From Mono to Modoc: Uniting California’s Rural Voice Through WIR

This article was authored by Mono County Supervisor John Peters and Modoc County Supervisor Ned Coe.

California’s counties are places of contrast – where breathtaking landscapes meet tough, on-the-ground realities. In our rural counties, the stakes are high. We are balancing wildfire risks, water scarcity, limited broadband, and workforce housing shortages – all while protecting the land and way of life that define our communities. These are distant challenges – they are daily ones. And that’s exactly why California’s voice is essential at the national level. 

The Western Interstate Region (WIR), a part of the National Association of Counties (NACo), is where the West comes together. WIR, a regional affiliate of the National Association of Counties, represents fifteen Western states and advocates for public policy issues unique to the West—including public land use and conservation, economic development, and the preservation of the Western way of life. Funded through state associations, WIR promotes these regional priorities within NACo, ensuring Western counties have a strong, united voice in national policy discussions. 

This year’s WIR Conference tackled everything from fire mitigation and federal land management to water infrastructure and workforce housing. These weren’t abstract policy discussions—they were grounded, practical exchanges between people facing the same issues we confront every day in our counties.

California played a leading role. Mono County Supervisor John Peters now serves as WIR President, and Modoc County Supervisor Ned Coe serves as CSAC’s representative on the board. Together, we are ensuring California’s rural and public lands counties have a strong, consistent voice – and that the innovations we develop locally are helping shape national policy.

“California’s rural counties face every challenge you can imagine—but we also have the innovation, the partnerships, and the local knowledge to solve them. WIR helps us take those solutions national.” ~ Supervisor John Peters

One of the most exciting developments we’ve helped champion is the launch of the National Center for Public Lands Counties, a first-of-its-kind resource hub created by counties, for counties. This new Center will support jurisdictions where public lands define not only the landscapes, but also the economic and governance challenges local officials face every day.

In Mono County, 94% of the land is federally or state owned. In Modoc County, it’s over 70%. For counties like ours, managing fire risk, maintaining broadband access, developing housing for local workers, and navigating the economic impacts of federal land ownership are not just theoretical—they are daily realities. The Center will serve as a think tank, idea generator, and advocacy engine to help counties respond effectively and collaboratively.

Our work through WIR is also expand and modernize the conversation. While traditional land-use issues like energy and agriculture remain priorities, we’re also elevating the importance of recreation-based economies. Whether it’s mountain biking in Mono or hiking in Modoc, rural tourism is driving new opportunities—and new infrastructure needs.

“It’s about having a seat at the table, especially for counties like ours where public lands play such a large role. WIR helps us speak with a united voice.” ~ Supervisor Ned Coe

To our fellow county leaders across California: your voice matters. Whether your county is confronting wildfire threats, workforce housing shortages, or the challenges of managing public lands, you have partners and allies at WIR. The more California counties that participate, the stronger and more influential our collective voice becomes in Washington, D.C.

As your representatives, we are here to listen, to learn, and to act. If you have ideas or questions about how WIR or the National Center for Public Lands Counties can support your county, we welcome the conversation. Together, we can ensure that our counties remain places where people can live, work, and thrive—surrounded by open space, strengthened by smart policy, and connected by common purpose.

Let’s keep working—together.

Supervisor John Peters, Mono County, NACo WIR President
Supervisor Ned Coe, Modoc County, CSAC WIR Board Representative