SEASIDE – Willie Diaz is a salt-of-the-earth kind of guy you’d like to share a beer with or invite on a fishing trip.

A true guy’s guy – down to the camouflage seat covers in his Ford F-250 and the room at his Monterey home dedicated to all the ducks he’s shot and stuffed himself.

He’s also the guy you want on your concrete project, whether it’s a driveway or runway.

By Gary Richards, Bay Area Newspaper Group

For the past four decades, voters in 20 of California’s most urban counties have taxed themselves to widen highways, extend transit lines and fill potholes to the tune of more than $100 billion.

Now, rural counties hope to join the list of what are called the self-help counties.