Ginger Ingersoll

Age: 66

Family: Mother, two daughters and three grandsons.

Experience and community involvement: Retired businesswoman with law degree. I worked for the San Francisco Sheriff’s Department inside the seven jails to help find solutions to internal problems. The sheriff trusted me to investigate to determine sufficient policy and procedure to protect the department from law suits.

I wrote the Ombudsman Project Report for the Juvenile Justice Commission of San Francisco recommending the establishment of the Ombudsman office at the Youth Guidance Center. After approval I established the office.

I reported to the San Francisco Commission on the Status of Women on the role of the ombudsman for girls.

I taught Special Education classes in Michigan and California.

I am a founding board member of the Children's Museum of Art and Science of Lake County. Every year I help create our hands-on exhibits and put on events.

I am a member of the renovation and management teams for the Soper-Reese Community Theater.

I am a member of the management committee of Lake County Arts Council's Main Street Art Gallery.

I am a clerk at the polls in Lakeport for every election.

I volunteer in the thrift store, outreach program and food pantry at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Lakeport. I am, also, on the vestry board.

Endorsements: I am thankful to the individuals and groups that offered to endorse me, but I owe my loyalty to all residents of Lakeport and I choose not to be identified with any individual or group.

1. Explain what you believe a city council member's responsibilities are. How would you fulfill these? What qualifications do you possess that make you a good candidate for office?

The primary responsibility of a council member is make sure the city is operating in a financially responsible way, because only then can the city provide local government services and public works at an acceptable level. Other responsibilities include responding to constituent issues and promoting a healthy economy.

I will fulfill these responsibilities by balancing the city budget, providing oversight of city department heads, making sound policy decisions, having regular office hours to meet with constituents and being pro-active with members of the business community.

My qualifications include my experience working in city and county government, my law degree and my experience as a small business owner.

2. There are several large development projects inside and outside of Lakeport that are being discussed. They include Cristallago, a golf course and subdivision on the city's sewer property, a potential marina and commercial development on the Dutch Harbor property, and a proposal to build a large hotel within the city limits. What is your opinion on these various projects? Are they good for Lakeport? Why or why not?

Our most urgent need is to balance the city’s budget and get our fiscal house in order. With the current state of the economy there is no way of knowing if any of these projects will ever occur, and we can not count on them.

3. Explain how your management style would be applied to your position as council member. Are you hands-on or do you set policy and delegate?

My management style is a combination of hands-on and delegating. I will set policy, hire and oversee the city staff who are delegated the task of implementing the policy. I will work toward an honest and open government with a sense of community and the will to provide quality public services.

4. While the city of Lakeport may use eminent domain, the Redevelopment Agency currently does not have eminent domain authority as a tool for acquiring property. However, earlier this year it was proposed that the Redevelopment Agency amend its plan to include eminent domain, and that discussion is expected to be continued after the election. How do you feel about the use of eminent domain? Should the city's plan be modified to add that power?

Eminent domain is a very powerful tool. If we allow the City Redevelopment Agency to include eminent domain in its plan we are going to have to be very careful that it is used to benefit the city of Lakeport and not benefit private developers. Also, it should be modified to be the same as the county redevelopment plan, namely that eminent domain not be used on any residential property.

5. Do you feel the redevelopment agency's budget is being spent for the right purposes and on the right projects?

It is difficult to read the current budget and determine exactly from what pots the Redevelopment Agency is taking money and where it is putting it. I question some current expenditures made by the agency: Money invested around City Hall, money invested in creating new Redevelopment Agency offices in the Carnegie Library and the current agreement to buy and then sell our lakefront property, Dutch Harbor, to a private developer for the exclusive use of buyers of 1,200 houses he hopes to build outside of Lakeport.

6. The city is dealing with a tight budget this year, and could be facing similar issues in the coming budget year as well. How would you propose meeting the city's budget challenges while protecting city services? Are there any areas of spending that you believe should be reconsidered, or any potential revenue streams that should be pursued?

First, we must stop balancing our budget by using one-time sources of revenue, such as selling city owned property. We need to determine what our reliable ongoing revenue is and cut back our expenditures to balance the budget within the limits of current revenue. Future revenue streams may be pursued, but can’t be spent until the money is in the bank.

7. Measure I, which generates revenue from sales tax for city projects such as roads, was instituted in 2004. Do you believe Measure I funds are being spent properly? Are there any projects that you believe are particularly appropriate or inappropriate for the funds?

The voters trusted the city to use the Measure I funds to fix our roads. The council should honor that by not diverting those funds for other purposes. Without trust a government cannot serve its people.

8. Some citizens have said they want to see more transparency in city government. As a council member, how would you address that concern? What does transparency in government mean to you?

Transparency means that the decision-making process and finances of the city are open to public scrutiny. No secret meetings or back room deals. I will make sure that city government obeys the open meeting law (Brown Act). I also support broadcasting the council meetings on TV Channel 8.

9. Over the past year the city has established a long-range business plan for the city. Do you believe this plan includes relevant projects and ideas for the city's future? What is your vision for the city of Lakeport over the next 20 years?

I think that our new city business plan is a good start. My vision for Lakeport is of an economically sustainable, environmentally balanced community of about 10,000 people which is the center of culture and commerce on the western shore of Clear Lake.

10. If elected, is there any project or issue you plan to tackle first?

The issue I plan to tackle first is to balance the budget without selling city assets.

We must get our financial house in order.

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