Marin supervisors call June 2 special election on SMART rail initiative, adopt county support resolution

The Marin County Board of Supervisors on Feb. 24 voted unanimously to call a special election on the SMART rail initiative for June 2, 2026, and adopted a separate resolution declaring the county's support for the measure.

Josh Wedberg, presenting the item as a ministerial requirement, said the board must call the special election under state law. "This is the resolution that we are requesting you adopt today," he told the board. Talia Smith, deputy county executive for legislative affairs, said staff recommended a support position based on the board's adopted legislative platform, which includes language around supporting SMART's operations and long-term sustainability.

Supervisor Sackett, who moved the measures, highlighted recent SMART usage data, saying the system carried over 1,000,000 riders in fiscal year 2025 and more than 1,000,000 users of the multiuse pathways, with a mix of youth, seniors and riders without car access. "This is a measure to move forward with placemaking and transportation pieces of this effort," Sackett said. Supervisor Milton Peters seconded the motions. Both the election-call resolution and the support resolution passed 5-0.

The special election will be consolidated with the statewide direct primary on June 2, 2026, as described in the staff report. County staff said Sonoma County will consider parallel actions in March. The board took no substantive amendments to either resolution and moved both measures to adoption during the same meeting.

The action places the question before Marin voters on the June ballot and records the board's formal, proponent-aligned position ahead of that vote.