05/15/2026
To the Residents of Solano County who will be voting for the new Board Of Supervisor representing District 4.
I wanted to share my thoughts regarding the upcoming Board of Supervisors race between Mike Silva and several other candidates, including Vacaville Mayor John Carli.
Current District 4 Supervisor John Vasquez, who has held the seat for more than 20 years, is stepping down and endorsing John Carli to replace him. Endorsements matter because when someone publicly supports a candidate to continue their work or occupy their seat, they are signaling that the candidate shares a similar outlook, philosophy, and approach to governing.
That is why I believe endorsements deserve careful consideration in this race.
Over many years of participating in agricultural advocacy efforts in Pleasants Valley, I witnessed repeated attempts by local farmers to engage Supervisor John Vasquez regarding agricultural policy, land use issues, and concerns affecting working farms. Meaningful communication and ongoing engagement rarely occurred.
For many farmers, the issue was not whether our supervisor agreed with us on every issue. The issue was whether there was an open line of communication at all.
Most importantly to me, John Vasquez was instrumental in dismantling the Solano County Agricultural Advisory Committee, a committee that had existed for roughly 20 years and provided one of the few formal channels through which farmers and ranchers could advise the County on agricultural issues, land use, and rural policy.
The justification was that the committee had outlived its usefulness or was no longer sufficiently engaged. But instead of eliminating it, there was an enormous opportunity to modernize it. New farmers and ranchers could have been brought in. The committee could have been revitalized and strengthened so the County could benefit from the practical experience and wisdom of people actively working in agriculture while making decisions that directly affect agricultural land and rural communities.
That committee could have evolved alongside modern agriculture. Instead, it was eliminated entirely.
So while John Vasquez is endorsing John Carli, I am endorsing Mike Silva.
To me, endorsements reflect values and priorities. Mike Silva has already spent years showing up in the agricultural community before ever running for this seat. He shops at local farm stands. He attends farm events and farmers markets. He has consistently shown interest in connecting the City of Vacaville with the surrounding agricultural community and understanding the importance of local farms to the identity and future of this region.
The Board of Supervisors oversees many complex issues beyond agriculture, and every candidate will bring different priorities to the position. But as a farmer, what matters to me is whether someone is willing to listen, engage, and maintain an open door to the rural communities they represent.
Mike Silva has already demonstrated that willingness through his presence and participation. After many years of feeling disconnected from County leadership, I believe many farmers are looking for representation in this district that is engaged, accessible, and willing to rebuild relationships with the agricultural community.
Sincerely,
Alexis Koefoed
Soul Food Farm
