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Opinion
My name is Monica Quinn. I worked as a correctional officer, deputy sheriff, detective and district attorney investigator for the county of Lake from 1990 until 2001. I also worked at the Marin County District Attorney's Office as an investigator until 2006, when I retired.
When I worked for the Lake County District Attorney's Office, Susan Krones was assigned as the supervising attorney of the Child Sexual Assault Vertical Prosecution Unit. I was her sole investigator for three years.
Susan's method of supervising our team was to logically and respectfully state her goals and expectations to all of us. She then clearly maintained the methods used in our unit with spectacular results.
In the beginning, Susan would ask to go with me while I conducted interviews in the field of the children who were victims of either sexual or traumatic abuse. She never interfered with my investigations or interviews, but clearly detailed and instructed me as to her needs for a successful prosecution. Essentially, we worked as a team with Susan utilizing our strengths and improving upon our weaknesses.
With the support of then-District Attorney Stephen Hedstrom, Susan and I established (funded entirely through community donations) Lake County's first Multidisciplinary Interview Center for children who were victims of crimes. On May 1, 2001, U.S. Congressman Mike Thompson honored us for our achievement to the community.
During my three years of working for Susan, our team achieved a 100-percent conviction record for crimes against the children of Lake County. I feel it is my greatest achievement as a law enforcement officer. That goal is significant because it was not only achieved by charging the guilty persons, but equally exonerating the person falsely accused of these horrific crimes.
You cannot work with a person daily and not know their true character, work ethic and devotion to their chosen path in life. Susan has worked tirelessly for over 25 years as a prosecutor and I believe she will utilize this same team approach within the District Attorney’s Office to achieve the same outstanding results.
I hope you, the voters of Lake County, give her the chance on June 5, 2018 with your vote.
Monica J. Quinn lives in Kelseyville, Calif.
When I worked for the Lake County District Attorney's Office, Susan Krones was assigned as the supervising attorney of the Child Sexual Assault Vertical Prosecution Unit. I was her sole investigator for three years.
Susan's method of supervising our team was to logically and respectfully state her goals and expectations to all of us. She then clearly maintained the methods used in our unit with spectacular results.
In the beginning, Susan would ask to go with me while I conducted interviews in the field of the children who were victims of either sexual or traumatic abuse. She never interfered with my investigations or interviews, but clearly detailed and instructed me as to her needs for a successful prosecution. Essentially, we worked as a team with Susan utilizing our strengths and improving upon our weaknesses.
With the support of then-District Attorney Stephen Hedstrom, Susan and I established (funded entirely through community donations) Lake County's first Multidisciplinary Interview Center for children who were victims of crimes. On May 1, 2001, U.S. Congressman Mike Thompson honored us for our achievement to the community.
During my three years of working for Susan, our team achieved a 100-percent conviction record for crimes against the children of Lake County. I feel it is my greatest achievement as a law enforcement officer. That goal is significant because it was not only achieved by charging the guilty persons, but equally exonerating the person falsely accused of these horrific crimes.
You cannot work with a person daily and not know their true character, work ethic and devotion to their chosen path in life. Susan has worked tirelessly for over 25 years as a prosecutor and I believe she will utilize this same team approach within the District Attorney’s Office to achieve the same outstanding results.
I hope you, the voters of Lake County, give her the chance on June 5, 2018 with your vote.
Monica J. Quinn lives in Kelseyville, Calif.
- Details
- Written by: Monica Quinn
Hello, for those who don't know my name, I am a Congressional candidate here in District 5.
As a Green, it is not always easy to get my voice out there, to be heard by you, the voting public. I write these letters, but my good friends that publish the news have limited space and I'm not the only one writing letters; however I'd like to keep the public informed and updated of my quest for a public debate, which seems like one of the best ways a "third party" candidate can get his or her voice heard.
It started out with a challenge to Congressman Mike Thompson, issued through social media, which was ignored. I then wrote a physical letter and mailed a copy to each of his offices and to the newspapers (one paper printed the letter) which also went ignored.
I have been protesting Mr. Thompson's town hall meetings with a sign that says "Debate me, Mike." Mr. Thompson walks right past me, every time, as if I'm a ghost.
I invited my other two opponents to join the protest, but neither one showed up to any of the five protests. So I asked the League of Women Voters to host a debate. I asked one of my opponents to also write to the league (the other has since dropped out). He wouldn't even do that much.
They offered a forum, which would have been spectacular except for one thing: the League's by-laws state that every candidate has to be present or no forum can be held, and Mr. Thompson said that he was unavailable for the two dates the league offered (well over a month in advance).
Well, both dates have come and gone now, and the forums were held, featuring supervisor candidates and info regarding Measures C and D in Napa County.
Looking back at Mr. Thompson's posts on social media, he met with a school supervisor two hours ahead of one of the forums and gave an award to a citizen at 7 a.m. the morning of the other forum.
He doesn't appear to have been truly busy at all, and the voters of this district have a right to know how their "representative" avoids a public debate. Every one of you should be thinking about what doesn't he want the public to know?
Jason Kishineff lives in American Canyon, Calif.
As a Green, it is not always easy to get my voice out there, to be heard by you, the voting public. I write these letters, but my good friends that publish the news have limited space and I'm not the only one writing letters; however I'd like to keep the public informed and updated of my quest for a public debate, which seems like one of the best ways a "third party" candidate can get his or her voice heard.
It started out with a challenge to Congressman Mike Thompson, issued through social media, which was ignored. I then wrote a physical letter and mailed a copy to each of his offices and to the newspapers (one paper printed the letter) which also went ignored.
I have been protesting Mr. Thompson's town hall meetings with a sign that says "Debate me, Mike." Mr. Thompson walks right past me, every time, as if I'm a ghost.
I invited my other two opponents to join the protest, but neither one showed up to any of the five protests. So I asked the League of Women Voters to host a debate. I asked one of my opponents to also write to the league (the other has since dropped out). He wouldn't even do that much.
They offered a forum, which would have been spectacular except for one thing: the League's by-laws state that every candidate has to be present or no forum can be held, and Mr. Thompson said that he was unavailable for the two dates the league offered (well over a month in advance).
Well, both dates have come and gone now, and the forums were held, featuring supervisor candidates and info regarding Measures C and D in Napa County.
Looking back at Mr. Thompson's posts on social media, he met with a school supervisor two hours ahead of one of the forums and gave an award to a citizen at 7 a.m. the morning of the other forum.
He doesn't appear to have been truly busy at all, and the voters of this district have a right to know how their "representative" avoids a public debate. Every one of you should be thinking about what doesn't he want the public to know?
Jason Kishineff lives in American Canyon, Calif.
- Details
- Written by: Jason Kishineff
It’s been 30 years since Betty Irwin, the only woman to serve as a Lake County judge, retired after a distinguished career. When she died in 2013, Judge Richard Freeborn wrote, “Her term was notable for an intelligent and compassionate application of the law.”
We have a perfect opportunity on June 5 to vote for only the second woman to join the bench in Lake County’s long history – after a 30-year absence.
Your vote for Shanda Harry, who is running for Superior Court judge, Department 4, will not only be a vote to bring diversity back to the court but will also be a vote for the most experienced candidate with the best judicial temperament.
Diversity is important. Composition of the judiciary should be reflective of society, in much the same way defendants expect to be tried before a jury of their peers. More than 50 percent of Lake County’s “society” is female. Why, for 30 years, have we not had a woman judge in Lake County? It is a well-known fact that judiciaries that are reflective of the populace are considered more legitimate and generate greater confidence and trust from the public.
Shanda Harry is a graduate of UCLA and UCLA Law School. Her family has lived in Lake County for three generations. During her 18 years of legal practice, she has built a broad base of civil, criminal and governmental experience. This is important because our Lake County Courts are approximately 50/50 criminal and civil and a judge who will be ready to be effective on Day 1 needs to have expertise in all areas of the law.
She has promised to focus on procedural justice – ensuring impartiality, consistency and transparency, and unbiased and even-handed sentencing and respect for all in her courtroom.
Studies show that it is easier for people to accept outcomes they do not like if they feel the process was fair and they were treated with dignity and respect.
To learn more about Shanda Harry, visit her Web site www.electshandaharryjudge.com to see her full background and take note of her impressive and diverse endorsements covering all geographic locations in Lake County and all political affiliations.
Vote for Shanda Harry June 5 for Superior Court judge Department 4.
Doyle Awtrey and Steven Sartori live in Lakeport, Calif.
We have a perfect opportunity on June 5 to vote for only the second woman to join the bench in Lake County’s long history – after a 30-year absence.
Your vote for Shanda Harry, who is running for Superior Court judge, Department 4, will not only be a vote to bring diversity back to the court but will also be a vote for the most experienced candidate with the best judicial temperament.
Diversity is important. Composition of the judiciary should be reflective of society, in much the same way defendants expect to be tried before a jury of their peers. More than 50 percent of Lake County’s “society” is female. Why, for 30 years, have we not had a woman judge in Lake County? It is a well-known fact that judiciaries that are reflective of the populace are considered more legitimate and generate greater confidence and trust from the public.
Shanda Harry is a graduate of UCLA and UCLA Law School. Her family has lived in Lake County for three generations. During her 18 years of legal practice, she has built a broad base of civil, criminal and governmental experience. This is important because our Lake County Courts are approximately 50/50 criminal and civil and a judge who will be ready to be effective on Day 1 needs to have expertise in all areas of the law.
She has promised to focus on procedural justice – ensuring impartiality, consistency and transparency, and unbiased and even-handed sentencing and respect for all in her courtroom.
Studies show that it is easier for people to accept outcomes they do not like if they feel the process was fair and they were treated with dignity and respect.
To learn more about Shanda Harry, visit her Web site www.electshandaharryjudge.com to see her full background and take note of her impressive and diverse endorsements covering all geographic locations in Lake County and all political affiliations.
Vote for Shanda Harry June 5 for Superior Court judge Department 4.
Doyle Awtrey and Steven Sartori live in Lakeport, Calif.
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- Written by: Doyle Awtrey and Steven Sartori
Last year, the California Clean Money Campaign scored a victory for democracy when the DISCLOSE ACT (AB 249) was signed into law, requiring that broadcast and print political advertisements clearly identify who paid for the ads.
This year, the California Clean Money Campaign is back with a new bill, AB 2188, the Social Media DISCLOSE ACT.
AB 2188 will require online platforms like Facebook, Google and Twitter to put a disclosure link on every ad about California ballot measures or candidates, a link to a page listing the ad's top three funders. Additionally, social media platforms will be required to keep a database of all political ads, so everyone can see who has been trying to buy our votes.
Like last year's print-and-tv DISCLOSE ACT, this year's bill does not allow fabricated names of so-called "action groups" – the ad must reveal real names.
For example, instead of "Paid for by the Patriotic Citizens Who Love Freedom, Apple Pie and the Constitution PAC," you would know that the ad was "Paid for by Big Oil Inc., Global Fracking Industrial Inc. and Fossil Fuel Conglomerate Inc."
Last week, the new social media bill successfully passed out of the Assembly Elections Committee with a 5-2 vote in favor. The room was packed with citizens who demand greater transparency in our political process. (There was an audible gasp from committee members when almost the entire room rose to express support for AB 2188!)
It took years to pass the first DISCLOSE ACT, and it only passed after the pernicious influence of dark money on our election process made headlines in 2016. We cannot afford to spend as much time waiting for the Social Media DISCLOSE ACT – we need our elected representatives to sign this year's bill into law as soon as possible.
Knowing who is trying to buy our votes is a vital piece of information. We must end the ability of giant corporations or other entities to hide behind deviously named "action groups." This is why I support the California Clean Money Campaign.
Deb Baumann lives in Upper Lake, Calif.
This year, the California Clean Money Campaign is back with a new bill, AB 2188, the Social Media DISCLOSE ACT.
AB 2188 will require online platforms like Facebook, Google and Twitter to put a disclosure link on every ad about California ballot measures or candidates, a link to a page listing the ad's top three funders. Additionally, social media platforms will be required to keep a database of all political ads, so everyone can see who has been trying to buy our votes.
Like last year's print-and-tv DISCLOSE ACT, this year's bill does not allow fabricated names of so-called "action groups" – the ad must reveal real names.
For example, instead of "Paid for by the Patriotic Citizens Who Love Freedom, Apple Pie and the Constitution PAC," you would know that the ad was "Paid for by Big Oil Inc., Global Fracking Industrial Inc. and Fossil Fuel Conglomerate Inc."
Last week, the new social media bill successfully passed out of the Assembly Elections Committee with a 5-2 vote in favor. The room was packed with citizens who demand greater transparency in our political process. (There was an audible gasp from committee members when almost the entire room rose to express support for AB 2188!)
It took years to pass the first DISCLOSE ACT, and it only passed after the pernicious influence of dark money on our election process made headlines in 2016. We cannot afford to spend as much time waiting for the Social Media DISCLOSE ACT – we need our elected representatives to sign this year's bill into law as soon as possible.
Knowing who is trying to buy our votes is a vital piece of information. We must end the ability of giant corporations or other entities to hide behind deviously named "action groups." This is why I support the California Clean Money Campaign.
Deb Baumann lives in Upper Lake, Calif.
- Details
- Written by: Deb Baumann