Community development and education are the primary focus of Diane's professional career as a teacher (Vichy Elementary), nonprofit administrator, fund developer and artist. Shepp, a third generation Californian, is the first and only member of her immediate family to graduate from college. She and her husband have raised two daughters since moving to the Napa Valley in 1984.

Diane served on the Napa County Grand Jury 2007-2008 and as Pro-Tempore of the 2008-2009 Grand Jury; President of the Napa County Chapter of the California Grand Jurors Association (CGJA) 2010-2011 and 2012-15; and the Vice President of the statewide California Grand Jurors’ Association 2014-15. 

A highlight of her CGJA tenure was in 2013. She was honored as the Angelo Rolando Memorial Award recipient, one of CGJA’s most prestigious awards. The award is presented each year to the person who has demonstrated outstanding participation at both the state and county level in support of CGJA’s goals and objectives, applied excellent leadership skills and effectively accomplished goals and projects.

Appointed by the Napa County Board of Supervisors in 2007 to the Napa County Commission for Arts and Culture, Shepp sat as Chair of the Commission 2009-2012. She has held executive positions with the John Muir Festival Center, the Napa County Arts Council, the Solano County Arts Alliance, the University Art Museum Council-University of California, Berkeley, Napa Emergency Women’s Services and the Wildlife Rescue Center of Napa County.

Active at the local, state and national levels, Shepp is a founding board member of the Napa Valley Opera House Inc., Ag 4 Youth- Upvalley Ranchers, Napa Vision 2050, Protect Rural Napa and the Soda Canyon/Loma Vista Land Stewards. Shepp also served as a founding board member and Past President of the California Assembly of Local Arts Agencies; Past President of the Volunteer Council of the di Rosa Preserve: Art & Nature; Past President of Vichy Elementary Alternative PTA; served on the original faculty of Leadership Napa; and a former member of the National Assembly of Local Arts Agencies Leadership Committee. 

Shepp is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, and the Getty Leadership Institute. A charter member of the Golden West Women Flyfishers, Shepp enjoys fly-fishing, and travel when not in her art studio.

I moved to Napa over 30 years ago for the quality of life of a rural community…a good place to raise a family. It was a place of natural beauty, spectacular dark night skies, uncluttered agriculture and forested hillsides.

In the past decade we have witnessed a dramatic change in the Napa Valley. We have witnessed tremendous growth, however at what cost? I have been listening to what neighborhood groups and local citizens are saying: 

• The trucking of Napa City water to support hillside vineyard development while city residents are asked to let their lawns go brown is not an equitable solution.

• Napa County is #1 in California in childhood cancers, why? 

• Near gridlock traffic worsens everyday (not good for residents, local businesses, the wine industry or visitors). 

• Locals cannot easily drive to and from their jobs, to the grocery store or to their doctor’s appointment.

• The working middle class, the backbone of our county cannot afford to live here, nor can our hospitality, minimum-wage earners. The Napa real estate market is one of the highest in the State and rents average $2500+ per month for a one-bedroom apartment.

• Our children cannot afford to move back to Napa after college, nor are there jobs for them.

• They feel Napa isn’t for the locals anymore. To quote one youth, “It’s become an adult Disneyland.”

I believe it is the job of government to protect the health, welfare and safety of its citizens. We need to be represented by someone who isn’t afraid to take on the special interests to put Napa families and local businesses first. That’s why I’m running for the Napa County Board of Supervisors. We need a supervisor who will be for the people of the District. We need a leader who has not taken donations from special interests. As your County Supervisor, I will give you a voice for your concerns. 

• I will always put the needs of residents, families and children FIRST in all decision making.

• I will pursue the issue of cancer rates in Napa County and find reasons and remedies.

• I believe in keeping it local...keeping jobs in Napa. I will promote a living wage NOW, affordable-proximity housing for local workers (teachers, police, fire fighters, hospitality and wine industry employees among others), so they may call Napa their home too. 

• I will work to protect our agricultural-based economy, our watersheds, open space and sustainable resources. 

• I will promote needed investment in infrastructure, road repair, waste water systems, ground water management, and water quality. For too long ‘deferred maintenance’ has been put off. We must address these issues now and not pass them onto the next generation.

• Together we will preserve a more vibrant, economically sustainable community and quality of life in Napa County for current residents and future generations alike.

My campaign is a grassroots campaign. We will succeed with your participation and input. I have a long, successful civic service history as a coalition and consensus builder. Politics shouldn’t be a career. It should be about sharing your passion and experience to get things done for the community. I look forward to hearing your concerns.