Weygandt soundly defeats Simmons

Robert Weygandt was easily elected Tuesday to his fourth term representing District 2 on the Placer County Board of Supervisors.
By: Joshua W. Bingham, Auburn Journal Gold Country News Service
Wednesday, June 7, 2006 9:33 AM PDT

"By golly it feels good," Weygandt said of the win. "I am obviously ecstatic."

Gratified by the majority of people who voted for him, Weygandt said he is ready to get back to work.

"Thanks to everybody for their continued support over all of these years," he said. "I look forward to working on their behalf over the next four years."

Weygandt's opponent, Jerry Simmons, who is the current president of the Sierra College Board of Trustees, said before the final election results were known Tuesday that he would be supportive if he lost.
"I will do everything I can to support Robert Weygandt over the next four years," he said.

After a campaign in which he spent about $450,000, Weygandt said this race was astounding.

"It certainly was different," he said. "Not one that I hope is replayed in Placer County for a local election - a fortune spent, a lot of polarization, a lot of negativism and I'm glad it's over."

Simmons estimated his team spent about $380,000 on the campaign. Weygandt, however, estimated the Simmons' camp spent twice as much as his own.

Causing much media coverage was the fact that the Tsakopoulos family, major developers in the greater Sacramento area, donated $100,000 to Simmons' campaign on May 31.

Although a Placer County Elections Division spokesperson relayed that according to late contribution reports, $118,500 was given to Weygandt's campaign and $232,251.83 was given to Simmons' campaign between May 25 and June 2, a true receipt of how much money was spent wouldn't be available until required in a report later in the year.

Before learning of the election night results, both candidates commented on the race.

Weygandt said he ran in order to properly complete the Placer County Conservation Plan in partnership with cities and water agencies "to make sure Placer County is going to be a special place forever" with a proper framework of development, open space and an effective transportation system.

In the days prior to the election, both candidates said they walked precincts and worked the phones. Simmons said he made guest appearances on radio shows. Both candidates also appeared in many TV commercials.

"I think the voters have been very warm and friendly with me as I've been going door to door," Simmons said. "And I'm so happy to live in a community full of such warm and friendly people."

Weygandt said he walked the Sun City Lincoln Hills and Twelve Bridges areas of Lincoln, as well as the Stanford Ranch area of Rocklin. He concentrated on areas with newer developments and people who might not already know him.

Now that he's been re-elected, Weygandt said he'll focus on conservation plan policy as well as smoothing out some rough edges in the county, and the local Republican Party, which surfaced during this election.

"And I think if we fix those things that aren't functioning properly we can get things back to business in Placer County and continue to do the extraordinary work that we've enjoyed over the past several years," Weygandt said.

While leaving a voting polling place in Lincoln, Kenneth Rowley said he wasn't happy with this year's county supervisor race and how either side worked the election.

"I know Robert Weygandt personally," Rowley said. "And Jerry Simmons seems to be a nice person. But I have not liked what is happening. Our county is very peaceful. And the supervisor's race has gotten out of hand. It grieves me that it has turned out the way it has, real nasty."

About the amount of money spent during the campaign, Lincoln resident Vera Lampros said while leaving a polling place that the money should have been better spent where it's needed.

"Our schools need the money," she said. "Children need more money."

Weygandt said probably all of his major contributors have had disagreements with him in the past or seen him vote against them and know where his loyalties lie, no matter what they donate.

Weygandt said he's humbled so many people and elected officials stood up to support him, even when personal business was at risk or if it was somebody at Sierra College concerned about what might happen to them as a result of their support.

To his supporters and campaign workers, Weygandt wished to offer "an extra special, huge thank you knowing that we needed an extra special, huge effort from the very beginning."