Silva says so long to Solano's supes

Silva says so long to Solano's supes
By Danny Bernardini/DBernardini@TheReporter.com
Posted: 12/09/2008 01:01:17 AM PST

After 12 years of serving as county supervisor, today will be John Silva's last meeting.

Silva, 73, will chair his final meeting with the Solano County Board of Supervisors which will include a reception and the presentation of a plaque.

Silva was unseated by Linda Seifert earlier this year in the race for District 2 and will turn over his position next month. His last day is officially Jan. 5, but don't ask Silva what he has planned beyond spending some time at his vacation home in Gray Eagle.

"Only 28 days left," he said. "I'm just anxious to get on with my life and to do something different. But I don't know what the heck that is."

Since taking over in 1997, Silva has seen the county go from a small staff with little money to spare, to a thriving government in a building that makes others jealous.

"People said we shouldn't, we wouldn't and we couldn't do it. Then we came in under budget," he said. "I had a broom closet over there (in the previous building). We had a little table with a computer and two chairs. That's it. When you bring people here from out of town, they're impressed."

Both Supervisors Barbara Kondylis and John Vasquez touted Silva's efforts to get health insurance for every child in the county. What started as a proposal, now has become county policy.

"The main contribution John made was talking to the powers that be to fully support the child insurance policy," Kondylis said. "He was the spearhead behind it. He took up the cause."

Silva, too, is proud of the work he did with insuring children.

"What was interesting is we had to identify the kids and get into the schools," Silva said. "It just built, it was a great program. It's got momentum and will carry on."

Kondylis said she and Silva often fought for the southern portions of the county to get a fair shake. She also thanked him for that and his participation with the domestic violence task force.

Silva acknowledged the tendency to focus on aspects in upper county, but said he always fought for Benicia and Vallejo.

"I've kidded around about it, things should flow downhill, but they don't in this county. I think we've begun to get our fair share," he said.

For Vasquez, it's Silva's experience and advice he will miss the most. Since Vasquez was an aide to former supervisor Bill Carroll, he said Silva has treated him well and helped him.

"When I got elected, it was a seat right next to John. Bill told me 'I want you sit next to him and listen to what he has to say. You will learn a lot.' That's some of the best advice I've ever gotten," Vasquez said. "There is a lot of wisdom left there. He's going to be missed."

The Solano County Board of Supervisors meets today at 9 a.m. in the Supervisors Chamber in Fairfield.