Then: In 2008, Barack Obama is elected as America’s first African American president; the last baseball game is played at historic Yankee Stadium; “Iron Man,” the first film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is released; and Jim Provenza begins his tenure on the Yolo County Board of Supervisors.
Now: In 2024, Donald Trump wins his second non-consecutive term as U.S. president; the Oakland A’s are moving to Sacramento; all the Marvel movies are streaming on an app called “Disney+” and Jim Provenza ends his tenure on the Yolo County Board of Supervisors.
Sixteen years is a long time. Sixteen years is an especially long time spent in one elected position. This is something that former District 4 Yolo County Supervisor Jim Provenza knows all too well.
From 2008 to 2024, Provenza was an advocate for those in his district and the county, looking to make positive change for all.
After 45 years total in public service, Provenza made the decision in 2023 to not run for re-election, but rather to retire to spend more time with his wife, children and grandchildren.
In 2008, he was elected to the board with 50.7% of the vote in a race against two other candidates.
After running unopposed re-election in 2012 and 2016, Provenza ended up in a run-off in 2020 when he was challenged by two candidates — Linda Deos and David Abramson — and took 48% of the vote. He defeated Deos in the run-off election to secure his fourth and final term.
Provenza is much more than a supervisor, however. His career began at the California State Legislature, where he served for nearly three decades in a variety of positions, including Counsel to the California State Senate Judiciary Committee, Chief Counsel to the Assembly Public Safety Committee and Special Assistant to the Los Angeles District Attorney.
From 2003 to 2007, he served on the Davis Joint Unified School District’s Board of Education.
In his time as supervisor, Provenza was a strong supporter of First 5 Yolo, the Yolo Crisis Nursery, and the Yolo Healthy Aging Alliance.
He is also credited with initiating the first-ever Yolo County Aging Summit and for writing the 2020 resolution declaring a climate emergency and setting Yolo County on a path to become carbon negative by 2030.
Other successes of Provenza’s include being instrumental in the construction of the new Walnut Park Library in Davis, securing funding to relocate the Yolo Adult Day Health Center in Woodland, getting resources for Yolo County Animal Services and pushing for a new Health and Human Services Center in Davis.
All of the issues Provenza has worked to make change upon are meaningful, but some have been more personally meaningful to him and his legacy.
“Working to create sustainable change for vulnerable populations, our environment and our agricultural economy has been the most meaningful,” said Provenza. “Boards of Supervisors and City Councils spend much of their time reacting to problems as they arise. While it is always important to address issues that affect our constituents, it is most meaningful to make changes that will help to avoid these problems in the future.”
He provides the example of the Yolo Crisis Nursery almost closing. The county provided funds to keep it open, then helped it form a non-profit organization to build upon and support fundraising.
One huge piece of Provenza’s lasting legacy in Davis and Yolo County will be South Davis’ Walnut Park Library, which is expected to be breaking ground at the end of January/early February.
This library has been planned for the park since 2002. Provenza was a champion of bringing the project to fruition since the beginning.
“Honestly, it means everything to me,” remarked Provenza. “We are reaffirming our community values in supporting increased library access for children, seniors and those without transportation, as well as lifelong learning for all. The Walnut Park Library represents forward progress in difficult times. It will be a monument to the many dedicated and hard working individuals in Davis and Yolo County who work for the common good and refuse to take ‘no’ for an answer.”
Funding from Yolo County, the state of California, the City of Davis, Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, and the Davis Joint Unified School District combined, allowed the Walnut Park Library to become a reality.
Measure T, which passed in the November 2024 election increases the annual special library tax by $49 per parcel (multifamily parcels by $24.50 per unit), increasing no more than 2% per year, aiming to raise about $1,070,875 annually. These funds will be used to operate the new library and existing Mary L. Stephens Library seven days a week, not for construction.
Having Measure T pass (74.42% yes, 25.58% no) just before his retirement was a relief for Provenza.
“As a result, both branches will be able to offer full library services and extended hours of operation,” said Provenza. “The overwhelming passage of Measure T again demonstrates the generosity of Davis in supporting education and community services.”
Allen
While Provenza is no longer the supervisor for District 4, he is extremely confident that his former district is in perfectly capable hands.
In the March 2024 election, Sheila Allen defeated Antonio De Loera-Brust and NJ Mvondo to become the first new supervisor in District 4 in over a decade-and-a-half.
Allen was no stranger to the position, serving as Provenza’s deputy county supervisor for his final year and a half serving on the board. Provenza and Allen served on the DJUSD school board together from 2005 to 2007. Allen had also previously served as the executive director of the Yolo Healthy Aging Alliance, a county partner Provenza worked with for many years.
“Her work has been invaluable,” stated Provenza. “We have worked on many projects together. Most importantly, Sheila used her time as deputy to develop an understanding of the many issue areas that come before the board. I am confident that the 4th District and Yolo County will be well served by Sheila. Her background as a public health nurse, her commitment to serving seniors, children and other vulnerable populations, and her dedication to improving health and mental health services will make her an exemplary leader on the Board of Supervisors.”
Colleague recognition
On Dec. 3, 2024 Provenza’s board colleagues, Supervisors Lucas Frerichs, Mary Vixie Sandy, Oscar Villegas and Angel Barajas honored him with a proclamation for his over four decades of public service.
Provenza says he truly appreciated the recognition from both the board and the Yolo County community.
“Our individual success as board members is dependent on the board working together,” he said. “While we don’t always agree on particular issues, we share a commitment to serve all Yolo County residents, particularly those most in need of our assistance. There is a shared commitment to a healthy community and a thriving economy. I have deep respect for every member of the board and the county staff. My accomplishments were dependent upon their help and support.”
The future
Now that Provenza is a retired man, his plans include spending more time with family, catching up on reading and taking some long delayed trips with his wife, Donna. He says he hopes his future does include a continuation of helping to serve the community, however, just not as an elected official.
In the now former supervisor’s eyes, we are entering difficult times. He encourages county residents to stay involved with their community, which he plans to get back to after some much deserved rest.
“After some time off, I hope to be available to assist community organizations on a volunteer basis,” remarked Provenza. “I am considering offering training to volunteers in nonprofits on legislative and government advocacy.”
Provenza said now felt like the right time to pass the torch on to a new supervisor. He will be 70 years old next month, and many of the projects that he has worked on during his board tenure have now come to fruition.
Of all the jobs Provenza has had in his over 40-year public service career, the Board of Supervisors holds a special place in his heart.
“I am very fortunate to have been able to mostly work at jobs that I love for my entire career,” he said. “By a very close margin, I will say the Board of Supervisors was my favorite because it is where I was able to have the greatest impact on my own community. I will miss serving our constituents. On any given day, a 4th District resident could walk in with a unique problem, big or small. We enjoyed the challenge addressing that issue and not giving up until the problem was addressed. They usually had great ideas and often educated me on topics I knew nothing about. My constituents inspired me to always do my best.”
In addition, Provenza says he will miss county staff and yes, those pesky, long board meetings.
“The men and women who work for Yolo County are dedicated, creative and hard working,” said Provenza. “It is because of our staff that we are able to implement the policies we vote for as a board. I will also miss the interaction at the Board of Supervisors meetings. At every meeting, we make important decisions. There must be at least three votes, sometimes four, for every decision we make. At times, we had five different positions on a topic, one for each board member. I enjoyed the interactive process we engaged in to reach a majority decision, often even a unanimous decision. In my opinion, this is what democracy is all about. I feel privileged to have been a part of it.”