State Sen. Mike McGuire, who represents Del Norte County, was sworn in as president pro tempore for California's upper legislative body last week.| Photo courtesy of Mike Mcguire's office

County supervisors rejected a request from their colleagues Darrin Short and Chris Howard to be reimbursed for traveling to see Del Norte’s state senator sworn in as Senate president pro tempore last week.

Short, Howard and District 2 Supervisor Valerie Starkey traveled to Sacramento on Feb. 5 to watch State Sen. Mike McGuire get promoted from majority leader to pro tem.

On Tuesday, District 1 Supervisor Short spoke for Howard, who was absent, saying the District 3 representative requested the proposed reimbursement be placed on the Board of Supervisors’ agenda. However, Short’s motion to use money from the Board’s travel and training budget died due to lack of a second.

“It was not previously approved by the Board, but [Howard] and I kind of agreed, that had we not been Board members, we wouldn’t have been invited,” Short told his colleagues. “Also, we talked a lot about relationships today and having that relationship with Sen. McGuire and being there showing support of him from the North Coast I think went a long way.”

District 4 Supervisor Joey Borges was first to oppose Short’s request, saying the Board should have discussed it before McGuire’s swearing-in ceremony and sent only one person down instead of three.

Starkey, who is seeking re-election, said she attended the ceremony with no expectation of being reimbursed. She said she would not accept reimbursement.

“I am fine not having the reimbursement,” she said. “But our admin manual does state that county employees, including elected and appointed officials, can travel out of the area. [If they] incur expenses while on county business, employees should not be required to bear an undue burden or accrue any personal benefit.”

Board Chairman Dean Wilson said he often attended inaugurations, retirements and other ceremonies as Del Norte County sheriff. He said he didn’t expect to get reimbursed for those “more social events.”

Reimbursing Short, Howard and Starkey for their travel to Sacramento should have been approved ahead of time, Wilson said.
As pro tem, McGuire is the first North Coast representative to lead the State Senate, according to the Associated Press. He succeeded Toni Atkins, of San Diego. McGuire will be termed out of the Legislature in 2026, CalMatters reported.

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