Incumbent Bruce Kranz has worked hard for issues he believes are keys to sustainability in Placer County’s Fifth Supervisorial District: forest lands management, catastrophic fire prevention, public safety and property rights protection.

Unfortunately, too often he has conducted business with a hard-headed determination shutting out many constituents – or at least those who don’t agree with his views and vision.

Temperament matters. Teamwork matters. Consensus matters.

It’s time to elect a supervisor who will listen to all residents of District 5. That candidate is Jennifer Montgomery.

Montgomery, a small business owner from Serene Lakes, has gained confidence along the campaign trail that matches her passion for community responsiveness and consensus-building. Her goal to strengthen and empower the district’s Municipal Advisory Councils would be a great first step, followed by meeting regularly with business, community and government leaders.

This approach has worked well for District 3 Supervisor Jim Holmes. A common face at community events in Auburn, Newcastle, Penryn and Loomis, Holmes is a popular and effective official because he takes time to listen to supporters and dissenters alike. His vote may not satisfy everyone, but they always know they’ve been heard.

Montgomery would do the same, knowing she doesn’t have the answers to every critical matter. More importantly, she knows where to find the answers – talking with her constituents.

On the issues, Montgomery is an advocate for balanced forestry practices, responsible growth and property rights protection. She believes the county’s ongoing budget challenge is the top priority, “because everything else flows from that.” Tough choices lie ahead on public safety, human services and community development, and Montgomery has the demeanor that will work best with citizens, staff and supervisors alike.

Kranz, meanwhile, remained focused on his vision at the expense of citizen input and consensus from his peers.

When Foresthill MAC members didn’t support his vision, he removed them. When Placer supervisors voted 4-1 to recommend a three-lane highway option for Kings Beach to the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, Kranz wouldn’t take that position forward because it collided with his views on safety and road congestion.

Kranz has repeatedly taken an autocratic approach to governance and decision-making. His idea of weekly, community coffee meetings in the district is a good one, but not at the expense of representing those diverse views in policy discussions or crucial board decisions.

And that’s really too bad, because Kranz has a list of accomplishments. He started a woodbox program to help rid Tahoe of forest debris. He spearheaded the biomass power project to turn that same debris into clean energy. He paired up with Holmes and county Sheriff Ed Bonner to produce a public awareness campaign about the damaging effects of methamphetamine use.

And his idea of using American Middle Fork energy profits for water and sewer infrastructure – potentially millions annually when the dams are turned over to the county and Placer County Water Agency in 2013 – is one well worth pursuing.

But District 5 cannot afford another four years of Kranz and his rigid, intolerant and unforgiving style of leadership. District citizens deserve to be heard, and to have their voices represented in county decisions.

Return the values of listening and inclusiveness to District 5. Elect Jennifer Montgomery for supervisor.