Meet Andy Podshadley, Candidate For Marin County Board Of Supervisors

MARIN COUNTY, CA — Andy Podshadley is vying for one of two seats on the Marin County Board of Supervisors.

County elections officials will begin mailing ballots by May 4, in which voters will decide between seven candidates running for the board of supervisors seats, including one being vacated by Eric Lucan who opted to run for the state Assembly.

Podshadley is running for the District 5 seat, which covers northern Marin, primarily Novato.

Learn more about Podshadley's background and goals for Marin County:

Educational background:

Attended local Novato schools; Sonoma State University – B.A. in Business; UC Davis – Wine Education.

Professional background:

Native Novato resident and small business owner since 1984 who founded A&J Services, a Novato-based contracting company and started Trek Winery LLC in 2006. He served eight years as President of the Downtown Novato Business Association.

Why are you seeking a seat on the Board of Supervisors?

He believes career politicians have failed to solve Marin's most pressing issues — homelessness, rising fees and an unaffordable housing market. He said he is a community-connected, non-political, cost-conscious business owner, that wants to bring practical, accessible, and accountable leadership to the Board. He said he is committed to putting community first and giving residents real access to their supervisor.

What do you think are the top three issues for voters in this election, and how do you plan to address them?

1. Homelessness – He said he has developed a plan called "Hope Village," designed to bring in corporate funding and minimize costs, moving away from what he calls Marin's "hopeless approach" toward one with actionable goals and accountability.
2. Housing affordability and permitting – He said he wants to address the imbalance where homeowners struggle to get permits for basic renovations while larger problems go unsolved.
3. Fiscal responsibility / rising fees – As a small business owner, he said he is focused on ensuring taxpayers get value for their money and will bring a cost-conscious perspective that he feels is largely absent from current county leadership.

Why are you a better choice than your opponents?

He said he is not a career politician or politically connected — he is community connected. He said he brings real-world experience as a small business owner, a deep knowledge of Novato as a native resident, and a pragmatic, cost-conscious approach to problem-solving.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

Eight years as President of the Downtown Novato Business Association; founding and growing A&J Services since 1984; building Trek Winery into the 2017 Novato Small Business of the Year; serving as President of Thrivent Financial (Marin County) and Mt. Cross Ministries; developing the New Year's Bouncy Ball event; active involvement in Leadership Novato, Rotary, Scouts of America (Eagle Scout), and wildlife rescue organizations.

Have you ever held a public office, whether appointive or elective?

Podshadley has held leadership positions in civic and community organizations — including the Novato Business Association (President), Novato Tourism Committee, Thrivent Financial (President), and Mt. Cross Ministries (President) — but no elected or appointed government office is mentioned in the documents.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know?

This is a grassroots campaign with no paid staff — Podshadley is relying on volunteers, friends, and neighbors. Podshadley invites residents to call, email, or visit his website and welcomes lawn sign placements and donations. He emphasizes: "I am not Politically Connected. I am Community Connected!" The election is June 2, 2026.

What is one specific change you would support to improve public safety in your district?

Not explicitly addressed in the provided documents, though his general platform of pragmatic, community-first problem-solving and accountability to residents implies a focus on reducing homeless encampments, which he links to quality-of-life and safety concerns.

What specific actions should the Board of Supervisors take to address homelessness, and how would you evaluate whether current efforts are working?

Podshadley proposes "Hope Village" — a plan to address homelessness by attracting corporate funding to minimize taxpayer costs, setting actionable goals, and demanding accountability for results. He is critical of Marin's current approach, which he says celebrates small, incremental improvements rather than pursuing real solutions. Success would be measured by concrete, demonstrable reductions in homelessness rather than congratulatory progress reports on marginal gains.