EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. — Election 2026
Retired law enforcement professional backs Gaines
Tom Walsh, a retired law enforcement professional from Shingle Springs, is endorsing Ted Gaines for El Dorado County Board of Supervisors District 4, arguing that leadership at the local level plays a consequential role in public safety and residents’ quality of life.
“After 41 years in law enforcement, I have seen how poor government leadership can undermine public safety and diminish a community’s quality of life,” Walsh said in his endorsement statement.
Walsh describes Gaines as a “law-and-order candidate” who would bring common sense to public safety decisions and fairly represent residents across El Dorado County.
The endorsement comes ahead of the Nov. 3 general election, when District 4 voters will choose between Gaines and Gina Posey for the county’s governing board.
Public safety and county leadership
The five-member El Dorado County Board of Supervisors sets policy for county departments, oversees the county budget, adopts local ordinances and establishes land-use policies. Those responsibilities give supervisors influence over funding priorities and the county services that affect residents’ daily lives.
Gaines has made public safety a central part of his campaign platform. He says he would support the Sheriff’s Office and first responders, strengthen emergency services and prioritize resources for rural emergency medical and fire services.
His campaign also emphasizes fiscal accountability, preserving the county’s rural character and limiting urban sprawl. Gaines lists Sheriff Jeff Leikauf, former sheriffs John D’Agostini and Hal Barker, and District Attorney Vern Pierson among his supporters.
Walsh’s endorsement aligns with that emphasis on law enforcement and public safety. His argument is that residents’ security and quality of life depend in part on the judgment and priorities of the people elected to lead local government.
District 4 voters face a choice
District 4 encompasses communities including Shingle Springs, Cameron Park, Rescue, Cool, Pilot Hill, Garden Valley, Greenwood, Coloma, Lotus and Georgetown, as well as portions of other unincorporated communities. The district’s rural areas and growing population centers have different needs, making representation and decisions about county services important issues for voters.
Walsh says Gaines would represent residents fairly throughout the county. That is his assessment as an endorser; voters can weigh it alongside the candidates’ platforms, experience and records.
The race is part of the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. Voters can consult the El Dorado County Elections Department for official election information and candidate materials.
