Josiassen isn’t joking

Just a week after saying he’d taken out papers to run for re-election, Curt Josiassen, a rice farmer from Richvale, announced last week that he was stepping down from the Butte County Board of Supervisors after three terms.

Noting some of the major developments of his tenure—the general plan update, the relicensing of Oroville Dam, the struggle to protect the county’s water, and achieving fiscal stability for county government—the District 4 supervisor said he’d “always endeavored to be my constituents’ voice to the county, not just a supervisor representing the county to the people.”

His announcement opens up the race for his seat. So far, two people have taken out papers to run: former Paradise Mayor Steve Lambert, who now lives on a ranch west of Thermalito, and Mark A. Jensen, who according to the Oroville Mercury Register is an aide with Butte County In-Home Supportive Services, caring for his two autistic daughters.

In addition, Dan Nguyen-Tan, on his “Bullfight” blog, reports that John Byrne, chairman of the Butte County Republican Party, has announced his intention of moving to the district (he now lives in north Chico) and running.

Candidates have until March 7 to file papers.