Where we honor veterans: A county-level plan to deliver for Placer's military families

California is home to the largest veteran population of any state in the nation. That means the nation's biggest community of heroes is not an abstract statistic, it is our neighbors, our co-workers and the families sitting next to us at Friday night football games. (Source: California Census) At the state level, leaders can write policy and adopt legislation from the Capitol. But the success of the veteran family — whether serving, transitioning or residing in our county after service — is felt right here at home, at the county level. My name is Holly Andreatta, and as Placer County's next District 2 Supervisor, I have a plan and commitment that will enhance representation of our district and county at large by strengthening how Placer County listens to, partners with and delivers for veterans and military families. Placer already signals its values with a clear promise: "Placer County: Where We Honor Veterans." We also benefit from an impressive Veterans Services Office that provides benefits assistance and advocacy for veterans, dependents and survivors. In recent reporting, the county shared record demand: The VSO filed 5,208 claims in one fiscal year and later handled 21,491 requests. This is proof that thousands of local families rely on this office. Supporting the VSO's needs such as staffing, tools and outreach is not optional; it is the front door for those who have earned answers and action. Partnering with our VSO to understand pain-points will be a priority that paves success within. But honoring veterans cannot stop at paperwork. The cracks show up most clearly during transition. Federal oversight reporting notes that roughly 200,000 service members move from military service into civilian life each year. Military spouses face a separate but equally urgent barrier: Military OneSource cites 20-percent unemployment among military spouses in the civilian workforce, a reality tied to frequent PCS moves and hiring friction. When household income is unstable, every other pillar is impacted: housing, education plans, mental health and family stability. Placer is home to thousands of veterans and remains a destination for families connected to nearby installations like Beale Air Force Base and Travis Air Force Base. That means county leadership must function like a trusted partner, not a maze of links. The goal is simple: Help people find the right resource, take the next step, and reach a real person without dead ends. Economic opportunity is a pillar of wellbeing. Veterans want options: public service, skilled trades, corporate careers or entrepreneurship. County leadership can expand entrepreneurship pathways through workshops and mentorship, and by connecting veterans to licensing and procurement guidance, working alongside organizations such as Veteran Entrepreneur Tribe of Sacramento, which exists to empower veterans with resources, mentorship and community support. Employment and education should be treated as one lane. That means engaging colleges' veteran enrollment teams, convening veteran-friendly employers and partnering with groups such as Veterans Workforce Alliance of Greater Sacramento, whose mission is connecting employers with resources to successfully hire veterans and transitioning military families. County hiring should be part of that ecosystem as well, because local government should compete for veteran and spouse talent, not overlook it. Proven national programs should be used by the county as direct hiring pathways, not simply referenced on a webpage. Placer County should formalize partnerships, including MOUs where appropriate, to host SkillBridge participants and military spouse fellows and connect them to county vacancies and career tracks. SkillBridge enables service members in their last 180 days to complete internships, apprenticeships or industry training, and the county can be a host that turns that experience into local government service. For spouses, MySECO provides career tools and coaching, the Career Accelerator offers paid 12-week fellowships, and MSEP connects spouses to hundreds of vetted employers committed to hiring. When we treat these programs as workforce pipelines, we reduce employment gaps, strengthen household income, and keep exceptional talent right here in Placer County. Representation matters, too. Veterans deserve a meaningful channel to shape priorities, not a conversation limited to a few familiar voices. Listening sessions should include veterans from every era, spouses, caregivers, student veterans and entrepreneurs, and those sessions must lead to visible follow-through so policies reflect action, not just words. I am the granddaughter, daughter, mother and aunt of veterans. This issue is near and dear to my heart. And as someone who has served in local government on the Lincoln City Council and as mayor of Lincoln, I will lead with action and deliver results for our heroes. Done well, this approach increases veteran family stability, grows the number of veteran business owners and helps close the veteran and military spouse employment gap, making Placer County a place where veterans want to move, stay, build their businesses, go to school, feel connected and grow their families. When we drive Placer County to lead by example, we can be the model our surrounding friends of the Greater Sacramento region can look to and collaborate with. That mission starts with me as your supervisor, with veterans in my corner. I'm Holly Andreatta, and I ask for your vote for District 2 Supervisor.