Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors Chair Zach Friend and Housing for Health Director Robert Ratner were recognized for statewide leadership by the California State Association of Counties, which advocates for county programs and services throughout the state.
Zach Friend
Robert Ratner
At CSAC’s 129th Annual Meeting Nov. 14-16 in Alameda County, Supervisor Friend and Dr. Ratner both received CSAC’s prestigious Circle of Service Award, presented to recognize county officials, employees, and other members whose service to the county family, CSAC membership and the advancement of CSAC goals is substantially above and beyond the norm.
The awards were two of just eight Circle of Service Awards this year.
Friend, who chairs CSAC’s Health and Human Services Policy Committee, was recognized for advocating on behalf of CSAC for all 58 counties via public testimony during legislative hearings on the Mental Health Services Act and other mental health initiatives, advocating for counties through media and in meetings with legislative members.
On Nov. 21, County Supervisor Zach Friend, chair of the Pajaro Regional Flood Risk Manage-ment Agency, signed an agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on the $599 million Pajaro River levee project to prevent future flooding. The agreement details construction re-sponsibilities and cost-sharing for the project to begin in 2024.
Friend, who was first elected in 2012, also advocates on behalf of the County at the federal level, including serving on the National Association of Counties board of directors.
H4H Division director since 2020, Ratner was recognized for his assistance in developing CSAC’s statewide AT HOME plan, which advocates for a statewide and comprehensive plan to address homelessness effectively and equitably.
Dr. Ratner was a leader on the Homelessness Policy Solutions Group, lending his expertise to peers throughout California. He was an indispensable resource in generating and refining policy ideas for consideration within the AT HOME plan and continues his work leading the County’s Housing for Health Division as it makes progress to address homelessness in Santa Cruz County.
“Supervisor Friend and Dr. Ratner exemplify what it means to be public servants,” said Graham Knaus, CSAC’s chief executive officer. “We are proud to recognize their contributions to the mission of all counties throughout California in assuring that we are delivering the highest quality programs and services to our residents.”