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Chico Vice-Mayor Maureen Kirk got a major endorsement for a seat on the Butte County Board of Supervisors Wednesday from outgoing 3rd District supervisor Mary Anne Houx. Houx, a moderate Republican who has served three terms on the board, said Kirk, a Democrat, has “the ability to listen to her constituents and act with the courage of her convictions.” After almost 30 years of public service, Houx announced her retirement last August. Like Houx on the supes board, Kirk has been a swing vote on the Chico City Council since she was elected in1998. She said her major accomplishments on the council include protecting Bidwell Ranch, setting up an automatic aid agreement between city and county public safety agencies and developing a plan to deal with nitrates in the water supply. At the county level, Kirk said she hopes to protect the county’s water, promote agriculture and ensure public safety agencies get the funding they need. Mary Andrews, another former councilmember, is also running for the seat.