Lt. Gov. Newsom Bails on Supes Meeting to Hail Marin Voter Turnout

Citing an "urgent state meeting," Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom bailed on a scheduled special appearance at the Marin County Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday to commend the county for its high voter turnout rate.

Newsom was set to hail the county's turnout of 87.4 percent of registered voters in November's general election, which was the highest in the state. Marin County Registrar of Voters Elaine Ginnold said she was notified of the cancellation just 30 minutes before the meeting was set to begin.

Newsom, the former mayor of San Francisco who moved in with his wife Jennifer Seibel Newsom's family in their Ross estate in June 2011 and then into a home in Kentfield in late 2011, was scheduled to present the board with a certificate of honor that reads in part, "It is an honor to recognize the Marin County Board of Supervisors for their efforts in ensuring that all those eligible take part in our great democracy."

Newsom's spokesperson could not be reached for comment.

Ginnold credited the county's voters, poll workers, elections employees and community organizations for the accomplishment.

The last time Marin County led the state in voter turnout was 1952, when it had a 90.3 percent participation rate.

Ginnold said she planned to bring to today's meeting the citation for the 1952 achievement, which was signed by then-Gov. Earl Warren.

Marin County's highest voter turnout was 90.8 percent in the November 2008 general election.

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