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Letters
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- Written by: James E. Crandell
James E. Crandell
To the Editor / Fellow Lake County Voters,
I am James E. Crandell — Uncle Jim — and I am proud to support my nephew Eddie "EJ" Crandell's reelection as Lake County District 3 supervisor.
My sister, Louise, wanted to name her son after our father, James Edward Crandell. Dad said, "Save that name for Jim's son." I never had a boy, but EJ has always carried that family name and legacy with honor. As his uncle, I've watched him grow into the courageous leader our Northshore communities need.
As a young man, EJ was an excellent and passionate baseball player. When he was about 12, he visited my wife and me in Tennessee while I was stationed at Fort Campbell with the 101st Airborne Division during the first Gulf War. We took him to a lake with high cliffs. He was scared to jump at first but said he would if I did. Even though I'm afraid of heights, I jumped. EJ followed — and then kept jumping all afternoon. That moment showed me his character: he may feel fear, but he faces it and follows through. When his vacation ended and we raced him to the airport making his flight by minutes, he almost cried – he missed his mom, my sister, so much. He has always loved his family fiercely.
Three generations of Crandell men have proudly served our country in the 101st Airborne Division tradition. My father, El's grandfather, served in the 11th Airborne Division part of the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell during the Korean War as part of that tradition. I served with the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell during the first Gulf War. EJ continued that family legacy, serving honorably in Operation Iraqi Freedom with the 101st Aviation Division. Today, as a member of the local VFW, he helps support a Ginny Craven, Operation Tango Mike, who sends care packages to soldiers still in harm's way.
EJ is also deeply rooted in our Pomo culture. He is learning our Eastern Pomo language on his own and is a talented California Pomo dancer and singer.
As a proud member and former chairman of the Robinson Rancheria, he stepped up to fix serious problems — including successfully getting several tribal members who had been unjustly disenrolled reenrolled. He remains vigilant in protecting our people from unfair practices.
After serving on the Lake County Planning Commission, voters trusted EJ with the supervisorial seat. He has delivered real results for our Northshore: improving Lucerne Harbor, advancing Highway 20 safety, protecting Lake Pillsbury, addressing abandoned vehicles, and fighting for rural priorities like fire insurance and broadband. He listens at town halls and leads with integrity.
We need leaders who know our communities, honor our veterans and our tribal heritage. EJ Crandell is that leader. I hope you will join me in re-electing him on June 2, 2026.
James E. Crandell lives on Robinson Rancheria in Nice, California.
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- Written by: Julia Carrera
I'm grateful to share an update with our community as the campaign for Lake County's Third District supervisor continues.
I recently submitted 285 signatures to qualify for the ballot, and 220 were verified-well above the requirement. Thank you to everyone who signed and helped ensure voters have a choice this election.
Campaign season can sometimes bring rumors and secondhand information. I believe the best
way to truly know a candidate is through direct, honest conversation.
Over the past several weeks, I've been canvassing neighborhoods across the district and speaking with residents at their doors. These conversations have been energizing and humbling, and they continue to shape the work ahead.
I also invite residents to join me for Coffee Conversations to ask questions, share ideas and connect: Saturday, March 28 from noon to 2 p.m. at LakeHouse BBQ (the former Romi's in Nice), and Saturday, April 25, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Raffi Room at the Tallman Hotel in Upper Lake.
I encourage residents around the Lake to participate in A Simple Gesture, a powerful program addressing food insecurity. Once a month, participants place a bag of shelf-stable food on their porch, and volunteer drivers deliver it to local food pantries. In the Northshore Chapter, donations support Nice Baptist Church and Lucerne Lutheran Church, helping families, seniors and members of our unsheltered community. Please visit www.ASGjoin.org to sign up.
Through my research and community conversations, I've been studying all the major issues facing Lake County, including budget transparency, the mobile home park crisis, the fluctuating real estate industry and the future of Scott Dam and Lake Pillsbury: Our Supervisors have chosen to keep this discussion in closed session. As regional partners pursue new water strategies, Lake County must remain engaged, prioritize local interests, and work collaboratively with tribal partners whose water rights are recognized under federal law.
Lake County faces real challenges. And, we also have extraordinary people with intellect and passion and strong communities. I'm committed to listening, doing the research, and working collaboratively to find practical solutions. I look forward to discussing those solutions and earning your vote.
Julia Carrera is running for the District 3 supervisorial seat. She lives in Upper Lake, California.
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- Written by: Carolynn Jarrett
I would like to sing about the unsung heroes: the board and volunteers of the Lake County Wine Alliance who handed out $170,000 to 43 different nonprofits at the Konocti Harbor Inn on Nov. 13.
The Wine Alliance has been funding nonprofits in our community for 25 years and has contributed over $3.2 million to them.
It has supported a wide variety of groups including high school art programs, senior center support, literacy programs, and children’s after school and weekend activities programs — everything that enriches the lives and well-being of our community.
The Wine Alliance could not do all this without the help of businesses, restaurants, wineries, high school and college culinary programs, and other groups which help them put on their fundraising dinner. Proceeds from this dinner become the checks which are handed out to the nonprofits.
So it is one big wonderful circle of volunteers in our community helping other volunteers in our community. It just shows how big a heart Lake County has.
So as a recipient of one of those checks (and I believe on behalf of all the recipients) I would like to express my deep gratitude for the efforts and support that Wine Alliance and all the volunteers have shown. Really, thank you!
Carolynn Jarrett works with the Adopt a 5th Grader Program. She lives in Clearlake, California.
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- Written by: Jennifer Normoyle
I recently listened to an NPR broadcast on its Weekend Edition about Lake County's wildfire community preparedness activities and the limited impact these initiatives have had on home insurance costs. California's wildfire crisis is truly transforming how communities approach safety, insurance and resilience.
Lake County has emerged as a leader in wildfire preparedness, investing in home hardening and defensible programs, community fire breaks, evacuation planning, and homeowner education.
These efforts deserve recognition: they show that local governments and residents can work hand in hand to reduce risk, protect property, and save lives. Applauding Lake County is not just symbolic — it highlights the power of grassroots resilience in the face of climate-driven disasters.
The county has embraced the notion that preparedness is a dual responsibility. On one side, homeowners need to take steps such as clearing brush, hardening structures, and maintaining defensible space.
On the other hand, communities must coordinate larger-scale protections — shared evacuation routes, fuel-reduction projects, and neighborhood fire-safety plans. Individual action is necessary, but collective action is indispensable. Wildfires do not respect property lines, and resilience requires both scales working together.
Unfortunately, no matter how well homeowners and communities meet the challenge of this dual responsibility, there is a disconnect between these local efforts and the insurance industry. Even when homeowners and communities invest heavily in mitigation, insurers often fail to recognize or reward the net impact of these shared efforts. Policies are canceled, premiums skyrocket, and families are left scrambling for coverage. This gap undermines trust and discourages investment in preparedness. If the insurance market cannot align with on-the-ground realities, it risks becoming irrelevant to those most at risk.
The state of California should step in and devote more effort to reforming insurance rules to reward wildfire mitigation, strengthen the FAIR Plan (the state’s insurer of last resort), stabilize premiums, and make it easier for communities like Lake County to access funding and recognition for their preparedness efforts.
One possible note of solace to homeowners and communities, no matter what, if they do the work, they may reduce their reliance on insurers altogether. A hardened home in a fire-adapted community is less likely to burn, leading to fewer claims and less reliance on a system that has proven unreliable.
True resilience starts at home and within the community, and other areas should not wait until they have faced nine devastating wildfires to take action like Lake County. Insurance should function as a safety net, not as the first line of defense.
The challenge now is to bridge the gap between local action, state support, and insurance recognition — so that preparedness becomes the norm, not the exception.
Jennifer Normoyle lives in Hillsborough, California.