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County bids farewell to Supervisor Janice Rutherford
During her final meeting as a member of the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, Janice Rutherford was praised by her fellow County and community leaders for her many successful efforts to engage young people in public service, enact measures that make government more accountable and efficient, and address the needs and concerns of the residents of her Second District.
“She definitely has the heart of a servant,” Board of Supervisors Chairman Curt Hagman said, noting Supervisor Rutherford’s decades of service as a member of the Board of Supervisors and Fontana City Council and as a staff member in the California Legislature. Rutherford is leaving the Board after serving the maximum three terms allowed by the County Charter.
Also on Tuesday, Hagman took the oath of office after being re-elected to his third term on the Board starting on Jan. 2. He thanked his constituents for their continued trust and confidence in him. Supervisor-elect Jesse Armendarez will succeed Rutherford on Jan. 2. He will take the oath of office on Dec. 29.
During the Tuesday farewell to Rutherford, Hagman introduced a video featuring highlights from her 12 years on the Board and words of thanks from members of the Second District Youth Council, which has given more than 150 high school students the opportunity to learn about local government and to plan and implement public service projects.
“It has been an honor to serve with you. I thank you for your guidance, your mentorship,” said Board Vice Chair Dawn Rowe. “I wish I had more time with you.”
Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr., praised the way Rutherford engages with her community. “She really takes the time to listen, to go out there and hear what people have to say,” Baca said.
“I am grateful to have accomplished so much of what was on my to-do list,” Rutherford said. “It’s a great feeling to have been successful in so many endeavors and to look back and realize that the things that are undone are a message that each of us is only here for a brief period of time. We do the best we can do while we’re in this seat, and then we turn it over to the next.”
Among the items on Rutherford’s lengthy list of accomplishments are:
Rutherford offered a parting wish:
“I hope we can as a society, as a community, give each other the grace that we want to receive. We’ve lost that part of public life,” Rutherford said. “If we allow people that grace, it will bring out the best in them and it will make our communities better and stronger.”