Houston supports Montgomery for Placer Supervisor

Former Placer County supervisor candidate Bob Houston has crossed party lines to endorse Jennifer Montgomery in the race against incumbent Bruce Kranz.

In the June primary, Meadow Vista resident and lobbyist Houston took 21.7 percent of the vote, while Donner Summit resident Montgomery took 40.6 percent and incumbent Kranz took 37.5 percent. The contended Placer County fifth supervisorial district includes portions of the north and west shores of Lake Tahoe, the Martis Valley, and much of the Donner Summit community.

“I looked at the other candidates after the primary, threw partisanship out, and Montgomery’s interest are closest to mine in preserving our rural lifestyle,” said Houston.

Houston said that while he, like Kranz, is a Republican, he views the board of supervisors as a nonpartisan position.

Houston said Montgomery’s keen interest in the local economy won him over. Montgomery is a registered Democrat.

“She’s trying to engage and prepare herself for a key issue,” Houston said.

Montgomery said she and Houston have many views in common, so she believes it should not be hard for former Houston supporters to rally behind her in the fall election.

“By having Bob’s endorsement I think the large majority will come on board,” Montgomery said. “We shared values in looking at development — we’re both pro-growth but we want to look at how to do it better.”

The endorsement has meant several prominent Houston endorsers have also thrown their support to Montgomery including North Tahoe businessman Roger Kahn, Auburn publisher Janice Forbes, Auburn businesswoman Joanne Neft, and Foresthill attorney Brian Connelly, according to a Montgomery campaign press release.

But incumbent Kranz questioned Houston’s motivations.

“He’s abandoned his core values, he ran as a conservative but hasn’t stuck to conservative values,” Kranz said. “I guess he wasn’t what he said he was.”

He also said Houston may harbor resentment towards Kranz after his son didn’t receive a contract with the county.

Houston vehemently denied this, however.

“Come on, if you really look at it, anybody who puts up $100,000 for their own campaign and runs a successful business isn’t going to chase a $17,000 contract. It’s a very modest amount,” Houston said.

Race update

Both candidates are still optimistic as the race rolls towards November.

“I’m really continuing the same process — an absolute classic grassroots approach,” said Jennifer Montgomery.

Incumbent Bruce Kranz said he looks forward to really differentiating himself from Montgomery.

“So far I don’t think anybody knows where she stands on anything except that she’s for gridlock,” Kranz said, referring to the Kings Beach Commercial Core project.

Both candidates say they want a series of debates, but details have not yet been worked out.