Love Your Neighbors | City Insider

A New Chapter Begins

As the sun sets on another chapter of my life, I find myself at a crossroads. For at least a year, until the local filing period for the 2026 general election, City Insider will be taking a break. This decision comes after much thought and planning, as Amy and I are embarking on an overseas sabbatical together. If you're one of those who missed the note in May, I apologize for the suddenness of this sign-off. However, this is not a final goodbye — the paper has plans for contributions from afar, and I’ll be back with new perspectives soon.

This isn’t our first time taking a break from our routine. Years ago, we traveled to the Mid-South — Missouri and Arkansas — when Amy was at a career crossroads. That journey was transformative, and we returned in autumn 2015, when she pioneered Enloe’s pediatric hospitalist program. Chico has become a second home for us, even though it's not where we were born.

Chico is Amy’s hometown. She was born in Sacramento and raised in Paradise, but she’s lived here longer than anyplace else. For me, Chico is an adopted hometown. I was born, raised, and worked in the L.A. metroplex, yet I have more meaningful relationships here than anywhere else.

The saying “Love thy neighbor as thyself” is a cornerstone of both our upbringings. In this community, it's easier to put into practice. We have so many great neighbors that I could develop carpal tunnel just typing their names. But that’s the last thing I need given the contributions to come. (Not there just yet...)

Some of the people I appreciate might surprise you — but then again, maybe not. Among other labels, I’ve been called a pragmatic centrist. I lean leftward while keeping my eyes and ears open to those who lean rightward. Many, if not most, neighbors occupy similar spots on the political spectrum; they’re just not as visible or audible as those on the edges who command more attention. Regardless, I find common ground with — and common denominators among — myriad individuals who seem irreconcilable on the surface.

Sue Hilderbrand and Tod Kimmelshue ran for county supervisor in 2020. The campaign got personal. If you're behind on the episode, a post-pandemic spoiler alert: Kimmelshue won. Have they buried the hatchet? Only they know for sure.

Sue is a liberal, a Democrat who hosts a radio show on KZFR — “The Real Issue” (on which I’m a periodic guest) — whose play-in song is “The Revolution Starts Now” by Steve Earle. She’s unabashedly and passionately political. She’s also a friend. I’ll miss our semi-regular breakfasts at Cafe Coda and Sin of Cortez.

Tod is a conservative, a Republican in a nonpartisan post who still gets out on the family farm (though obviously not as often as other Kimmelshues). He was club president when I got inducted into Chico Noon Rotary, and we’ve served together on the Vina GSA board. He’s also a friend. We have differences of opinion, as evidenced by divergent votes, yet that’s never clouded interpersonal interactions — or political, for that matter.

As GSA chair, I weigh in last. (I write this in present tense because I don’t leave office till Aug.) Rarely am I the decider; to my recollection, only two votes have gone 3-2. Unless I disagree wholeheartedly, I typically say, “Respectfully, I vote no.” On one such occasion, Tod inquired, “What does voting no respectfully mean?” As chuckles filled the room, I turned to him and replied, “It means I’m not going to stomp my feet like a toddler just because I didn’t get my way.” That, too, drew chuckles, along with some nods.

Sue and I don’t agree on everything, either. I’m glad for that — if I wanted an echo, I’d bellow into Butte Creek Canyon. Validation stokes the ego more than provokes thought.

I have numerous friends and friendly acquaintances who don’t see eye to eye with each other … or even with me, for that matter. Again, there are too many to list, and this isn’t a name-dropping exercise. If you know, you know.

Several already have made plans to visit Amy and me in New Zealand. We’re renting a three-bedroom house to accommodate guests, though we’ll all share a bathroom. Hopefully we all share the same view on tidiness.

From the home office in Marlborough, I’ll resume contributing to this newspaper with a new, biweekly column. (See, we finally got here!) The title will be View From Down Under, and I’ll reflect on what I observe there as well as here via there.

I hope I’ll continue to see neighbors standing up for neighbors, regardless of affiliations. Words like “resilience” and “collaboration” get attributed frequently to our crisis-weary communities, but they’re not clichés — they’re characteristics. Together, we’re resilient; when we don’t look after each other, we lose what makes us collectively special.

For now, adieu to you. City Insider out!