District 1 Supervisor Bill Connelly was selected to serve as chair of the Butte County Board of Supervisors in 2026. Photo courtesy of Butte County

OROVILLE, CA (MPG) - The Butte County Board of Supervisors reorganized on Jan. 13, selecting longtime District 1 Supervisor Bill Connelly to serve as board chair for 2026.

Connelly, first elected in 2004, is one of the longest serving supervisors in county history. A lifelong Butte County resident, he served in the U.S. Air Force before returning home to operate small businesses and later enter public office. His tenure has centered on water policy, flood control and local control of surface and groundwater resources, including during the Oroville Dam relicensing process.

Supervisors also tapped District 3 Supervisor Tami Ritter, in a 3-1 vote, to serve as vice chair for 2026.

Ritter, who nominated herself, previously served on the Chico City Council. She was first elected to the Board of Supervisors in 2018, representing Chico and surrounding communities. Her work has focused on homelessness policy, behavioral health services and county level fiscal oversight. Before entering elected office, Ritter directed the Torres Community Shelter and worked in nonprofit administration.

District 3 Supervisor Tami Ritter was selected on a split vote to serve her first term as vice chair of the Butte County Board of Supervisors in 2026. Photo courtesy of Butte County

The board’s annual reorganization sets leadership roles for the coming year and determines who will preside over meetings and represent the county in regional and state level discussions. Their first order of business in 2026 was to recognize the service of outgoing Chair Tod Kimmelshue. During his tenure as board chair in 2025, Kimmelshue focused on wildfire recovery, rural infrastructure and fiscal stability, often emphasizing the needs of farming communities and unincorporated areas. He has also been active in water resource discussions affecting Sacramento Valley.

During its first meeting of the New Year, the Board of Supervisors honored the memory and service of U.S. Rep. Doug LaMalfa, who died unexpectedly on Jan. 6. LaMalfa, a fourth-generation rice farmer from Richvale, had represented California’s North State in Congress since 2013 and previously served in both the State Assembly and State Senate.

“Congressman LaMalfa was a strong advocate for wildfire prevention, forest management, and disaster recovery, including federal support following the 2018 Camp Fire,” Connelly said. “His leadership and accessibility ensured that the voices of rural and northern counties, including Butte County, were heard at the federal level.”

Supervisors also recognized former Butte County Supervisor Maureen Kirk, who died on Nov. 25, 2025. Kirk represented Chico on the Board of Supervisors from 2007 to 2019 after earlier service on the Chico City Council, including a term as mayor. Known for her steady, detailed driven approach to governance, she focused on fiscal oversight, public health, and collaborative regional planning. Her long tenure in local government made her a respected voice on county policy and community issues.