On the recordJanuary 6, 2016
We both got to know Rich through politics. It is amazing that he was a person who supported us both: Jeff being a Republican, myself being a Democrat; Jeff being in the State legislature, I being in the State legislature. I got to know him when I was a county supervisor in Monterey County. Rich was always the go-to guy to really do sort of the technical issues that you drill down deep on a lot of controversial agricultural issues. His ideas were always based on good science, good farming practices, always sort of the idea of conservation in the best sense of the word. He also was participatory in my daughter's wedding because the wines we served at that wedding were from Rich's vineyards. In fact, I brought a bottle of his wine today here on the floor to show the world that this man did some great things. His wines were served also at many, many charitable events that they did at their vineyards. He and Claudia were kind of leaders. Claudia was very interested in getting the whole ecotourism, agritourism involved to get people out into seeing how agriculture is really produced, and wine visits are obviously a good way of attracting people, but the knowledge of it. We are going to really miss him. He was a great person, and I am glad that we are able to create a national park right across from his vineyard so he can always stare at it. Got bless Richard Smith and the great wines he made. ____________________
