Kern County District 3 Supervisor Mike Maggard is retiring after 16 years on the job.
His replacement after the November election will either be his chief of staff Jeff Flores or retired CHP assistant chief Brian Smith.
Flores took first in the June primary by about 8 points and is backed by many of the area’s top Republicans, including House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy (R–Bakersfield) and Asm. Vince Fong (R–Bakersfield).
He is also supported by the Kern County Prosecutors Association, Kern County Firefighters 1301, the California Independent Petroleum Association, the Bakersfield Association of Realtors, the Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce PAC and the Kern County Homebuilders Association.
To no surprise given his law enforcement background, Smith boasts a bevy of support from public safety groups.
Such endorsements include the Kern Law Enforcement Association, Kern County Firefighters, the Kern County Detention Officer Association, the Bakersfield Police Officer Association, the California Association of Highway Patrolmen and several others.
Smith is also supported by Asm. Tom Lackey (R–Palmdale).
