Warm and welcoming are two words that instantly come to mind when meeting James “Jack” Sweeney.

Born and raised in El Dorado County, Supervisor Sweeney can trace every one of his grandparents’ histories in the county back to 1854. Leaving the family land of over 1,500 acres (now known as Greenstone Country), Sweeney happily raised his family on a mere two-thirds of an acre in Diamond Springs. Importing his beloved wife Toni from Vacaville, Sweeney enjoys spending time with his children and grandchildren.

Sweeney began his professional life as a deputy sheriff in 1961. When his wife and mother confronted him about the dangers of law enforcement, he switched to the work he continues to do to this day: surveying. Ironically, he went to work for the California Highway Department, standing in traffic and risking his life on a daily basis.

When Sweeney finishes his term as supervisor in 2012, he looks forward to returning to surveying and would like to write manuals to provide future surveyors with learning tools from his experience. When not in the office, or surveying, you’ll find Sweeney playing in the mud with his jeep or taking a relaxing trip to the coast.

For more about Jack Sweeney, and other local happenings and information, be sure to pick up this month's copy of Style – El Dorado County Foothills edition. Click on the Get Your Copy link on this Web site for some of our newsstand locations; click on the Subscribe link on this Web site to become a regular subscriber, or to order a copy of this issue or one of our back issues, please email  [email protected], or call 916-988-9888.