the state arena,” Monteith said. “I said if he ever considers going on, he has a great opportunity. He has been in business and local government. It is a rarity for people to have that background.”

Olsen is poised to follow Monteith’s path of going from the legislative halls of Sacramento to local government. Monteith was a state senator for eight years before his current stint on the Board of Supervisors.

Olsen said she wrestled over her decision in the past year.

“I feel like my kids are in a unique place where they need my focus at home. If I ran in an intense Senate race, I felt it was not in the best interest of our family for this particular election,” she said.

“I was surprised when Bill called and asked if I would consider running for his seat,” she said.

O’Brien said Olsen is the best person to represent the district as the county resists a state water board plan to keep more water in rivers to restore fisheries. O’Brien said the state plan would have a profound impact “on our way of life in this county” if it’s approved.

Chiesa and O’Brien have been unopposed in the June primary, while Supervisor Jim DeMartini is challenged by Patterson Mayor Luis Molina and Eileen Wyatt Stokman of Ceres.

If DeMartini wins another term, Olsen will break up the men’s club on the Board of Supervisors.

“We want good quality people, men and women – people who care about our county,” Chiesa said. “We know Kristin cares about the county. She is very capable of doing a great job.”

This story was originally published March 10, 2016 at 2:58 PM with the headline "Bill O’Brien won’t seek another term on Stanislaus County board, endorses Kristin Olsen."