Tom Woodhouse leads for Mendocino County's 3rd supervisorial district

Mendocino County supervisorial candidate Tom Woodhouse has a commanding lead in the race for the third district.

Woodhouse had 55.2 percent of the vote, compared to 44.8 percent for Willits Mayor Holly Madrigal, with all 37 precincts counted Wednesday morning.

If his lead holds, Woodhouse, a Willits real estate broker, will represent a sprawling rural district and occupy a seat previously held by Laytonville rancher and Supervisor John Pinches, who was first elected to the post in 1994. The district includes Willits, Laytonville, Covelo and some of the county's most rugged countryside to the northeast.

As the mayor of Willits, Madrigal has taken a lead role in addressing regional concerns related to the historic drought and said a priority upon election would be a study assessing the economic impact of the marijuana industry, under the assumption pot would soon be legalized for recreational use.

Woodhouse has stressed economic development and addressing a looming debt crisis related to county pensions. Woodhouse was endorsed by Pinches and Sheriff Tom Allman.