COMMENDING SUPERVISOR MOKE SIMON ON HIS
EIGHT YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE COUNTY AS DISTRICT 1 SUPERVISOR
WHEREAS, after eight years of exceptional service and dedication, spanning two terms as an elected member of the Lake County Board of Supervisors, Moke Simon is retiring from County service on January 7, 2025; and
WHEREAS, Moke was born and raised in Middletown, cultivating lifelong ties to his community and Lake County, and those relationships and Moke’s forthright nature have been a gift to many; and
WHEREAS, football has played a key role for Moke, from his days at Middletown High School, to Butte College (where he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2018), Texas A&M-Kingsville, and even the National Football League and World League of American Football, and he has particularly treasured the opportunity to developed young people as an Assistant Coach for his beloved Middletown Mustangs; and
WHEREAS, Moke became the youngest Tribal Chairman of Middletown Rancheria of Pomo Indians of California at age 27, and has returned to the role for the last 12 years; and
WHEREAS, when elected as District 1 Supervisor in 2017, Moke became the first Native person to serve on the Lake County Board of Supervisors, and he has brought a deeply-held intention to build our communities to thrive for the next seven generations, and that legacy and long-term lens helped enable a commitment to planning efforts such as Vision 2028 and Lake County 2050 that will reverberate on and on in every Lake County community; and
WHEREAS, he demonstrated compassionate leadership during Valley and Clayton fire response and recovery, focusing efforts on temporary housing and support for survivors; in the aftermath of the Valley Fire, Moke and partners stepped up to help the Anderson Springs Water Masters reconstruct and restore their water system; and
WHEREAS, for “courage, guidance, and strength that helped bring the community together,” Moke was named the 2015 Lake County “Man of the Year,” and he was also recipient of the 2018 Wendell Chino Humanitarian Award, for his service following the Valley Fire; and
WHEREAS, as one of the most creative business minds on the Board in recent memory, Moke advocated for forward-thinking energy projects and policies, and supported bold steps to invest in County facilities and our collective future; and
WHEREAS, he likewise served on the Lake County Area Planning Council, and his decision-making and advocacy have helped facilitate many miles of improvements to Lake County’s highways and transportation infrastructure; and
WHEREAS, he delivered a powerful State of the County address in 2018, outlining his vision for Lake County’s growth and development and committing himself to innovative and forward-looking programs and projects for Lake County; and
WHEREAS, in September 2019, Governor Gavin Newsom appointed Moke to the State Board of Fire Services, the only County Supervisor out of California’s 58 Counties to serve on the Board; and
WHEREAS, as Board Chair in 2020, Moke was a positive voice in the County’s response to the COVID-19 epidemic, never backing down in his efforts to keep citizens safe and informed, while ensuring the full complement of voices had their time to speak under historic conditions; and
WHEREAS, Moke has served on numerous County Boards and Commissions, including the Disaster Council, Countywide Oversight Board, Mental Health Advisory Board, Middletown Area Town Hall, and the Lake County Community Risk Reduction Authority; and
WHEREAS, over the years, Moke has brought project concepts to reality in District 1, recently including the Middletown Multi-Use Path, which runs from Middletown Rancheria to the Calpine Visitors Center and has encouraged active recreation in South Lake County; and
WHEREAS, the strength of Simon has resonated in his leadership in the community, focusing on fire recovery, protection of Clear Lake and our amazing environment, supporting and expanding housing opportunities, and partnering with communities, agriculture, and the private sector to determine the economic direction and future of our region; and
WHEREAS, Moke is “not a frills guy,” but a “Middletown guy,” and he has spoken from the heart throughout his tenure, and all have known where they stood - and that has earned him the abiding respect of many in Lake County’s communities and each member of this Board.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED, the Board of Supervisors of the County of Lake does hereby commend Supervisor Moke Simon for his dedicated service to the people of Lake County and belief in the County’s enormous potential, and we extend to our colleague and friend best wishes for good health, happiness and great success in the years ahead.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 17th day of December 2024.