As a former member of the Board of Supervisors who has stayed largely silent on local politics for nearly a decade, I feel compelled to break that silence in support of a candidate whom I believe embodies the qualities we desperately need in our leadership today: Jessica Pyska.

Here in Lake County, amidst the chaos of national politics that often seeks to divide us, we have consistently found strength in collaboration. After each of the numerous horrific natural disasters, we faced a tough recovery.

We learned this: there is far more that unites us than divides us: namely our common humanity and our shared love for the health, beauty and well-being of our home and all who reside here.

We also learned that we are at our very best when we work together. It is in this spirit of collaboration that we tackle the toughest challenges and issues.

Collaborative work is rarely easy, It takes time and patience, it involves listening to diverse voices (and certainly all who have an opinion will voice them). And it seems that there is always more to do — sometimes the work ahead feels like climbing a mountain. Only in pausing can we gauge how far we have come. The upside: collaborative progress is more long-lasting, and potentially more joyful and fun.

Now, more than ever, we need leaders who can unite us rather than divide us, who find common ground, and who celebrate our collective progress. That is why I wholeheartedly endorse Jessica Pyska's reelection.

Jessica is backed by a team of organizers, grant writers, and community leaders who have played a pivotal role in guiding our county through adversity and transforming it into a beacon of resilience on a global scale.

I have personally witnessed the positive impact of Jessica's county leadership, and I am eager to see it continue. Her dedication to serving her constituents and the county as a whole exemplifies the essence of a servant leader — a rare quality in today's political landscape.

Jessica's collaborative spirit is precisely what our community needs. She understands that true progress is achieved through working together, with no single person seeking individual glory. It is through collective effort and mutual support that we become stronger as a community. Add to that her work ethic, kindness, sensitivity, integrity and her experience as a board member serving her constituents, and you have exactly the leader we need right now.

Therefore, I urge voters to cast their ballots in support of Jessica Pyska in the upcoming election. In reelecting Jessica, we affirm and celebrate how far we have come and recommit to working together for common good.

We are all in this together!

Denise Rushing is a former District 3 supervisor. She lives in Upper Lake, California.