Amidst the echoes in St. Helena’s American Legion Hall on a quiet November 7 evening, a town hall gathering expressed more apprehension rather than curiosity concerning the aftermath of Tuesday’s election. Their overarching apprehension revolved around ‘What is to be done at this point?’ For which U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, and Napa County Supervisor Anne Cottrell had invited Christopher Cabaldon to join them in delivering their version of the ‘answers’. Cabaldon, bearing the badge of former mayor of West Sacramento, has recently been appointed to take over the seat of retiring Sen. Bill Dodd in the 3rd District. He is set to represent a coterie of counties, including Napa, Solano, Yolo, and pieces of Contra Costa, Sacramento, and Sonoma.
In another corner of the political spectrum, Thompson was busy celebrating his victorious run for his 14th term in the U.S. House of Representatives. “I can’t help but express my disappointment,” shared Thompson, adding, “The upcoming two years are likely to be incredibly challenging.” As Veterans Day was on the horizon, Thompson, who is also a U.S. Army veteran, paid homage to ex-Napa citizen Capt. Brett Crozier.
Crozier’s illustrious career sadly came to an end during the COVID-19 pandemic when a breakout onboard his vessel, the USS Theodore Roosevelt, prompted a plea from his side for the evacuation of most of his crew. It was after his confidential correspondence to Navy officials was unlawfully leaked to the media, that Crozier was stripped off his command and later retired. “Let’s not overlook the fact that the valuable citizens of our country are critical enough to invest time in,” Thompson passionately emphasized. “I am set on working alongside whoever shares my dedication and is in for the long haul.”
Cabaldon, on the other hand, gave a rather grim outlook on the results of the national election, warning that it will pose unprecedented challenges for the state especially if the declarations made during the hustings come into effect. “We simply cannot afford to hit the pause button,” he added, implying that the results strongly push everyone to a moment of self-realization. He insisted, “We must strive to exceed our current limits.”
As far as Cottrell was concerned, she strongly put forth her belief in the need to ‘listen and learn’ from each other. She reiterated her experience of executing this approach in her meetings with other county supervisors, regularly disagreeing on major issues such as climate change. “True, we might have differences of opinion,” Cottrell affirmed, “but maybe there’s a middle ground where we can both stand.”
The audience engaged in a broad spectrum of questions, ranging from Ukraine’s fate to the influence of contemporary social media platforms like TikTok. A woman voiced her concerns, “I am worried about my neighbors who, given my observation, are potentially undocumented, how am I to ensure their safety?” Another man quickly followed with a query to Thompson: ‘Should we abandon the nation? Are our safety levels high enough? Will there be any arrests on Jan 21?’
Trying to pacify the issue, Thompson stated, “I would caution against reacting excessively to what Trump might have said.” He continued, “Always remember that Trump has a history of saying anything to garner attention. We can’t forecast his potential actions.” Pointing out the drawbacks of the current Congress, he remarked that it has been the ‘least fruitful Congress in the prior 100 years.’
Highlighting more Congress failures he stated, “We don’t have something as elementary as a Farm Bill.” He was referring to the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, typically known as the Farm Bill, that was temporarily extended for a year and expired at the end of September. Congress has yet to pass a new one, leaving several programs on hold. This pause in approval has stirred worries about the permanence of agriculture assistance and sustenance programs.
When enquired about Project 2025, a massive, 900-page proposition from the right-leaning Heritage Foundation planning a major revamp of the federal government, Thompson made his stance clear: ‘Every time it pops its ugly head, it needs a symbolic punch in the gut.’ Thompson urged them to stay alert and vocal, but not to worry excessively.
By no means succumb to ‘doomscrolling,’ he quipped, failed to avoid a caveat that we shouldn’t get too comfortable in ‘the opposing mindset of stating, ‘They’d never execute that.” On an encouraging note, Cabaldon advised, ‘Always keep a safety net to escort you out of those gloomy spaces.’
Cottrell decided to add a lighter note, ‘And never forget to stay hydrated.’ Despite frequently being the subject of mockery by other states, California may still shine bright as a beacon of hope, was the shared sentiment among all three public figures. Promoting an air of unity and encouragement, Thompson concluded, ‘This gathering plays a vital role in future action.’
He further elaborated, ‘Stay connected, keep conversations going, and never put a halt to open discussions.’ Above all, he urged, ‘Always hold onto faith.’ Despite Thompson’s own disappointments and the apparent challenges ahead, he and his colleagues are clearly determined to continue their quest for solutions, even if their view of the path ahead was framed by partisan lenses.