Kevin Evans launches Fifth District Supervisor campaign
By Chelsea Randall
Kevin Evans officially entered the race for the 2026 Fifth District seat on the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors (BoS) on Friday, December 29th. The position is currently held by Supervisor Ted Williams.
Running under the slogan A Voice for the People, a Vision for the Future. Evans said he plans to take a hands-on approach to governance, with a strong emphasis on community engagement.
Input from the community, from the stakeholders, is paramount on any decision the Board of Supervisors makes. Evans said in an interview with the ICO, we need to represent the constituents in our districts and carry their voices forward.
With more than 30 years of experience working for cities, Evans said his background in municipal government has given him practical understanding of how local agencies operate and how to navigate them effectively.
He earned a degree in recreation administration from San Diego State University and spent his career in parks and community services retiring as Director of Community Services and Parks for the City of Dana Point.
Since moving to Anchor Bay in 2016, Evans has become deeply involved in the south coast community. Along with his wife, Sylvia, Evans has volunteered with non-profits, including Pay-n-Take, the Lions Club, Project Santa, Action Network and the Mendocino Music Festival.
Evans currently serves as the chair of the Gualala Municipal Advisory Committee (GMAC) and previously served as President of the Gualala Community Center, resigning at the end of June after completing the first year of his term. He also served two years on the Mendocino County Civil Grand Jury.
Evans said his decision to run was shaped by his experience working directly with the BoS on local issues. What encouraged me the most was how community involvement and input to the Board of Supervisors was so imperative to get things done in our community, Evans said.
He pointed to efforts surrounding Bower Park and the Gualala Community Center as examples. When Bower Park was closed due to lack of maintenance, Evans said he went before the BoS with community support to advocate for repairs. After the Gualala Community Center burned down in 2023, he again approached the board to explore options for rebuilding.
Through collaboration with residents and local, state and federal officials, Evans said those efforts resulted in $2.2 million in state funding to refurbish Bower Park and a $ 1 million federal grant to rebuild the Community Center, for which he handled the application.
After hearing community concerns about a lack of law enforcement on the south coast, Evans said he relayed those concerns to the board which led to the assignment of a resident deputy.
Most recently, through his work with GMAC, Evans helped change Gualala’s classification to a Census Designated Place, scheduled to take effect in January 2026. With that designation, Evans said, Gualala is now better qualified to apply for federal, state and county grants to support infrastructure.
Turning to broader concerns, Evans said, smaller communities often feel overlooked. “I’m finding that there are a lot of communities that feel disenfranchised, and I think part of it is because of their size and population”. Evans said” I think that it’s important for any supervisor to make it a point to visit those different communities, regardless of their population size, and find out what are the issues that impact their communities”.
By pledging to make himself accessible through regular public meetings, town halls held within individual communities, and by responding to phone calls, e-mails and social media messages, Evans said he’ll be able to provide the BoS with a snapshot of community-driven concerns. He views the role as a two-way exchange and will also communicate board actions back to residents.
Based on community conversations, Evans lists his top priorities as affordable housing, safe and well-maintained roads, and environmental protections. He added that the county’s recent auditor’s report does not alter his priorities, but its findings highlight areas needing attention and provide a roadmap for improvement.
He noted that meaningful progress will require input from both residents and county employees.
“I think we need input from the employees themselves, reaching out to each department to see what we can do to streamline the operations, make sure that we have adequate staffing, so we can regenerate our revenue base”.
Evans pointed to the report’s findings that the county is owed approximately $30 million in uncollected back taxes, fees, and penalties. He also believes the county is not fully maximizing revenue from tourism, particularly through Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) and sales taxes.
We find that with the wine community in Boonville and Navarro Valley and the amenities that are available on the south coast, we generate a lot of money through sales tax and bed (TOT) tax. I think we need to explore that and maximize that to the best of our ability”, he said.
Working toward affordable housing could also help the county financially by generating more property tax revenue. He hopes to identify cost-saving measures and opportunities to streamline permitting and update the local coastal plan to be more accommodating for the building industry.
If elected, Evans said voters should hold him accountable “for everything”
“I believe that when the voters put you in that position, they’re voting for you based on your ethics, your work performance, and I believe if you are not living up to their standards and expectations, that you need to re-evaluate your own position or look at changes”.
Evans is scheduled to discuss his campaign during an interview on the “Peggy’s Place” s how on KGUA 88.3 FM on December 30.
