Briggs buries 3 challengers

By Noel Stack

Mother Lode News

Supervisor Ron Briggs will keep his seat for another four years.

District 4 voters didnt embrace the incumbent backlash gripping some parts of the country. More than 55 percent of them chose Briggs, 52, to continue representing them on the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors, according to county Elections semi-official report. Briggs closest competitor, Todd Schwenk, received less than 20 percent.

Thats a relief, said Briggs, who began his election night at the Republican headquarters in Placerville.

Nearly 43 percent of registered District 4 voters voted in the June primary; Briggs earned 4,780 votes.

Briggs first won the District 4 seat in 2006 against five other candidates. This time he had three opponents Schwenk, Wendell Smith and Shawn Gulling. Briggs credited his record, positive campaign and growing support.

I kept all my base supporters and I added the chambers (of commerce), developers, builders and Realtors, he said.

Schwenk, who has his own core Team Schwenk supporters, spent election night at home with family and friends. This is the second time Schwenk has run for the District 4 seat and, he said, it wont be the last.

Its an up and coming family industry of ours, Schwenk said of running for office.

The 48-year-old said he was surprised by early results and had hoped that more working voters would support him.

Work is the No. 1 word weve been talking about, Schwenk said. Our campaign was the only one talking about job creation.

In April El Dorado Countys unemployment rate stood at nearly 13 percent, according to the state Employment Development Department.

Recognizing the continuing challenges, Briggs said he sees his reelection as the voters way of saying hes on the right track and accurately representing District 4 constituents.

The item foremost on his mind this week is the county budget. The board began budget hearings Monday and will face many tough decisions. Briggs seemed confident, saying, Were putting the government to its right size. I think were doing things right.