An escalating social media dispute involving outgoing El Dorado County District 4 Supervisor Lori Parlin and Supervisor candidate Gina Posey has triggered a wave of criticism, support and political commentary from Divide residents and county observers.
The controversy began after Posey published a campaign-related Facebook post referencing what supporters described as positive developments connected to funding and recovery efforts tied to impacts from the Mosquito Fire, particularly for residents in and around Volcanoville.
Parlin responded publicly, criticizing the candidate’s involvement and accusing Posey of creating confusion regarding an active county-led project.
“This is very inappropriate behavior by a candidate,”
Parlin wrote online.
“Misdirecting people to contact her regarding an active county project which I am coordinating with staff and the community is misleading and will cause confusion.”
Parlin added that official updates regarding the matter would be distributed
“through appropriate channels,”
including her District 4 newsletter.
The exchange quickly drew dozens of comments from residents, political supporters and critics, many debating whether Posey had improperly inserted herself into county business or was simply engaging with the public during an active campaign season.
Several commenters sided with Parlin, arguing that a candidate without elected authority should not position herself as a point of contact for county matters. Others accused the outgoing supervisor of attempting to control information and discourage public engagement.
“As a sitting Supervisor, it is highly inappropriate for you to publicly chastise a candidate for being proud of a major win for the residents of Volcanoville,”
resident Lee Tannenbaum wrote in a lengthy response defending Posey’s outreach efforts.
Another commenter, Bill Roby, criticized the increasingly hostile tone of local political discourse.
“Leaders resolve disputes, not display them on public chat rooms,” Roby wrote. “The attacks on opponents that are more mud than substance.”
The debate also reopened broader frustrations surrounding county transparency, constituent access and political infighting within El Dorado County government.
During the discussion, Parlin clarified that the project in question was tied to county legal efforts seeking recovery funds connected to the Mosquito Fire, distinguishing it from separate litigation involving utility companies.
“The County was part of a lawsuit to recover costs from the impacts of the Mosquito Fire,”
Parlin wrote in response to a resident seeking clarification.
While the exact project details were not fully outlined in the exchange, multiple commenters referenced what they described as an approximately $8 million recovery effort benefiting Divide communities.
The online clash arrives as campaign activity intensifies ahead of the 2026 election cycle in El Dorado County, where public frustration over development, wildfire recovery, transparency and governance continues to shape local political debate.
Neither Parlin nor Posey had publicly indicated any direct offline discussions regarding the matter as of Thursday afternoon. The controversy continued circulating widely across local political and community Facebook groups.
Political observers note that social media increasingly serves as both campaign battleground and public forum in rural county politics, where community issues often intersect directly with personality-driven disputes.
For many residents watching the exchange unfold, the argument appeared less about a single project and more about who controls communication, public trust and political influence in District 4 moving forward.
