SACRAMENTO – The Regional Council of Rural Counties (RCRC) has awarded First District Assemblymember Wesley Chesbro (D-North Coast) and Second District Assemblymember Jim Nielsen (R-Gerber) the Patti Mattingly Award for 2009.

The Patti Mattingly Award is awarded by RCRC to a policymaker who has demonstrated leadership on rural issues and an understanding of the unique challenges that rural communities face.

RCRC recognized Chesbro and Nielsen for working across party lines to forge solutions for rural communities and to prevent Sacramento from balancing the state’s budget problems on the backs of rural counties.

“It is with much appreciation that RCRC selects Assemblyman Chesbro for his important work on behalf of rural counties in the State Assembly,” said Supervisor David Bradshaw of Modoc County, RCRC’s chairperson. “Assemblyman Chesbro’s efforts helped the state’s rural counties meet the challenges of a very difficult 2009 Legislative Session.”

“RCRC member counties cannot thank Assemblyman Chesbro enough,” added Supervisor Dave Finigan of Del Norte County. “He was vital in securing the passage of SB 65, which provided an exemption to counties with a population under 40,000 from experiencing deferrals in state payments. Without passage of this bill, many rural counties could have faced dire fiscal straits.”

RCRC also cited the following actions in 2009 by Assemblyman Chesbro:

• Author of AB 283, which seeks to enact an extended producer responsibility program to minimize the amount of solid waste handled by local governments and create new, green jobs.

• Author of AB 754, which seeks to ensure that counties receive federal mental health services funds in an expedited manner.

• Worked to ensure that any alternative custody/early release of state prisoner proposals contain adequate protocols with counties.

• Author of AB 648, which seeks to allow rural hospitals to hire physicians directly, thereby allowing for more physicians to practice in rural areas.

• Worked closely with RCRC staff in the discussions on water policy and opposed legislation to impose a difficult new mandate on rural counties for groundwater monitoring.

RCRC’s Patti Mattingly Award was established in memory of former Supervisor Patti Mattingly of Siskiyou County, who had tremendous courage and commitment and an ability to promote constructive solutions surrounding rural issues. Recipients are selected by the RCRC Board of Directors.

RCRC is an association of 31 rural California counties that advocates before the Legislature, Congress and state and federal government agencies on behalf of rural issues.

Headquartered in Sacramento, RCRC’s governing board is comprised of county supervisors from member counties.