The bullet train ran through the Madera County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, splitting it along ideological lines.
Last week the board voted to end its lawsuit against the California High-Speed Rail Authority — a vote taken which reflected the political change in the District 1 supervisor’s position.
Manuel Nevarez, who was selected by Gov. Jerry Brown to fill the District 1 chair left vacant by the resignation of Frank Bigelow, who was elected last year to the Assembly, is an outspoken high-speed rail supporter. He voted with fellow HSR supporter Max Rodriguez and lawsuit foe Tom Wheeler to drop the lawsuit, which challenged the rail system’s environmental impact report.
At Tuesday’s meeting, Supervisors Rick Farinelli and David Rogers, both HSR foes, spoke against the project, citing what they said were out-of-control costs and poor planning on the part of the authority. Nevarez and Rodriguez spoke in favor of the project, saying it would create jobs and economic growth for the county...