How to resolve AdBlock issue? Clearlake City Council candidates’ spotlight: Denise Loustalot
Personal information:
Name: Denise Loustalot
Age: 42
Family: Married to Pete Loustalot; together we have a blended family of five children in Clearlake and one grandchild.
Career/current job: I have a vast background that consists of banking, bookkeeping, office management and computer service. I am currently self-employed with my husband Pete. We own and operate Enterprise Towing and Automotive in Clearlake.
Education: I graduated from Lower Lake High School and have continued educating myself everyday through classes or courses that may have been offered through my employment.
Length of residence in Lake County and your particular city: I am third generation here in Lake County and have made Clearlake my permanent residence for 32 years.
Web site or email address where community members can contact you:
Questions:
1. Please outline your experience serving the local community. Include all community or volunteer service.
Currently I am an active member of the Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce as well as sitting on the chamber’s board of directors. I volunteer for the Lake County Community Co-Op at their Clearlake drop location. I am also part of the Lakeshore Drive Corridor Plan Community Advisory Group.
I believe giving to our community is very important in a small town such as ours. I do as much as possible for any opportunity I receive to either donate or volunteer.
2. Why did you decide to run for public office?
I am running for city council because of my love of Clearlake. My family are third generation small business owners in Clearlake. I want to see our city, as well as our community as a whole, thrive and be moved forward into sustainable vitality.
Our city needs leaders who understand responsible decision making and I am one of them. I am simply a small business owner who, along with my husband Pete, is raising a family here which offers me the opportunity and vision to help improve our community.
3. What are the important qualities you would bring to public service?
Some of my best qualities that I can provide are recognizing that the heart of our community is the people within. It appears that there are times when this is forgotten. I have tenacity, integrity and most of all common sense when making decisions. I can make very sound decisions with a level head for the best interests of everyone involved.
My long-term proven track record of successful management within the business community offers our community the opportunities needed to move Clearlake forward into the sustainable vitality that we desire.
4. What are the primary functions of a city council member? What are the important skill sets a council member should possess?
The city council sets policy. The city council has the ability to impact lives, both presently and into the future, so it is vital that a council member makes sound, responsible decisions The city council ensures that funds allocated are budgeted effectively and distributed in a manner that will sustain the financial needs of the city in order that departments have the resources necessary to safely and accurately do their jobs for the people of the community.
We should be at all times listening to the needs of the people that we serve, ensuring we do everything within our power to meet their needs. It is important that a council member is accessible to their constituents.
5. What is your city’s single greatest challenge? How would you address it?
Our lack of tax base is our city’s greatest challenge. We need to be year-round sustainable because the tourism is not here like it used to be. If we can make our city sustainable and draw buyers from other areas, then they will spend the day and their money here. Tourism will return when we show people that we have something to offer. I would address this through proper growth. What I mean by proper growth is by attracting a regional retail center that has services that our community is presently going out of town to purchase. We need to keep our money local by bringing in what we do not already have.
6. If you are elected, what will your top issue be? What other issues are of particular interest to you?
Again I am not doing this for any one reason. When elected, I will work in earnest to bring Clearlake into sustainable vitality. I do not have one topic or agenda as I want what is in the best interests of our city and community as a whole. There will be many things that cross the table and all I will promise is that I will be dedicated and honest to the people who have elected me. I cannot pick just one issue as the city currently has many needs.
Public safety, code enforcement and animal control are priorities as well as the safety and well being of our seniors. It is important that we give our youth the opportunities that they will need to be successful in life as they are our future.
7. Is there a matter that you’ve seen the council handle that you believe should have been approached differently? If so, how would you have handled it?
As a longterm member of the community, I have always respected the diversity of the city council along with the diversity of the public opinion. Diversity brings forward different thoughts and opinions as well as acceptance or disagreement of decisions that have been made. Often times the nature of the council’s job is one that cannot always please everyone. When we elect city council members, we are entrusting them to be guardians of the public welfare, entrusting them to explore all avenues concerning the issue at hand, prior to their decision making.
Occasionally there will be issues that are the hard ones – the problems where no amount of data will get you to the right answer. At the end of the day, when it comes time to make that decision, all you have to guide you are your values and your vision, and the life experiences that make you who you are.
I believe that through the diversity of the city council and public opinion, decisions that have been made were made to the best of the council’s ability.
8. What ways, if any, would you encourage public and media interaction with you and the city council should you be elected? How would you approach public interaction, especially on controversial issues?
I would encourage the public to get active. Come to the city council meetings and be part of the process and the solutions. Our city really could benefit from a Web site that could have a section that would allow the citizens to communicate with individuals council members as well as city staff. This would allow opportunities to be brought to the attention of the council and addressed in an expedited manner.
When I am elected, I will make myself accessible to the citizens of Clearlake, as they are the ones who have the needs and concerns that must be listened to.
9. When you think of your city in 20 years, what do you hope it will look like? When considering that future vision of your city, what would you want your legacy to be in improving your community?
In 20 years I would hope to see our city as a beautiful, self-sustaining place that I was a leader in forming. Skilled leadership will provide budgets that will provide the necessary resources to keep our city viable. Sound decision making will continue to address the present and future needs of our city. The community will feel safe and trust the decisions made for them by the city council. Citizens will say with pride, “I am proud to call Clearlake my home.”
Financial information: See Form 470 below.
Clearlake City Council Candidates - Denise Loustalot - Form 470
- Details
- Written by: DENISE LOUSTALOT
Clearlake City Council candidates’ spotlight: Charles O’Neill-Jones
Personal information:
Name: Charles O’Neill-Jones
Age: 66
Family: Father of four kids (with several adopted from other families, they never wanted to go home for dinner), two graduates of Lower lake High school with degrees from our state university system.
Career/current job: Retired marine engineering and facilities engineer.
Education: Bachelor’s degree from San Jose State University in media communication, with a minor in speech communication.
Length of residence in Lake County and your particular city: I have lived in Clearlake since 1989; prior to that I vacationed here for more than 18 years.
Web site or email address where community members can contact you:
Questions:
1. Please outline your experience serving the local community. Include all community or volunteer service.
I started my interest in the city by becoming a volunteer with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, one term with their marine patrol division, from there I moved on to the Clear Lake Advisory Committee representing the city of Clearlake on lake health and water quality. This was a two-year appointed position in which I served two full terms.
After a brief period attending to family matters I became a part of the action team that implemented the invasive species protection program. This was a three year project in the making but it is the first active program implemented with the state of California.
After reviewing the many investigative reports submitted to CLAC I became more involved with both lake management and community developments. I decided to take up lake and waterway safety by becoming a member of the US Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 88, which oversees water safety on Clear lake. I served for two years with this organization and I am now no longer apart of this organization as it would be a conflict of interest while running for office.
2. Why did you decide to run for public office?
I felt the need to answer the call for well versed citizens to step up and be a part of the solution instead of just seeing what happens.
3. What are the important qualities you would bring to public service?
I have a background in public relations and diverse organizational skills within the transportation industry, including 10 years dealing with budget and systems management issues within industry and tourist industry.
4. What are the primary functions of a city council member? What are the important skill sets a council member should possess?
Oversee the regular business of a city’s budget. One must always have good listening skills and reasoning ability to deal with complex problems.
5. What is your city’s single greatest challenge? How would you address it?
Regain our status as the best vacation spots for relaxation and water sports for young adults, singles and families. Insure our lake is the cleanest lake in Northern California.
6. If you are elected, what will your top issue be? What other issues are of particular interest to you?
(a) Proper lake management for health and recreation.
(b) Abatement and small business growth.
(c) Better utilization of our parks and undeveloped areas for and community activities.
(d) Better services for our retired and fixed income community.
(e) Monitor city’s lighting and road conditions, bus stops and seating, improve secondary roads within the city limits.
7. Is there a matter that you’ve seen the council handle that you believe should have been approached differently? If so, how would you have handled it?
Yes we should have never let our supervisors give Yolo County a new 99 year lease on water rights to the lake without some sort of cooperation on improving the dam and tributaries which feed the lake.
8. What ways, if any, would you encourage public and media interaction with you and the city council should you be elected? How would you approach public interaction, especially on controversial issues?
Keep a level head on any issue and have public forum’s at least twice per year to get new input on complex issues.
9. When you think of your city in 20 years, what do you hope it will look like? When considering that future vision of your city, what would you want your legacy to be in improving your community?
Clearlake as the HUB of Northern California’s tourist stops on the high speed rail system which connects the major coastal wine country areas with the bay area’s and San Fernando Valley. Aircraft landing field to visit Clear Lake.
Financial information: See Form 470 below.
Clearlake City Council Candidates - Charles O'Neill-Jones - Form 470- Details
- Written by: CHARLES O’NEILL-JONES
Clearlake City Council candidates’ spotlight: Gina Fortino Dickson
Personal information:
Name: Gina Fortino Dickson
Age: 40
Family: Married with two children, ages 15 and 10; extended family in Clearlake.
Career/current job: Lake County Office of Education, Healthy Start Site, sSupervisor at Burns Valley School.
Education: Associate’s degree in business management, certified paralegal studies/tax preparation, bachelor of arts degree in liberal studies.
Length of residence in Lake County and your particular city: Moved to Clearlake in 1987, graduated from Lower Lake High School 1990, moved for college, returned in 1997, moved for work, returned in 2006 to raise children and live the dream.
Web site or email address where community members can contact you: www.facebook.com/pages/GinaFortinoDicksonforClearlakeCityCouncil .
Questions:
1. Please outline your experience serving the local community. Include all community or volunteer service.
I have served on the Clearlake Planning Commission for the last 5-plus years; I am a member of the Lake County Children’s Council; Lower Lake High School Booster Club Member; volunteer for parent teacher clubs, classrooms, theater productions, Girl Scouts, youth soccer and swim team; raised money for Lions Club to sustain the Fourth of July Fireworks Display; worked with College Going Initiative to create the Girls in Careers workshop, which provides hands-on insight into career fields and attracted a national level speaker to do the keynote address on the topic, From the Streets to Stanford. I do whatever I see needs doing.
2. Why did you decide to run for public office?
I have really enjoyed my time on the Clearlake Planning Commission and have learned a lot about the structure and function of city business. I am proud of the relationship myself and the other planning commissioners have developed, we have a strong work ethic and always strive to apply the rules equally and without prejudice, which has helped us to tackle many large scale tasks with fairness, diplomacy and timeliness.
3. What are the important qualities you would bring to public service?
A true love and desire for the well being of our city and her residents. I am proud to call Clearlake my home. I bring a knowledge of city government, experience, leadership, enthusiasm, innovation, professionalism, integrity, fairness, common sense, creativity, positive attitude and important perspective. I have the unique perspective of having lived here as a child and as an adult and have lived in other cities as a child and adult. I have seen how it was, how it is and how it can be. I am ready to merge those perspectives in order to make viable decisions for the city of Clearlake, ensuring a sustainable future that we can be proud of.
4. What are the primary functions of a city council member? What are the important skill sets a council member should possess?
Council members represent the citizens of the city, make decisions regarding staffing, budget and policy. They conduct open meetings of the council in order to ensure that the public input is heard. That input is vital to providing the council with a foundation for giving direction and guidance to staff.
A council member must be professional, transparent, have good communication skills and be a skilled negotiator. Most importantly a council member must be able to work productively in a team, while maintaining and sharing their independent viewpoints.
5. What is your city’s single greatest challenge? How would you address it?
The city’s greatest challenge is the bad reputation, external and internal. We need to create a paradigm shift so we can see ourselves differently, achieving and sustaining, and present our city as a viable municipality in which to live and do business as well as a vacation destination. We can achieve this through communication, marketing, collaboration and role modeling. The increase in hometown pride will work wonders in facilitating this change.
6. If you are elected, what will your top issue be? What other issues are of particular interest to you?
Sustainability of our city and the decisions we make will be my top priority. Making decisions that will withstand the test of time, that make sense for the future and right now. Getting the most from every dollar the city spends.
Other focus areas will be youth development, infrastructure and business/job development, establishing a self-sustaining recreation department within the city. I believe as we address this issue it will affect the causal issues in our community.
A better reputation will attract tourist, in turn that will attract business, a better reputation will give citizens pride in our community, they in turn will keep it clean and encourage their neighbors to do so, a sense of community will provide an environment where gangs, violence and drugs are not tolerated and those with issues are provided the helping resources they need.
7. Is there a matter that you’ve seen the council handle that you believe should have been approached differently? If so, how would you have handled it?
I have the utmost respect for the council persons and I know that their job is a difficult one, they must coordinate all of the checks and balances that are the backbone of American government.
At one point the council was formalizing the policy of the city to offer health insurance coverage to the council members. I see that as a conflict of interest for the council to make decisions that directly benefits the current council. I would have referred this task to another body, such as the planning commission or a panel of citizens, or put it to a general vote of the public.
8. What ways, if any, would you encourage public and media interaction with you and the city council should you be elected? How would you approach public interaction, especially on controversial issues?
Communication and transparency are key, especially with potentially controversial issues. I would like to establish a Web site, Facebook and other social media, as well as implement a “State of the City Address” submitted to local media by the mayor, perhaps annually.
9. When you think of your city in 20 years, what do you hope it will look like? When considering that future vision of your city, what would you want your legacy to be in improving your community?
Whenever I am making a decision for our city, I always contemplate its effect 20 years from now.
I feel it is important that we foster sustainable growth while protecting all that makes Clearlake unique.
I’d like to see projects that have withstood the test of time; businesses that have been open in our city for the 20-plus years; a thriving downtown, free of blight; families who vacation here every year; residents who have jobs and are self-sufficient and productive citizens, with well-rounded, engaged youth who emit pride in the city.
Financial information: See Form 470 below.
Clearlake City Council Candidates - Gina Fortino Dickson - Form 470- Details
- Written by: GINA FORTINO DICKSON
Clearlake City Council candidates’ spotlight: Bunnie Carter
Personal information:
Name: Bunnie Carter
Age: 62 years young
Family: Four lovely girls, now grown up, and eight grandchildren. No great-grandchildren yet.
Career/current job: My career has consisted of being a deli clerk, deli manager, deli merchandiser at Safeway for 15 years. I left Safeway and came up here to open $1.98 Store, nothing over $19.98, in the 1990s, grew to three stores and then I bought a mini mart in Soda Bay. I closed the $1.98 Stores to put my effort into the mini mart. I had this for six years and sold it. I then did odd jobs for awhile until I met Robert. From there we opened Tatonka Trading in a smaller location, and then one year later bought the property that was Jules Mini Golf. We then opened Tatonka Trading in the building and refurbished the golf course. It took us a year but we did it. Finally the miniature golf course was opened again and we changed the name to Tatonka Land.
Education: My education is Lower Lake High School and my various jobs.
Length of residence in Lake County and your particular city: My length of residence in Clearlake is high school years and then came back in 1989 when my mother passed away and left me her house and have been here since.
Web site or email address where community members can contact you: My email is
Questions:
1. Please outline your experience serving the local community. Include all community or volunteer service.
My experience serving the local community has been donating to the schools. organizations, doing fundraisers for schools, organizations and working with the schools for children who need to have volunteer hours to graduate. We have a special now that if the school children of Lake County for every A on their report cards they will receive a free game of golf or riding the zippies at our Tatonka Land. So this will be a very good incentive for the kids. They are excited about it and they tell me they are going to come in with all A's for each of their subjects.
2. Why did you decide to run for public office?
I decided to run for office because in the 20 years I have lived here I have not seen very many changes. I want to make changes and I feel the time is now. I am for the people of Clearlake, and I will listen to them and get them answers. I love this town and my whole heart is in this community. If I didn't care about making a difference I wouldn't of taken my retirement money and put it all into the golf course being renovated.
3. What are the important qualities you would bring to public service?
I have a lot of good ideas and because I am so truthful and to the point and care so much about getting this town back to the way it was. I know I have a lot to learn, but through the years I have learned everything to run businesses and feel I can learn some more.
4. What are the primary functions of a city council member? What are the important skill sets a council member should possess?
To listen to the community. Respect what they are asking of you and respect them. Good skills would be able to handle anything that arises.
5. What is your city’s single greatest challenge? How would you address it?
To bring businesses into our community and our lake is our greatest challenge to be able to work together and get this cleaned up so we can get the tourist back up here and the businesses to flourish.
6. If you are elected, what will your top issue be? What other issues are of particular interest to you?
My top priority is getting this lake cleaned up along with getting businesses down Lakeshore Drive and beautifying Lakeshore Drive. I would love to see festivals, parades, and functions going on down Lakeshore like what they do in Lakeport. I want to see full time jobs up here, manufacturing, warehousing, etc. like bottling plant for the wineries so they don't take their grapes out of county, Hemp Plant that will manufacture clothing, rope, insulation, fuel. This will give full time jobs and benefits to the community. I would love to see Austin Park on the lakeside be turned into a camp ground for vacation rentals, not monthly rentals or a boardwalk with other businesses that will go along with the town and the lake. A bowling alley, big enough to bring in tournaments from the Sheriff Association, the bowling association etc. A skating rink back in this town, a drive in theater maybe behind Safeway in the big lot. Some recreational things that people would love to go to while up here. But the Lake is the most important for me, because this will help our resorts, and businesses to make money and be able to stay alive.
7. Is there a matter that you’ve seen the council handle that you believe should have been approached differently? If so, how would you have handled it?
Yes, the Measure G and how it was written. I think that it will not pass, because of the fact that they didn't put in it that they would pave existing dirt roads. And that there is a sunset clause written in it. I think with it being a forever tax they should of written in the measure that they would pave existing dirt streets when funds were available. Not just maintaining the dirt roads by grading them, and the existing paved roads would be maintained and pot holes fixed. I wish they would of put Code Enforcement on another bill with the animal control not on the same measure.
8. What ways, if any, would you encourage public and media interaction with you and the city council should you be elected? How would you approach public interaction, especially on controversial issues?
I would be honest with everyone and what my views are after listening to them. I have told the community that they are welcome into my store and I have my cell number on my business cards. I would respect the person who was talking to me about the controversial problems or views.
9. When you think of your city in 20 years, what do you hope it will look like? When considering that future vision of your city, what would you want your legacy to be in improving your community?
I view the city being full with tourist, all the resorts full and people being able to have fun here and telling their friends that this is such a nice place to have fun, relax, and even live here if they so choose. My legacy is already happening for this community. I rebuilt the miniature golf which is in the heart of Clearlake and it has been around since the 1950s and everyone who has been to Clearlake when younger remembers the miniature golf. So I feel my legacy will go on. But I am hoping for more things to do so people and the community will be proud. We all have to do this together. One person can't do it alone. It has to have everyone working together. But the lake is most important and we need to fix that first.
Financial information: See Form 470 below.
Clearlake City Council Candidates - Bunnie Carter - Form 470- Details
- Written by: BUNNIE CARTER
Election 2012: Lakeport City Council candidates – Bob Rumfelt, Martin Scheel, Marc Spillman
LAKEPORT, Calif. – On Wednesday Lake County News is presenting the second round of responses to questionnaires submitted to city council candidates in an effort to introduce their views and priorities to the voting public.
The questionnaires, answered by the candidates in the city council races for Clearlake and Lakeport, began Tuesday and will continue through Friday.
On Tuesday, questionnaires from the first round of Lakeport City Council candidates were published. You can find them at the following links.
Lakeport City Council candidates’ spotlight: Suzanne Lyons
Lakeport City Council candidates’ spotlight: Mary Nolan
Lakeport City Council candidates’ spotlight: Kenneth Parlet
Wednesday’s group includes Bob Rumfelt, Martin Scheel and Marc Spillman. Use the links below to find their questionnaires or see the home page at www.lakeconews.com .
Lakeport City Council candidates’ spotlight: Bob Rumfelt
Lakeport City Council candidates’ spotlight: Martin Scheel
Lakeport City Council candidates’ spotlight: Marc Spillman
Clearlake’s council candidates will be presented on Thursday and Friday. They include Bunnie Carter, Gina Fortino Dickson, Denise Loustalot, Charles O’Neill-Jones, Joyce Overton, Bruno Sabatier, Alvaro Valencia and Melinda Young.
Voters will find a picture of each candidate, as well as a rundown of personal information – name, age, family, career/current job, education, length of residence in Lake County and their particular city, and Web site, email or phone number where community members can contact them.
Candidates took time out of their busy schedules to answer nine questions submitted by Lake County News.
In addition, their campaign finance forms are presented.
Most of the candidates have submitted Form 470s, required by the California Fair Political Practices Commission for the period of Jan. 1 through Dec. 31 of this year.
The Form 470 is required if candidates raise or spend less than $1,000, or do not have a controlled committee.
If candidates file by the required deadline and do not exceed the $1,000 contribution or spending limit, no additional campaign statements need to be filed, according to the FPPC guidelines.
For candidates who have exceeded that $1,000 spending or donations limit, their Form 470 Supplement also is presented.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
