04/20/2026
Smart Growth Advocates, Chico, endorses Marianne Paiva in the election this June 2 for District 2, Butte County Supervisor.
Marianne Paiva likes to say she is not a politician. She IS a fifth generation resident of ButteCounty, which is why she cares so deeply about this community and is passionate about being a leader who listens, carefully, to its citizens with a commitment to find solutions to our most pressing issues. Those include:
1) Promoting sustainable development, development that provides a diversity of housing to meet the needs of Butte County citizens from all walks of life while preserving the open spaces and parks that she knows help make our county a wonderful place to live.
2) Wildfire readiness and resilience. Informed by research from the Camp Fire, Marianne is Committed to bringing energy and resources to mitigating our lands from dangerous wildfires.
3) Collaborating with stakeholders to ensure we are protecting our water resources for all our residents in the North State. Marianne understands that a critical piece of that puzzle is addressing flooding, particularly in the north area of District 2.
4) Working to enhance food security. Marianne has worked with local service providers including the Center for Healthy Communities and Safe Space Winter Shelter to understand, and address, food insecurity. Marianne will bring a diversity and wealth of experience to the Board of Supervisors .She grew up on a farm, she worked several years as a paramedic, she has been a Sociology instructor at Chico State for over 20 years and has served as both Vice-chair and Chair of the Academic Senate. She understands the ins and outs of budgets, sees the importance of gathering information for decision making, and promotes collaboration with citizens to solve problems and improve our community.
As she says, “I’m running for District 2 to serve as your voice at the table.”
If you are interested in helping with the campaign, go to her campaign website at Marianne Paiva for Supervisor District 2. There you can donate and provide your contact information for other volunteer opportunities.
The time to act is now. Spread the word to others!
Vote for Marianne Paiva for District 2 in June 2!
Planning for the Future: Water, Wildfire, and Common-Sense Growth
By Marianne Paiva, candidate for Butte County Supervisor (District 2)
What I’ll work on as Supervisor
Fix problems before they become emergencies, especially drainage and flood-prone trouble spots.
Support aquifer recharge so wells and groundwater stay reliable over the long term.
Improve evacuation planning and emergency communication so preparedness works in real life.
Plan housing growth in safer places, with roads, water, and emergency access in mind.
Protect the Greenline, farmland, and green space that define Butte County’s quality of life.
Be transparent, seek feedback, and report results—so residents can see what gets done.
I’m a mom, a wife, and a sister. I’m the daughter of farmers. I’m also a longtime sociology instructor who studies human impact on the environment, natural disasters, and food security. I am also a former paramedic. I’m a 5th generation resident of Butte County, and a 4th generation resident of District 2. I’m deeply invested in this county, and this district.
I’m running for Butte County Supervisor, District 2 because I see decisions being made today regarding water management, wildfire preparedness, and growth that will threaten the quality of life in Butte County for the next generation.
Quality of life in Butte County is shaped by two main issues: water and wildfire. How we plan for both will determine whether our communities remain safe, affordable, and resilient in the years ahead. These issues also connect directly to Smart Growth: where and how we build affects flood risk, availability of water, evacuation safety, long-term infrastructure costs, and the protection of farmland and green space.
Water: Flood Control and Aquifer Recharge
In Butte County, water isn’t an abstract policy question; it is the foundation of community life and economic stability. Water management affects flood risk, well reliability during drought, and dependable supplies for drinking water and agriculture. It also shapes whether growth is sustainable, or whether today’s choices will make us more vulnerable to higher costs and greater risk in the future. We need to treat water like the strategic resource it is. That means planning for extremes, drought and deluge, and investing in maintenance and projects that reduce risk and strengthen reliability.
Flood control is a good example of “maintenance-first” governance. Maintaining creeks and drainage, removing debris and sediment build up, improving levees, and coordinating with districts and agencies can reduce impacts before an emergency occurs. Prevention is more cost-effective, and it protects residents from avoidable hardship.
Aquifer recharge is practical long-term planning: putting water back into the ground when we have it, so we aren’t in crisis when we don’t. It strengthens rural wells and agriculture, improves reliability, and reduces drought vulnerability. And it connects directly to land use: where we build shapes runoff, infiltration, and the long-term stability of our groundwater.
But these issues and strategies aren’t just limited to rural areas of the district. Since the city relies on wells, the same threats exist, as we’ve seen in recent droughts where all residents were called on to reduce water usage, cut back on water-intensive landscaping, and reclaim water in even the smallest amounts.
Ensuring water reliability is the most important issue facing Butte County in the years to come.
Wildfire: Readiness That Works in Real Life
In Butte County, we live with wildfires each year. We know the fires will come. The responsible questions are: are we ready, and are we reducing risk now?
My research on the Camp Fire taught me something that stays with you: the most dangerous moment is often the evacuation itself, when roads get gridlocked, routes become confusing and unmanageable, communication fails, and the fire moves faster than people can process. In those moments, people can do everything right and still be in danger.
That’s why I’m focused on readiness that works in real life: clear evacuation planning, building areas of refuge within fire-prone areas, reliable communication, coordination with first responders, and infrastructure that supports response: safe roads, maintained routes, and systems that don’t crumble under pressure.
And wildfire isn’t only about response. Recovery matters too. I will advocate for faster housing stability, basic needs support, and rebuilding that doesn’t repeat the same vulnerabilities. As we’ve learned with fires in the last 10 years, recovery takes time, and local government needs to stay engaged for the long term.
Smart Growth: Safer Siting, Lower Costs, Stronger Communities
Water and wildfire connect to everything else, including growth.
I believe in common-sense growth: supporting housing where it makes sense, near services and reliable infrastructure, while avoiding development in the most vulnerable fire and flood areas. Good growth planning reduces risk, prevents costly infrastructure strain, and protects quality of life.
It also helps preserve what makes Butte County special: farmland, green spaces, and the Greenline. These lands aren’t just scenic, they support our local economy, our identity, and our long-term resilience.
Trust and Accountability
Finally, none of this works without trust. People deserve county government that shows up. I will seek feedback, keep residents informed, and focus on what works, so people can trust the decisions we make. That means transparent priorities, responsible budgeting, and measurable results.
