Chris will split that vote. Malan found herself deserted by former allies, including most members of the Sierra Club. The club publicly endorsed Winter, as did the Napa County Farm Bureau, the Grape Growers, and other agricultural organizations. Farmers for Napa Valley, meanwhile, endorsed the business candidate, Dodd. Malan's friends urged her to withdraw, but she refused.
Somebody has to take a stand.
Dodd received a majority of votes, preempting the expected runoff between him and Winter. Environmentalists outside Malan's circle were furious, but Malan remained unrepentant. That remains to be seen. On April 25, everyone was forced to reconsider what Malan had accomplished when the Sierra Club suit against the county was resolved. The county officially recognized that CEQA applied to decisions regarding new vineyard development on slopes greater than five percent and agreed that all such projects be opened to public review.