Health & Fitness
Supervisor Dianne Jacob begins historic sixth term
Supervisor Jacob today began a fresh term representing her East County district, vowing to redouble her efforts to boost fire protection, public safety and other issues central to constituents.
Supervisor Dianne Jacob today began a historic sixth term representing her East County district, vowing to redouble her efforts to boost fire protection, public safety and other issues central to constituents.
“I’m as excited today as I was in 1993, when I first came into office,” said Jacob, following a swearing-in ceremony at the County Operations Center in Kearny Mesa. “I’m very humbled and starting next month I will have the distinction of holding elective office longer than any woman in our county government’s history.”
In a brief speech, Jacob said her top priorities include:
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- Completing the consolidation of rural fire agencies to better coordinate services within the region’s most fire-prone communities.
- Additional public safety improvements. She said a new Sheriff’s station will open later this year in Rancho San Diego and that she will continue to tackle issues like human trafficking and gangs.
- Working with new county Supervisor Dave Roberts and San Diego Mayor Bob Filner to address regional energy issues. She noted she’s having solar panels installed this month on her house in Jamul. “I really look forward to not having to pay another SDG&E bill -- this year or ever!” she said.
Jacob will also continue to press for more recreational facilities, open-space preservation and hiking and riding trails in her supervisorial area – District 2.
She was sworn in for a new four-year term by local Cal Fire Chief Thom Porter, who is also head of the County Fire Authority.
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Jacob welcomed Dave Roberts to the Board of Supervisors, noting that the five-member panel hasn’t had a new member in nearly two decades.
Jacob, a former elementary school teacher and Jamul-Dulzura Union School District board member, was handily re-elected in June with nearly 78% of the vote. Her six consecutive terms tie the previous Board of Supervisors record.
The 2,000-square-mile district is the county’s largest and includes Julian, El Cajon, Campo, Lakeside and Alpine.
The supervisor and her husband, Paul, own a ranch in the unincorporated community of Jamul. He joined her at today’s ceremony.
