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Opinion
I have watched the bravery and determination of the Ukrainians with increasing admiration. Theirs is a fledgling democracy. All of us are fortunate to have a long standing democracy based in large part on the “rule of law” concept.
In the USA, if a citizen is accused of violating a law, she has the right to a jury of her peers. Evidence is presented, and the jury is asked to listen to the evidence, without bias and prejudice, and do their best to sort out the Truth, knowing all the while that the prosecutor wants a conviction, and the defense wants exoneration.
For a community’s children, the elected school board is like a jury. The board of trustees listens to the “evidence,” in other words, advice, requests and requirements of the State Board of Education, OSHA, labor unions, legal counsel, accountants with budgetary guidelines, the local administrators, the teachers and all their support staff, the parents and the children.
The trustees then in closed and public sessions discuss all these variables and come to decisions. This is a difficult task, because they know someone will be dissatisfied with the outcome.
In the end, the community, and the trustees, have one guideline: what is best for ALL the children. This is our “rule of law.”
Public school creates our next generation of citizens, and thereby must be inclusive. The needs of every child must be considered, regardless of intellectual, physical, emotional or socioeconomic status.
The bottom line is the opportunity to learn: reading, mathematics, science and technology, health, team building, leadership, problem solving, communication skills, conflict resolution, artistic expression, and the rewards of diligence and dedication — all while attempting to help the students enjoy the process!
Public schools teach our children how to be part of a community. As a community, we need to teach by example about how to discover points of agreement, and build consensus from there.
I implore everyone on the board to take that first step, for ultimately, we all love our children. Thank you.
Kate Schmidt-Hopper lives in Hidden Valley Lake, California.
In the USA, if a citizen is accused of violating a law, she has the right to a jury of her peers. Evidence is presented, and the jury is asked to listen to the evidence, without bias and prejudice, and do their best to sort out the Truth, knowing all the while that the prosecutor wants a conviction, and the defense wants exoneration.
For a community’s children, the elected school board is like a jury. The board of trustees listens to the “evidence,” in other words, advice, requests and requirements of the State Board of Education, OSHA, labor unions, legal counsel, accountants with budgetary guidelines, the local administrators, the teachers and all their support staff, the parents and the children.
The trustees then in closed and public sessions discuss all these variables and come to decisions. This is a difficult task, because they know someone will be dissatisfied with the outcome.
In the end, the community, and the trustees, have one guideline: what is best for ALL the children. This is our “rule of law.”
Public school creates our next generation of citizens, and thereby must be inclusive. The needs of every child must be considered, regardless of intellectual, physical, emotional or socioeconomic status.
The bottom line is the opportunity to learn: reading, mathematics, science and technology, health, team building, leadership, problem solving, communication skills, conflict resolution, artistic expression, and the rewards of diligence and dedication — all while attempting to help the students enjoy the process!
Public schools teach our children how to be part of a community. As a community, we need to teach by example about how to discover points of agreement, and build consensus from there.
I implore everyone on the board to take that first step, for ultimately, we all love our children. Thank you.
Kate Schmidt-Hopper lives in Hidden Valley Lake, California.
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- Written by: Kate Schmidt-Hopper
Well, Tuesday was anything but boring. I announced my candidacy for the Middletown Unified School District Board and in less than 24 hours I had my first donations, endorsements, well wishes, and a bit of drama and controversy on the comments section of the Lake Co News article about me.
First, I’d like to thank those of you who have shown support. I hate asking anyone for anything, especially money. But, I just keep reminding myself that I’m not asking for me, but for our schools: especially our kids and our teachers. You guys are amazing and with your support, we are going to turn things around for our district.
Secondly, I’d like to set the record straight about the innuendos floating around.
I’ve been referred to as the lady who “called the police on peaceful parents” at a school board meeting. The majority of those in attendance that day were not exactly peaceful. At least two members of the board were shaking and crying as the crowd got more and more aggressive. I called the sheriff because I feared for the safety of the board.
Prior to that, I had tried to get the unmasked members of the crowd to either mask up or step outside at least until after the presentation of the awards to the students who were in attendance. However, I was shouted over.
Eventually (and before the sheriff arrived), the meeting was moved outside which seemed to deescalate things.
They can deride me all they like. I made a judgment call and I stand by my decision. Should anyone wish to view the actual video of that meeting for themselves, I will be posting it on my campaign Facebook page.
I’m also being accused of having said I would “force vaccines on our kids.” Someone even went so far as to take a photo of my son off of my personal Facebook page and post it online in the comments section of the article. They wrote, “If she would do it to her own son she would do it to yours.”
My child made the decision to get boosted on his own. He asked me repeatedly when it would be time to make an appointment; there was no forcing it. While it appears that the admin of the page has since removed the photo, I must say I’m a little shocked that someone thought using a photo of my child was OK. I’m prepared for people to sling mud at me, but leave my child out of it.
To be clear, what I said was. “I believe in vaccines because they work.” However, I am not now, nor have I ever, actively lobbied to have a vaccine mandate. Should I be so honored as to win a seat on the board I will have to uphold whatever laws are in place at that time. To do otherwise would jeopardize the district’s insurance and create a liability.
I hope that clears things up for those who may have been confused by the open hostility in the comments section of the article announcing my candidacy, yesterday.
I look forward to getting back to discussing the real issues of our district: the budget, the bond money, the LCAP funds and supporting our teachers.
Charise Reynolds lives in Middletown, California.
First, I’d like to thank those of you who have shown support. I hate asking anyone for anything, especially money. But, I just keep reminding myself that I’m not asking for me, but for our schools: especially our kids and our teachers. You guys are amazing and with your support, we are going to turn things around for our district.
Secondly, I’d like to set the record straight about the innuendos floating around.
I’ve been referred to as the lady who “called the police on peaceful parents” at a school board meeting. The majority of those in attendance that day were not exactly peaceful. At least two members of the board were shaking and crying as the crowd got more and more aggressive. I called the sheriff because I feared for the safety of the board.
Prior to that, I had tried to get the unmasked members of the crowd to either mask up or step outside at least until after the presentation of the awards to the students who were in attendance. However, I was shouted over.
Eventually (and before the sheriff arrived), the meeting was moved outside which seemed to deescalate things.
They can deride me all they like. I made a judgment call and I stand by my decision. Should anyone wish to view the actual video of that meeting for themselves, I will be posting it on my campaign Facebook page.
I’m also being accused of having said I would “force vaccines on our kids.” Someone even went so far as to take a photo of my son off of my personal Facebook page and post it online in the comments section of the article. They wrote, “If she would do it to her own son she would do it to yours.”
My child made the decision to get boosted on his own. He asked me repeatedly when it would be time to make an appointment; there was no forcing it. While it appears that the admin of the page has since removed the photo, I must say I’m a little shocked that someone thought using a photo of my child was OK. I’m prepared for people to sling mud at me, but leave my child out of it.
To be clear, what I said was. “I believe in vaccines because they work.” However, I am not now, nor have I ever, actively lobbied to have a vaccine mandate. Should I be so honored as to win a seat on the board I will have to uphold whatever laws are in place at that time. To do otherwise would jeopardize the district’s insurance and create a liability.
I hope that clears things up for those who may have been confused by the open hostility in the comments section of the article announcing my candidacy, yesterday.
I look forward to getting back to discussing the real issues of our district: the budget, the bond money, the LCAP funds and supporting our teachers.
Charise Reynolds lives in Middletown, California.
- Details
- Written by: Charise Reynolds
When I wrote a letter recently to allow the voting public to get a good look at the real Anthony Farrington, candidate for Lake County district attorney, I had no idea at the time of just how low he would be willing to go in order to satisfy his insatiable appetite for political office.
When I read Farrington’s response, my first thought was that this isn’t a letter, but a menu. The special of the day is red herring with a side order of Farrington word salad.
He blathers on about things that are meaningless and tries even harder to make his civil law practice sound like it somehow qualifies him for DA.
He still hasn’t accepted my challenge and provided a list of the criminal trials that he has completed through jury verdict. Getting a plea bargain in a drunk in public case, as he proudly lists, is not a qualification for district attorney.
He speaks of the irony of someone in my profession being concerned with the outcome of an election that would have a substantial impact on public safety.
Someone with any level of criminal experience at all would understand the importance of the bail industry in guaranteeing that defendants are held accountable to show up for their court proceedings.
Apparently this very important element of the criminal justice system has been lost upon Anthony Farrington, a family law attorney. Maybe they didn’t cover that in his online law school.
Farrington has demonstrated a new low in seeking an office that should never be made political by either candidate.
I admire District Attorney Susan Krones for the reasons that she is not politically motivated and she has made a conscious decision to commit her entire adult life to public safety as opposed to her opponent who dances around for political and financial gain.
No amount of threats or frivolous lawsuits from Farrington will prevent me from sharing my concern regarding the safety of Lake County. Do not be fooled by his misuse of words like “prosecute” and “quasi-criminal.” Only the district attorney or her deputies are able to prosecute criminal cases. Anyone with even a bare minimum level of criminal law experience would know better.
Again I issue my challenge to Farrington to provide a list of criminal cases that he has taken to jury trial and seen through to a verdict. It shouldn’t take long.
Rob Brown is a retired Lake County supervisor. He lives in Kelseyville, California.
When I read Farrington’s response, my first thought was that this isn’t a letter, but a menu. The special of the day is red herring with a side order of Farrington word salad.
He blathers on about things that are meaningless and tries even harder to make his civil law practice sound like it somehow qualifies him for DA.
He still hasn’t accepted my challenge and provided a list of the criminal trials that he has completed through jury verdict. Getting a plea bargain in a drunk in public case, as he proudly lists, is not a qualification for district attorney.
He speaks of the irony of someone in my profession being concerned with the outcome of an election that would have a substantial impact on public safety.
Someone with any level of criminal experience at all would understand the importance of the bail industry in guaranteeing that defendants are held accountable to show up for their court proceedings.
Apparently this very important element of the criminal justice system has been lost upon Anthony Farrington, a family law attorney. Maybe they didn’t cover that in his online law school.
Farrington has demonstrated a new low in seeking an office that should never be made political by either candidate.
I admire District Attorney Susan Krones for the reasons that she is not politically motivated and she has made a conscious decision to commit her entire adult life to public safety as opposed to her opponent who dances around for political and financial gain.
No amount of threats or frivolous lawsuits from Farrington will prevent me from sharing my concern regarding the safety of Lake County. Do not be fooled by his misuse of words like “prosecute” and “quasi-criminal.” Only the district attorney or her deputies are able to prosecute criminal cases. Anyone with even a bare minimum level of criminal law experience would know better.
Again I issue my challenge to Farrington to provide a list of criminal cases that he has taken to jury trial and seen through to a verdict. It shouldn’t take long.
Rob Brown is a retired Lake County supervisor. He lives in Kelseyville, California.
- Details
- Written by: Rob Brown
I recently read with great amusement a political hit piece written by Rob Brown, a local bail bondsman and former county supervisor. I find it ironic that Mr. Brown failed to mention that he is a local bail bondsman while giving out his election advice for the upcoming district attorney race.
I was very reluctant to respond to Mr. Brown’s self-serving endorsement for the upcoming district attorney’s race which was filled with vitriol, hate and false statements. However, in the interest of truth, it is imperative that I respond and pull back the curtain.
After reading Mr. Brown’s propaganda, you may have asked yourself what is Mr. Brown’s problem? One can easily expect that there are many petty personal and political reasons, but I suspect that the most compelling reason would be due to Mr. Brown possibly learning that I have been retained to represent his 80-year-old mother Marilyn Brown against Mr. Brown in a legal action for elder abuse and fraud (Case No. CV-422695). In addition, I also represent Mr. Brown’s ex-wife Kim Brown (Manning) for her application to hold Mr. Brown in contempt for unpaid court ordered spousal support in the amount of $57,000 (Case No. FL-210467).
This contempt action is a quasi-criminal proceeding. As such, given Mr. Brown’s misleading statements about me having limited to no criminal experience, I am optimistic that my successful prosecution of this contempt action will change his naïve perspective. This information can be confirmed with the Lake County Superior Court.
Unfortunately, Mr. Brown should have taken his own advice and stayed out of politics so that he can remain focused on his full-time job freeing criminals. Voters in this district attorney election should be very leery about taking any election advice from a bail bondsman. In my opinion, taking election advice from Mr. Brown would be like taking spiritual advice from Ted Bundy.
As a county supervisor, I provided 16 years of budget oversight for the District Attorney’s Office, sheriff’s department, jail, juvenile hall and probation department.
Mr. Brown stated that I have limited to no criminal law experience. This claim is patently false. For 10 years, I have handled a number of criminal cases ranging from resisting arrest, domestic violence, battery, public intoxication, DUIs and illegal cannabis matters. I also have state and federal jury trial experience, and I have a 100% prosecution rate for contested domestic violence protective orders on behalf of abused women and children. Through a state contract I also currently represent children who have been abused and/or neglected by their parents and/or care providers as a result of crimes committed against children. All of this information can be obtained by a public records request with the Lake County Superior Court and the County.
Unlike Mr. Brown, I like to focus on the big picture and make policy decisions for the betterment of our entire county, while Mr. Brown may see the grand opening of a new Dollar General store as economic progress. In regard to my efforts to place cold medications containing pseudoephedrine (used to make methamphetamine) behind store counters. Contrary to Mr. Brown’s allegations this ordinance had nothing to do with cough syrup or Nyquil; nor did I ever claim it would be a panacea to end meth addiction. This ordinance was merely a tool to help reduce the chronic theft of pseudoephedrine medications and the personal manufacturing of meth. This information can be obtained by a public records request with the county.
In reference to my request for the county to develop GIS website documenting the locations of registered sex offenders. Lake County had one of the highest numbers of registered sex offenders per capita in the state. This was my effort to enhance public safety and keep our children and families safe. I never claimed to take credit for the Megan’s law state website, only that our website was the first of its kind. This information can be obtained by a public records request with the county.
In regard to the issue of water rights. As a candidate, I did promise to work to secure water rights to Clear Lake. Mr. Brown’s statement that I did nothing to keep my promise is false. Through my efforts our county entered into a memorandum of understanding with the Yolo Flood and Conservation District which resulted in better management of the Clear Lake dam and a reoperation of the dam using better weather forecasting and technology with the benefit of keeping a fuller lake.
In addition, a water rights application was submitted to the State Water Resources Control Board for the appropriation of new water rights. This application was filed for the Middle Creek Restoration Project. After I left the board, it appears that Mr. Brown did not take any action to advance this application to the detriment of Lake County residents. This information can be obtained by a public records request with the county.
Mr. Brown also made unfounded comments about my performance as a board member in particular where he accused me of not attending various committee meetings. I find his allegations comical. Mr. Brown and other board members appointed me to these committees. If my performance back then was such an issue for Mr. Brown, he should not have reappointed me. To confirm my attendance for the public defenders’ oversight committee one should make a public records request; or contact retired County Counsel Cameron Reeves and/current County Counsel Anita Grant. In addition, contact Duane Furman. Mr. Furman is a local resident from Lakeport who also served on the committee with me.
Mr. Brown also alleges that I have “faked” my way as a county supervisor. I find his comments insulting to the intelligence of the Lake County residents that elected me four times where I often garnered more than 66% of the vote. To date, I cannot explain what fuels Mr. Brown’s deep-rooted hatred for me. In fact, it is also ironic that Mr. Brown publicly opposes me while his mother and other immediate family members have signed my nomination papers and are publicly supporting my candidacy for district attorney.
Mr. Brown was correct about one thing. My father was killed while he was in jail after he was picked up for a bench warrant after being previously arrested for a DUI. While in jail my father prevented two men from raping another inmate. Subsequently, he received death threats and was later found hanged in his cell. My father was a Marine who served during the Vietnam War, and I find it despicable that Mr. Brown would diminish the significance of his death because he was an inmate.
Mr. Brown also made some flippant comment about me discovering my “new found manliness” in response to me publicly listing some of my hobbies such as shooting guns, working on my ranch and working on my classic cars. Mr. Brown said that he found my comments “offensive” and that I did so as some type of “subtle reminder” to the voters that I am running against a female candidate.
In reality, it is Mr. Brown’s misogynistic statements that are offensive. Apparently, he does not believe that a woman can enjoy the same hobbies that a man may enjoy.
When it comes to discovering “new found manliness,” Mr. Brown has it all wrong. A man does not attain manliness by his choice of hobbies; rather the true test and measurement of a man is how that man treats others during a time of disagreement and, in particular, how that man treats his own mother.
Anthony Farrington lives in Lakeport, California.
I was very reluctant to respond to Mr. Brown’s self-serving endorsement for the upcoming district attorney’s race which was filled with vitriol, hate and false statements. However, in the interest of truth, it is imperative that I respond and pull back the curtain.
After reading Mr. Brown’s propaganda, you may have asked yourself what is Mr. Brown’s problem? One can easily expect that there are many petty personal and political reasons, but I suspect that the most compelling reason would be due to Mr. Brown possibly learning that I have been retained to represent his 80-year-old mother Marilyn Brown against Mr. Brown in a legal action for elder abuse and fraud (Case No. CV-422695). In addition, I also represent Mr. Brown’s ex-wife Kim Brown (Manning) for her application to hold Mr. Brown in contempt for unpaid court ordered spousal support in the amount of $57,000 (Case No. FL-210467).
This contempt action is a quasi-criminal proceeding. As such, given Mr. Brown’s misleading statements about me having limited to no criminal experience, I am optimistic that my successful prosecution of this contempt action will change his naïve perspective. This information can be confirmed with the Lake County Superior Court.
Unfortunately, Mr. Brown should have taken his own advice and stayed out of politics so that he can remain focused on his full-time job freeing criminals. Voters in this district attorney election should be very leery about taking any election advice from a bail bondsman. In my opinion, taking election advice from Mr. Brown would be like taking spiritual advice from Ted Bundy.
As a county supervisor, I provided 16 years of budget oversight for the District Attorney’s Office, sheriff’s department, jail, juvenile hall and probation department.
Mr. Brown stated that I have limited to no criminal law experience. This claim is patently false. For 10 years, I have handled a number of criminal cases ranging from resisting arrest, domestic violence, battery, public intoxication, DUIs and illegal cannabis matters. I also have state and federal jury trial experience, and I have a 100% prosecution rate for contested domestic violence protective orders on behalf of abused women and children. Through a state contract I also currently represent children who have been abused and/or neglected by their parents and/or care providers as a result of crimes committed against children. All of this information can be obtained by a public records request with the Lake County Superior Court and the County.
Unlike Mr. Brown, I like to focus on the big picture and make policy decisions for the betterment of our entire county, while Mr. Brown may see the grand opening of a new Dollar General store as economic progress. In regard to my efforts to place cold medications containing pseudoephedrine (used to make methamphetamine) behind store counters. Contrary to Mr. Brown’s allegations this ordinance had nothing to do with cough syrup or Nyquil; nor did I ever claim it would be a panacea to end meth addiction. This ordinance was merely a tool to help reduce the chronic theft of pseudoephedrine medications and the personal manufacturing of meth. This information can be obtained by a public records request with the county.
In reference to my request for the county to develop GIS website documenting the locations of registered sex offenders. Lake County had one of the highest numbers of registered sex offenders per capita in the state. This was my effort to enhance public safety and keep our children and families safe. I never claimed to take credit for the Megan’s law state website, only that our website was the first of its kind. This information can be obtained by a public records request with the county.
In regard to the issue of water rights. As a candidate, I did promise to work to secure water rights to Clear Lake. Mr. Brown’s statement that I did nothing to keep my promise is false. Through my efforts our county entered into a memorandum of understanding with the Yolo Flood and Conservation District which resulted in better management of the Clear Lake dam and a reoperation of the dam using better weather forecasting and technology with the benefit of keeping a fuller lake.
In addition, a water rights application was submitted to the State Water Resources Control Board for the appropriation of new water rights. This application was filed for the Middle Creek Restoration Project. After I left the board, it appears that Mr. Brown did not take any action to advance this application to the detriment of Lake County residents. This information can be obtained by a public records request with the county.
Mr. Brown also made unfounded comments about my performance as a board member in particular where he accused me of not attending various committee meetings. I find his allegations comical. Mr. Brown and other board members appointed me to these committees. If my performance back then was such an issue for Mr. Brown, he should not have reappointed me. To confirm my attendance for the public defenders’ oversight committee one should make a public records request; or contact retired County Counsel Cameron Reeves and/current County Counsel Anita Grant. In addition, contact Duane Furman. Mr. Furman is a local resident from Lakeport who also served on the committee with me.
Mr. Brown also alleges that I have “faked” my way as a county supervisor. I find his comments insulting to the intelligence of the Lake County residents that elected me four times where I often garnered more than 66% of the vote. To date, I cannot explain what fuels Mr. Brown’s deep-rooted hatred for me. In fact, it is also ironic that Mr. Brown publicly opposes me while his mother and other immediate family members have signed my nomination papers and are publicly supporting my candidacy for district attorney.
Mr. Brown was correct about one thing. My father was killed while he was in jail after he was picked up for a bench warrant after being previously arrested for a DUI. While in jail my father prevented two men from raping another inmate. Subsequently, he received death threats and was later found hanged in his cell. My father was a Marine who served during the Vietnam War, and I find it despicable that Mr. Brown would diminish the significance of his death because he was an inmate.
Mr. Brown also made some flippant comment about me discovering my “new found manliness” in response to me publicly listing some of my hobbies such as shooting guns, working on my ranch and working on my classic cars. Mr. Brown said that he found my comments “offensive” and that I did so as some type of “subtle reminder” to the voters that I am running against a female candidate.
In reality, it is Mr. Brown’s misogynistic statements that are offensive. Apparently, he does not believe that a woman can enjoy the same hobbies that a man may enjoy.
When it comes to discovering “new found manliness,” Mr. Brown has it all wrong. A man does not attain manliness by his choice of hobbies; rather the true test and measurement of a man is how that man treats others during a time of disagreement and, in particular, how that man treats his own mother.
Anthony Farrington lives in Lakeport, California.
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- Written by: Anthony Farrington