Gary Nylander, left, and Kim Clymire, director of the county's Public Services Department, at the Saturday morning park dedication. Photo by Elizabeth Larson.

CLEARLAKE OAKS – In another meaningful step forward for the little town of Clearlake Oaks, residents and county officials came together Saturday morning to celebrate the completion of the new Nylander Park, located in the town's center. {sidebar id=83}

The land was purchased from businessman Gary Nylander, whose Red and White Market is nearby, and who lends his name to the park.

Before the park dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony got under way, the Konocti Fiddle Club – featuring musicians of all ages – played a variety of traditional songs and reels.

The carefully designed, one-acre park has taken shape over the last eight months, said Kim Clymire, director of the county's Public Services Department, which includes the Parks Division.

"About eight months ago this was a dirt lot," said Clymire.

But a community-wide effort quickly moved things forward, he explained.

The work started last August. Chuck Lamb, Clay Shannon and Richard Kuehn got the transformation under way by getting the land cleared, said Clymire.

An old house on the property was an object of debate, as some people wanted to keep it. However, due to its poor condition, including a case of dry rot, Clymire said it was demolished.

In October, park employees installed irrigation and underground electrical, and constructed the park's stamped concrete sidewalks, which have a cobblestone look. The following month, 40 trees were planted – Chinese pistache, gingko biloba, red and valley oaks, magnolias, Raywood ash, flowering plums and pears, and crepe myrtles, said Clymire. The trees will bloom at different times to give the park an ever-changing appearance.

Then in December park staff brought in 800 yards of topsoil in preparation for the lawn, said Clymire. Park staff and Cal Fire's Konocti Conservation Camp crews installed 38,000 square feet of sod, rolling it out by hand. Benches, tables, bollards, barbecues and streets lights were added in February. Clearlake Oaks residents and businesses donated $20,000 for trees and park furnishings.

The carefully planned park was a community labor of love. Photo by Elizabeth Larson.

The park includes many special touches that came from community suggestions, said Clymire.

One of them is the distinctive rock wall, which Judy Barnes with credited with proposing. The 380-foot-long wall matches the 1930s-era wall built by the Conservation Camp that lines the lakeside of Highway 20 between Glenhaven and Clearlake Oaks.

Rather than spend as much as $100,000 for a company to build the wall, Clymire's staff took it on themselves, building it in two months. It was completed in May.

"A lot of you folks had a hand in designing this park," said Clymire, calling it a true grassroots effort.

Supervisor Jeff Smith credited the county staff for their work on the park, and said they made the county look good with their efforts.

Supervisor Denise Rushing recognized the Nylanders' generosity as well as the Board of Supervisors' support for the project. But most of all she credited the town's residents with having a lot of heart.

"These kinds of things can't happen without the vision of a broader group of people," she said.

Kelly Cox, the county's chief administrative officer, said he was very happy to see the park completed.

He recalled first approaching Nylander about selling the property to the county for the park several years ago. The men had a handshake agreement for the land purchase initially, but there were legal delays and years passed before the purchase could be completed. Cox said even though property prices had risen, Nylander kept his promise to sell the land at the original price.

"I can't thank him enough for what he and his wife have done for this community," said Cox.

He added, "What's really happened here is beyond my wildest dreams."

Cox recalled that the Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to approve the land purchase.

Nylander Park, he said, is the nicest park in the county. That's thanks to the community creating its own park master plan.

Its completion is another major step forward for the town, which is experiencing other transformations. Cox said this past week the county relocated the last resident of Clark's Island, which also is slated to become a park space for the public.

Helen Locke, president of the Clearlake Oaks/Glenhaven Business Association, thanked the county for its work on the park and in other areas of town, such as its recent effort to install new landscaping in front of the grange building on Highway 20.

Locke said there is more work on the way as the town is recreated. But she pointed to the community's new sense of itself. To those who only saw Clearlake Oaks as being a rundown area, she said, "Baby, look at us now!"

Lamb, who credited Bill Rett for getting him involved with the park project, said he and wife, Holly Harris, moved to Clearlake Oaks in 2000.

Like Locke, Lamb referred to the attitude he's encountered about Clearlake Oaks, but he said he believes the county was waiting for the community to give a direction for what they wanted to see for their town. The county then stepped up to the plate to support that vision.

Nylander also was welcomed to speak. In introducing him, Clymire said Nylander had offered to donate refreshments for the day's event. "He steps up to the plate again and again and again."

Taking the microphone, Nylander said, "Welcome to my park!" His statement was greeted with laughter and applause.

He related that his grandmother, Cora Nylander, died in April at age 104. She and her husband came to Clearlake Oaks 75 years ago, and she ran the grocery story for 50 years before her grandson took over.

Gary Nylander said his grandmother was "ecstatic" about the rebirth the town has been undergoing.

He also shared a brief history of the land where the park is now located. "You have to remember history sometimes to move forward."

The park now sits on the former downtown area, where once there was a post office, restaurant, and barber and upholstery shops, said Nylander.

Nylander ended by telling community members, "This isn't my park, it's your park."

The park eventually will feature a display of ceramic tiles honoring those who assisted with making the park possible, said Clymire. Next door to the park, in a building the county purchased from Nylander for $150,000, the county plans to build restrooms and a visitor center.

The Board of Supervisors also recently approved spending $700,000 in special grant funds for several Northshore projects, including curb, gutter and sidewalks around Nylander Park's perimeter, which will be a finishing touch on the park.

Officials cut the ribbon to signify the park's official opening. Photo by Elizabeth Larson.

The ceremony ended with county officials joining Nylander for the official ribbon-cutting, signifying the park's official opening.

For a gallery of photos of the event, see the “Nylander Park Dedication” album on our gallery page, http://lakeconews.com/component/option,com_wrapper/Itemid,37/.

E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The park is located along Highway 20, in an area that Gary Nylander said was once the center of town. Photo by Elizabeth Larson.

{mos_sb_discuss:2}

Supervisor Anthony Farrington is looking ahead to a third term. Courtesy photo.

LAKEPORT – There are many things Anthony Farrington says he still wants to do for Lake County, so he's on the ballot again this year as he seeks a third term as District 4's supervisor. {sidebar id=82}

First elected in 2000 at age 30, Farrington is closing in on the end of his second term.

As he seeks reelection this year on the June 3 ballot, Farrington is in the enviable position of having no challenger running against him.

That's a far different scenario than he faced four years ago, when he had three people seeking his seat. Yet he managed to take victory in the primary despite a sizable field.

His reelection bid this year may turn out to be one of the easier moments for the 38-year-old Farrington over this past year.

Last September he was seriously injured on Cow Mountain when the dirt bike he was riding collided with a pickup truck. He later had to undergo surgery to repair his fractured right shoulder, and missed a month's worth of board meetings while he recuperated.

Then he weathered the terminal illness of his mother, Delores Bain.

After her death on March 2, Farrington took some time away from meetings, and returned, appearing older, more grave. His demeanor in the months since has seemed markedly more thoughtful and introspective.

Ask him about his family, and he's poignantly silent for a time. Then he talks about his mother and her family, and how they came from Illinois in the 1850s, settling in Lake County. He's proud of his pioneer heritage, and believes he has a responsibility to maintain the quality of life that drew his ancestors here so long ago.

Setting priorities for the road ahead

With his reelection in June an almost foregone conclusion, Farrington is looking past campaigning and refocusing on the issues he sees as important, which he says are many.

He said it's hard to distill all of his interests down to a few priorities. Yet, when he does start listing them water comes up on top, specifically the ongoing negotiations between the county and Yolo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District, which has as its primary source the waters of Clear Lake.

This past year, Farrington said the Board of Supervisors approved a committee to negotiate a memorandum of understanding with Yolo Flood, and amend an existing agreement between Yolo Flood and Lake County Special Districts, which he said would provide 8,000 acre feet of water on Clear Lake.

He's also working to launch the Lake County Meth Project, an education and awareness program that targets Lake County youth from the ages of 12 through 18. The project's goal is to educate young people about the dangers and consequences of using methamphetamine.

Then, there is the county's antiquated infrastructure, another obvious priority, said Farrington.

The challenge, he said, will be rebuilding the infrastructure without hitting ratepayers too hard. He sees part of the solution as requiring developers to invest in infrastructure expansion.

In District Four, Farrington said the Kelseyville and Finley water systems already have been upgraded. He said he'll continue supporting the county's efforts to expand the north Lakeport water treatment facility, make repairs to the north Lakeport sewer collection system and provide sewer to Lampson Airport.

There also are efforts under way to reconstruct Soda Bay Road and S. Main Street and underground utility lines at a cost of $6 million, as well as finishing to Gaddy Lane, he said.

Farrington is hopeful that the county also will be able to establish its own Court Appointed Special Advocate program – known as CASA – which is a nonprofit advocacy group that works for abused children in the court system.

He said the county secured a $10,000 grant to assist in the planing phase. However, they've received news that the state is looking at cutting future fundings for new CASA programs. Farrington said the county may reach out to Sonoma County to seek an interim partnership to get started.

Looking ahead, Farrington said he's anticipating the adoption of the county's new General Plan, which has been several years in the making.

He said he's also concerned that the North Lakeport Area Plan be updated as soon as possible to be ready for future growth. “That document, in itself, is severely flawed.”

That's because the plan has several areas of inappropriate zoning, most notably, zoning for high-density residential on the area's unstable, serpentine-filled hillsides, he said.

Across the highway, there is the issue of suburban reserve and agricultural zoning abutting residential, and he pointed to Mark Mitchell's Eachus View Estates proposal – rezoning agricultural lands to build several homes – as being a classic example of the zoning conflicts at work there.

Why he's running again

After nearly eight years on the board, Farrington said interaction with his constituents has been very rewarding, and guided him in his decision to seek another term.

“What I'm most proud about is just the relationships I've developed with my constituents and the success that I've had with them on an individual basis in terms of providing them with solutions,” he said.

It's those small victories – helping people through the maze of government and earning their trust – that don't make the headlines, he explained. “That is what continues to fuel me in terms of wanting to continue to serve.”

He said he was hesitant at times to run again, but through urging of constituents – as well as the advice of county Chief Administrative Officer Kelly Cox – Farrington committed to run.

“I always felt that public service was a noble calling and one person can make a difference,” he said.

While he still believes that, he said his time in office has shown him that making a difference can often be an uphill battle, thanks to a largely dysfunctional government, particularly at the state level.

He said it's no wonder that many people are jaded and cynical about government. “The process has squeezed out many people and everyday citizens.”

The county itself, he explained, has its own battles with the state, especially now in light of the fiscal crisis, with Farrington adding that the county likely will feel the impacts. “It's probably going to be one of the worst years we've seen.”

Future plans still forming

This July, Farrington will start back to law school after taking a sabbatical earlier this year to be with his mother during her illness.

It's his final year in the program, and once he's finished with law school he said it will be time to decide if he'll sit for the bar exam. He said he took the course of study, in part, because he felt it would add to his ability to serve the county. While a lengthy and costly process, he said he's been a good investment.

Beyond that, Farrington, said he's not certain of the future, or what he might do when – in four years, at the grand age of 42 – his next term ends.

There has been speculation for years that he has his eye on a seat in the state Legislature and in political arenas beyond that.

Farrington himself said that when he was first elected, way back at age 30, many people said he was only going to serve one term and use it as a springboard elsewhere.

It hasn't been the case so far, although Farrington didn't outright rule out the possibility of seeking higher office. “For whatever reason, I've been getting asked this question a lot more,” he said.

However, he says he's disappointed with state and federal politics, where special interests rule. He's seen firsthand the problems with the state government's struggle to balance its own budget, which has directly impacted counties like Lake, who increasingly are being called on to solve problems they didn't create.

Farrington said there's still more to do here in Lake County, and said he wants to focus on his third term. Considering a run for a higher office will come down the road.

E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

{mos_sb_discuss:3}

There are times when you must accept your limitations. I should have realized this while sitting in a theater waiting to screen “Sex and the City.”

Reading the first paragraph of the press notes telegraphed the disaster looming on the horizon. This film version of the HBO series promised to answer all of the lingering questions: Will Carrie and Big finally tie the knot? Can Samantha really be satisfied with just one man? Will Charlotte ever get pregnant? Can Miranda and Steve actually live happily ever after?

Granted, I had not thought of questions like these. Mine run along the following lines: How long until the next James Bond movie? Are the Chicago Cubs for real this year? Wouldn’t an NBA Finals between the Lakers and the Celtics be a classic showdown? Will Barry Bonds, having disappeared into the Bermuda Triangle of forgotten ballplayers, ever show up in uniform again? I could go on, but only at the risk of being as boring as the movie I had to sit through.

What is “Sex and the City” all about, other than a bloated exercise in self-indulgence? Having fairly well avoided the HBO series, I am ill-prepared to stand in the way of the legions of fans that will flock to this movie no matter what a disgruntled critic has to say.

The Fab Four women are back, this time on the big screen, doing pretty much what they did on TV, apparently picking up where they left off, which is probably shopping for a new pair of Manolo Blahnik shoes at ritzy Manhattan stores and endlessly discussing their love lives.

Leading the parade and serving as narrator is Sarah Jessica Parker’s Carrie Bradshaw, successful author and fashion icon who is single and over 40. Like all of her friends, Carrie seems to have few real worries other than shopping for the most expensive clothes on the planet.

The love of her life is the handsome yet elusive Mr. Big (Chris Noth). What he does for a living is a mystery, but apparently his bank account rivals that of a Rockefeller. He and Carrie go shopping for a swank Fifth Avenue penthouse apartment without debating the financials. But now that they are moving in together, the talk of marriage surfaces in earnest.

Meanwhile, the hellcat Samantha (Kim Cattrall), oversexed to an extreme, is living a luxurious life at a Malibu beachfront home, while tending to the needs of her only client, Smith Jerrod (Jason Lewis), an actor putting in long hours at the studio. When not spying on the hunky next-door neighbor, Samantha alleviates boredom by flying off to New York for constant reunions with her gal pals, which also include the stressed-out Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) and stable homemaker Charlotte (Kristin Davis).

About every 10 minutes, the four ladies seem to have another get-together somewhere in Manhattan, either at a fashion show, trendy nightclub or an exclusive Fifth Avenue store. On the other hand, their effusive greetings to one another suggest they haven’t seen each other in years. Perhaps this is one way to communicate the self-evident truth that these women are self-absorbed and shallow. After awhile, you can only have so many conversations about marriage, sex, shopping and fashion. Therefore, the story launches subplots involving the men in their lives.

Without giving away too much, let’s just say that the pending nuptials of Carrie and Mr. Big will not go smoothly. Lack of sexual intimacy threatens to unravel the marriage of Miranda and Steve (David Eigenberg). We already know about the perils of Samantha’s overactive libido, so that leaves Charlotte as the only one who remains sensible, and yet she ends up the literal butt of a joke on a jaunt to a Mexican beach resort.

A welcome new character is Jennifer Hudson’s Louise, Carrie’s young personal assistant who knows how to get mileage out of rented brand-name handbags.

Disappointingly, “Sex and the City” has only a few laughs. You’d think the film would have had more comic potential. Still, the ardent fans of the series are unlikely to be dissuaded from rushing to the cinema for an entertainment that seemingly has attained a cult status.

DVD RELEASE UPDATE

One of the benefits of DVD releases is the opportunity to see films that might not have had wide distribution at the cinema.

Starring Demi Moore and Michael Caine, “Flawless” failed to garner the attention it deserved at the box office. These two stars play unlikely partners who plan an audacious diamond heist in retribution to a company that has done them wrong.

Set during 1960 at the London Diamond Company, “Flawless” allows Moore’s driven executive frustrated by a glass ceiling after years of faithful employment to be lured into an ingenious plan by Caine’s invisible nighttime janitor who has amassed a startling amount of knowledge about how the company functions.

At once nostalgic and classy, this film is a thrilling caper in the tradition of the better British crime dramas.

Tim Riley writes film and television reviews for Lake County News.

{mos_sb_discuss:5}

The first round as published Thursday.

The questions included in the questionnaires came from community residents.

Find them here, published in alphabetical order:

District 1 Supervisor candidates questionnaires: Susanne La Faver

District 1 Supervisor candidates questionnaires: Joey Luiz

District 1 Supervisor candidates questionnaires: Robert MacIntyre

For other stories related to the District 1 candidates, see the following reports.

District 1 Supervisor candidates questionnaires: James Comstock

District 1 Supervisor candidates questionnaires: Don Dornbush

District 1 Supervisor candidates questionnaires: Scott Fergusson

Candidates profiles: Fergusson says military taught him to lead

Candidates profiles: Luiz offers District 1 race a youthful perspective
Candidates profiles: Comstock offers his vision for county's future

Supervisorial candidates line up endorsements

Supervisorial contests take shape as election filing deadline passes

District 1 Supervisor candidates: Dornbush, MacIntyre to run

District 1 Supervisor candidates share goals, experience

{mos_sb_discuss:2}

Susanne La Faver. Courtesy photo.

1. What issues do you believe are most central to this year's District 1 supervisorial election?

{sidebar id=79}

The primary issue is the state budget deficit and potential impacts on people in rural Lake County. Next are growth, water resources, senior and youth programs, public safety and, as always, roads.

2. What traits make you the best person to represent District 1 on the Board of Supervisors?

I have the dedication, passion, and sense of responsibility, as well as knowledge and skills, to lead. I’m motivated by the highest principles of public service, and have the judgment to make decisions benefiting our community now and in the future. Finally, I have a positive attitude and not self interest.

3. Are you for or against background checks and drug testing for In-Home Supportive Services workers who care for Lake County's elderly? Why or why not?

I trust people to make personal decisions about who they want to care for them, and respect their decision-making abilities. I do not support background checks or drug testing for In-Home Support Service workers.

4. What benefit or negative impact do you believe Indian gaming has had on the county's economy and county government's budget?

Indian gaming is a benefit to our local economy and county budget. Casinos are major employers and participate in the county’s marketing program. Since much of our economy depends on tourism, casinos are a valuable addition to the mix of activities Lake County offers. They also contribute to many community programs and activities.

Until this year, when the state budget eliminated the Indian Gaming Special Distribution Fund, our county received more than $500,000 annually. It will be important to work with our elected officials in Sacramento to restore this funding.

5. How serious a threat is the quagga mussel? Did the county move fast enough to stop its spread to Clear Lake and other county bodies of water?

The threat of quagga mussel to our waterways is very serious. It could have major economic impacts. Only time will tell if the county moved fast enough to stop its spread; however, I’m very impressed with Water Resources Program Coordinator Carolyn Ruttan’s efforts to educate about quagga mussels and consequences of them getting a foothold here.

6. Where do you stand on Propositions 98 and 99, and, most particularly, what is your position regarding the use of eminent domain to seize private property for the purpose of transferring ownership to a private developer to build shopping centers, industrial complexes and other non-public projects?

I will vote “no” on Proposition 98 and “yes” on Proposition 99. I support analysis by the League of Women Voters of California that says Proposition 99 prohibits the seizure of homes for private development projects.

7. How would you describe your philosophy for growth in Lake County? How can the county's growth best be managed?

I support managing Lake County’s growth in a positive way. I’m excited about the county’s new general plan, which will guide development for the next 20 years. I support the plan’s community growth boundaries where water and sewer are available and the adherence to smart growth concepts. These concepts focus on the design and form of development, rather than the quantity, and include creation of distinctive, walkable neighborhoods; preservation of natural beauty and farmland; and direction of new development toward existing communities.

8. As a member of the Board of Supervisors, how will you uphold your oath of office?

I will uphold my oath of office to the best of my ability.

9. Agriculture is an important part of Lake County's economy. What is the biggest concern facing agriculture and what would you do about it? Are you for or against rezoning agricultural lands to other uses?

It's extremely difficult to earn a living farming. Many farmers opt to sell their land for financial gain because they don't want to farm anymore and their heirs don't choose the farming lifestyle. Another difficulty is that agriculture is a commodity market. Pears replaced grapes during Prohibition and are now being replaced by grapes as a successful cash crop. Who knows what crop will reign next.

The face of Lake County’s agriculture is changing; however, agriculture is essential to our economy. It provides jobs, agritourism, and is central to maintaining our rural lifestyle and culture.

I encourage “community supported agriculture” in addition to Farmer’s Markets. Sustainability includes citizens buying fresh fruits and vegetables and other goods from local growers. A shared understanding of agriculture develops when purchasers see more of one vegetable and less of another during the harvest season.

Additionally, I’d like to see the county more aggressively promoted as an agritourism destination to both local residents and outside the county. A seasonal guide to Lake County farms could be created similar to the Sonoma County Farm Trails. Regional creation of cultural and historical itineraries, in which I’ve participated, should be implemented as well as media tours.

Generally, I’m against rezoning agricultural lands for other uses; however, there may be future considerations outlined in the new general plan.

10. Do you favor making Lake County a GE-free zone when it comes to agricultural crops? Why or why not?

Yes, because the citizens, environmentalists and many farmers want it and it will include Lake County in a regional marketing opportunity for increased agriculture and environmental tourism.

As the third-generation in my family to work in agriculture, I took longer to come to this conclusion than some people would have liked. The tipping points for me were the May 6 public workshop on genetically engineered crops and the announcement of a new Lake County Farm Bureau Organic Committee.

11. What would be your approach to promoting local businesses and attracting new businesses to the county?

I’ll work for the development of a local business park and faster utility hook-up for new businesses.

Additionally, I encourage people who are in business or want to start a business to take advantage of all local resources. There is free and low-cost support for small business in Lake County. Mt. Konocti Facilitation and Small Business Administration provide ongoing business consultation and Yuba College, Clear Lake Campus offers business classes.

Finally, I want to develop young entrepreneurs with a Junior Achievement Program that teaches business and economics to high school students. Work experience and job shadowing will also prepare young people for the work world.

Endorsements:

Supervisor Ed Robey

Supervisor Denise Rushing

Clearlake City Council member Judy Thein

Clearlake City Council member Joyce Overton

Konocti Unified School District Board President Herb Gura

Mendocino Supervisor Kendall Smith

Sierra Club

National Women’s Political Caucus of California

Planned Parenthood, Shasta-Diablo Action Fund

Roberta Lyons, Lower Lake

Jon and Charlotte Ambrose, Hidden Valley Lake

Frieda Camotta, Hidden Valley Lake

Bill Barrows and Connie Miller, Hidden Valley Lake

Joy Birum, Hidden Valley Lake

Victoria Brandon, chair, Sierra Club Lake Group

Linda Brodnansky, Lakeport

Ian Caliendo, PG&E Government Relations, Eureka

Becky Curry, Kelseyville

Teddy Duke, Hidden Valley Lake

Beth Robey, Lower Lake

Kate Schmidt-Hopper, Hidden Valley Lake

Carolyn Graham, Hidden Valley Lake

Phyllis Kelsey, Middletown

Jeff and Nancy Bailey, Middletown

Michelle Borzoni, Hidden Valley Lake

Mary Brandeau, Hidden Valley Lake

Phil and Sandy Bayles, Hidden Valley Lake

Gregory Burtt. Trinchero Wine Co., Hidden Valley Lake

Marvin Carpenter, Clearlake

Stephen and Angela Carter, Hidden Valley Lake

Lydia Davisson, Hidden Valley Lake

Holly, Jim and Lauren Evans-White, Hidden Valley Lake

Dan and Randa Fish, Hidden Valley Lake

Stan and Lilo Hansen, Hidden Valley Lake

Wanda Harris, Hidden Valley Lake

Carl and Mary Beth Ingvoldstad, Hidden Valley Lake

Mona Locke, Middletown

Tom and Vivian McFarling, Lower Lake

Patricia Meyer, Cobb

Valerie and Dan Moberg, Hidden Valley Lake

Hedy Montoya, Hidden Valley Lake

Val Muchowski, president National Women’s Political Caucus of Mendocino

Melissa Neigum, Middletown

Jim and Mary Penney, Middletown

Bryan Ridste, Hidden Valley Lake

Robert and Arlene Rowe, Hidden Valley Lake

Roy and Jacque Spiker, Middletown

Georgeann Tintorri, Hidden Valley Lake

Bill and Carolyn Tobin, Middletown

Betty Vannoy, Hidden Valley Lake

Sandra West, Kelseyville

Joan Worster, Hidden Valley Lake

Inez Wenckus, Cobb

Jim and Paula Werner, Lower Lake

Marta Williams, Middletown

Greta Zeit, Middletown

{mos_sb_discuss:3}

Joey Luiz. Courtesy photo.

1. What issues do you believe are most central to this year's District 1 supervisorial election? {sidebar id=70}

Jobs, future growth and youth services are the three big ones I have focused my campaign on.

2. What traits make you the best person to represent District 1 on the Board of Supervisors?

I grew up in Lake County and know the challenges our youth face. I have worked in local business and understand the economic needs of our business community. I have a youthful perspective and a vision for the future of our community.

3. Are you for or against background checks and drug testing for In-Home Supportive Services workers who care for Lake County's elderly? Why or why not?

I believe it is a good thing to do for the safety of our seniors and the disabled who rely on the services. I would create a dialogue with the care workers union to work toward this. However, I would not barter pay and benefits of the providers to accomplish this. I believe there is a more intelligent way to achieve compliance to this type of standard.

4. What benefit or negative impact do you believe Indian gaming has had on the county's economy and county government's budget?

I worked for a gaming facility in Oregon that was a valued member of the community and the third largest employer in the county (a county with diverse industry on a major interstate). The tribe gave more back to the community than many nontribal entities.

I believe that creating a working relationship with the tribal government is the key. I also believe that the lodging they provide is a good thing since our county is in need of more beds to accommodate tourists.

5. How serious a threat is the quagga mussel? Did the county move fast enough to stop its spread to Clear Lake and other county bodies of water?

VERY SERIOUS ... I think more attention should have been spent when the threat was first brought to the attention of the Board of Supervisors. I do believe once the inspection program was put in place, the county and those in the private sector did a great job enacting it in a hurry. I just hope it was not too late.

6. Where do you stand on Propositions 98 and 99, and, most particularly, what is your position regarding the use of eminent domain to seize private property for the purpose of transferring ownership to a private developer to build shopping centers, industrial complexes and other non-public projects?

Proposition 98, no; Proposition 99, yes.

I am against investors and developers using propositions and our government like this to help them line their pockets.

7. How would you describe your philosophy for growth in Lake County? How can the county's growth best be managed?

I see growth that keeps our communities charming and valuable to visitors. Look at community boundary extension only when it is necessary to the needs of our community. Preserving ag lands for the farming needs of the future. Observing growth where infrastructure is existent or expanding it makes since.

8. As a member of the Board of Supervisors, how will you uphold your oath of office?

With honor and honesty. I would put the needs of the people over myself.

9. Agriculture is an important part of Lake County's economy. What is the biggest concern facing agriculture and what would you do about it? Are you for or against rezoning agricultural lands to other uses?

I touched on it with question 7. We need to make sure in the rare instance rezoning is necessary, we look at the needs of the future for Lake County ag.

10. Do you favor making Lake County a GE-free zone when it comes to agricultural crops? Why or why not?

YES, but, I would not call it a GE ban, but more of a moratorium. I would work to put a sunset ordinance on any decision for review every few years. There may be developments in the future that can benefit our farmers while preserving our environmental health.

11. What would be your approach to promoting local businesses and attracting new businesses to the county?

I would dedicate my service to activities and improvements that attract more visitors to Lake County. We do not have the dollars in our local economy to thrive, we need to bring dollars here. I would also look to lure new business that could provide more services our residence need, this will keep people from spending their money in neighboring counties and create jobs for our citizens.

{mos_sb_discuss:3}