We have an email in, but in the meanwhile: Any guesses as to what her future plans might involve?

(UPDATE, 12:10 a.m.: Fennell sends us the following: “Still doing some fine tuning but you can expect more information in the near future.”)

Humboldt Coalition for Property Rights press release follows:

The Humboldt Coalition for Property Rights and Redway resident Estelle Fennell are announcing that she is leaving her post as Executive Director of the Humboldt Coalition for Property Rights (HumCPR). 

Appointed Executive Director in January 2009, Estelle has led HumCPR through a significant expansion in membership and educated the public about the many issues affecting Humboldt County’s landowners and rural residents.

Under Estelle’s leadership, the Coalition has grown to well over 4,000 members from across the political spectrum, from our urban centers to our most remote rural communities. HumCPR has also increased its’ public profile substantially through widely circulated and informative newsletters, a dynamic website, informational radio and newspaper ads, written opinion pieces, radio talk shows and land use forums.

The coalition has also increased its’ role as a voice for the community in the increasingly complex world of land use policies and property rights and Estelle has given public testimony at numerous Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors’ hearings. Estelle also spearheaded an extremely successful campaign to notify tens of thousands of Humboldt County’s landowners about potential, sometimes negative, changes to their property rights under the proposed General Plan Update (GPU).

Estelle said she had really enjoyed working with such a diverse and dynamic group of community-minded people and representing such a broad based coalition.  “I wish HumCPR further success in their mission to stand up for those who believe we are entitled to a broad range of choices in how and where we live. I thank them for the opportunity to serve Humboldt County’s landowners in such a meaningful way.” She said she is leaving this position to explore new opportunities to help her community.

HumCPR Board Chair, Lee Ulansey said that the Coalition would now begin the process of finding Fennell’s replacement. “It will obviously take some time to find the right person for the job. It will be very difficult to fill Estelle’s shoes”, he said.

HumCPR Board member Tina Christensen added, “Estelle’s knowledge of Humboldt County issues is well founded. Her experience and understanding of Humboldt County issues is broad based and I hope that she will continue to be engaged in some type of public service to the County residents”.

 The Humboldt Coalition for Property Rights is dedicated to preserving the rural lifestyle that has been the historic tradition of Humboldt County.