SACRAMENTO REGION, CA (MPG) - Rookie District 3 Supervisor Rich Desmond begins work next week flanked by an experienced team.

Chief of Staff Vanessa McCarthy Olmstead combines 20 years of legislative assistance with the pragmatism of a busy parent. Her Deputy, Mark Cullum, has already micro-managed election campaigns for two supervisors and served the offices of two legislators. Administrative assistant Terri Conde-Ortiz kept five previous County Supervisors in line.  She, McCarthy-Olmstead and Cullum will now crack the whip to steer Supervisor Desmond’s first term. The staffers will also represent their boss at civic events and relay concerns and gripes of constituents.

“I’ve much to learn about the district,” admits former CHP Chief Desmond. “Vanessa is among the most experienced in her field in Sacramento. She’ll help me fill in the gaps. With her amazing technical understanding of Government, she’ll make sure I know who to talk to. We meshed well from our first meeting. We’ve both spent our lives in the community and care deeply about it. We share the philosophy that the District is more important than any partisan agenda. And she’ll keep me smiling. I love her sense of humor.”

Six generations of McCarthy-Olmstead’s family have lived in the same Carmichael street. She attended St Francis High School (Sacramento), where she spent volunteer hours with Dave Cox during a 1994 run for Senate. Her love for community led to political science studies at USF.  The graduate then joined Assemblyman Roger Niello’s office. She got serious about fellow-staffer Rob Olmstead as they volunteered for trash clean-ups in Carmichael. Her husband is now Chief of Staff for District 4 Senator Jim Nielsen and the couple has a daughter (13) and a son (10).

During 10 years in Supervisor Susan Peters’ team, McCarthy-Olmstead worked on everything from corridor plans to PBIDS and election campaigns. One great job qualification, she feels, is being a working mom. “Raising kids makes you appreciate what people are constantly juggling,” she explains. “If I can do anything that makes people’s lives easier, I will. I immediately liked Rich’s easy-going personality. He’s 100 percent genuine. I appreciate his public safety background. I like that he was born here; he cares about our neighborhoods and about Sacramento as a whole.

“Our shared goal is to see the needs of this community met.  My role is to make everything about his job flow, so he can focus on making a difference.”

Deputy Chief of Staff Mark Cullum was raised in Elk Grove. After Valley Christian Academy (Roseville) he studied Public Policy at William Jessup University in Rocklin.

“I wanted my career to give back,” he says.  “Local government impacts people’s lives. I’m happy behind the scenes, helping folks navigate bureaucracy and red tape.” Before steering Rich Desmond’s 2020 election campaign, Cullum worked as a district representative for Senator Jim Nielsen and campaign field manager for Congressman Tom McClintock. He also pounded the election trail for Placer Supervisor Bonnie Gore and served as policy analyst for the non-profit Capitol Resource Institute. He and pre-school teacher Emma Cullum got married straight out of college and live in Foothill Farms.

“I got behind Rich Desmond because I believed he’d be a voice – not for party interests – but for all constituents,” he reflects. “When you sign on for a campaign, there’s no guarantee you’ll end up with a job.  But Rich was such a great candidate, I was glad he asked me to continue on his staff. He’s good to be around.”

Most-seasoned of the new District 3 team is administrative assistant Terri Conde-Ortiz. During 16 years with the County, she has aided Supervisors Illa Collin, Don Nottoli, Phil Serna, Jimmie Yee and lately Susan Peters. Conde-Ortiz has delayed her own retirement to see Desmond’s team transition through early stages. “A supervisor’s staff is critical to the success of his or her office,” the veteran considers. “It’s all about cultivating relationships and trust. As Chief of staff, Vanessa puts Rich way ahead -- she’s been intimately involved in three PBIDS and dozens of community agencies. She knows everyone and she’ll make sure her boss is in the best position to bring positive change.”

Contact The District 3 office E mail: [email protected]  telephone: (916) 874-5471.