Letters
- Details
- Written by: Mandy Feder-Sawyer
He brings a wealth of experience to the forefront. I found Brad to be honest, transparent and forthcoming at all times. He was unfalteringly accessible, fair and reasonable. He is the true picture of grace and action under pressure. He was also one of the hardest working people I have ever met.
He is a candidate who would represent all of the citizens without bias. In my opinion, Brad has earned the trust of the community he serves. He is mindful of the challenges that face Lake County and comes armed with real world solutions based on his extensive research and involvement in county affairs.
Brad brings institutional knowledge. He was born and raised in rural Northern California. He hails from a family of firefighters and law enforcement. As a law enforcement professional, I knew him to be dedicated, respectful, welcoming, caring, inclusive and tirelessly driven to serve others.
He is also a compassionate pioneer in problem-solving. I knew him to master difficult situations and provide outcomes that best benefited the community.
Brad has been consistently ahead of curve in making updated police policy and training changes that reflect the best practices in the industry and provide for the betterment of the people in the community.
As a newsperson, I am a natural skeptic, but it is without hesitation or reservation that I fully endorse Brad Rasmussen as your next District 4 supervisor — for the best interests and love of Lake County.
Mandy Feder-Sawyer is a journalist and professor of Journalism at California State University, Chico. She lives in Red Bluff, California.
- Details
- Written by: Verge Belanger
I agree with their statement that “It is best to educate about the history instead of trying to erase it.”
I thank the Save the Name of Kelseyville Committee for acknowledging that “The history of the Native Americans … is appreciated and respected. Their story is important …”
Are the people respected as well? How do we show this when the most evil person in their history is celebrated by naming the original inhabitants' former home after him after they were driven out? By learning more about this painful history we can move forward in the process of healing.
I appreciate the great job that the Kelseyville Business Association does, bringing five major festivals and the street dances to our town and how they have worked so diligently to build the brand of Kelseyville.
This is a beautiful town with lots of art, music, fine people and much camaraderie among those who live in the area. The town deserves a name that we can all be proud of.
Far from being an outlier group, there are many members of C4H and supporters that live in Kelseyville, though there are many throughout the county who also feel that the town’s namesake is thoroughly disgusting.
To say that no one condones Kelsey’s despicable behavior is ridiculous. For crying out loud, the town is named after him. Towns should not be named after hateful characters, and for good reason. Every time the person’s name is used their behavior is condoned, accepted and promoted.
There was a functioning Pomo community in this Valley until 1847 when Andy Kelsey and Charles Stone arrived and enslaved, starved, tortured, raped and murdered the local natives. The trauma caused by the treatment of these people continues to the present and needs to be addressed.
I agree that changing the name of Kelseyville will not change the past, but a new name changes the future.
They say that there will be no winners if the name is changed. Embracing the name change to Konocti is a win-win, bringing a beautiful name to the town and creating an environment where all can feel welcome and respected.
For more info on the history check out https://citizensforhealing.org/.
Verge Belanger is a member of Citizens for Healing. He lives in Upper Lake, California.
- Details
- Written by: Maile Field
I looked through the Pomo dictionary written by local historian Henry Mauldin and learned that the big valley surrounding present-day Kelseyville where our family orchards were planted had been called “Yoxagoi.”
I filed all the forms to create “Yoxagoi Orchards.”
It was difficult for English and Spanish-speakers alike. After about a decade, I abandoned it for “Crail Field Farms,” which included the names of my children and my ancestors alike — and required less paperwork.
But I learned about the naming of things.
Nobody knew. Not one person ever told me they recognized the word “Yoxagoi.” Not only that but when I went to the store and told the cashier to put my purchase on my account, a difficult and unnecessary exchange always ensued.
Nobody could spell it. Nobody ever said they liked it. And certainly no one could pronounce it. I don't know if anyone alive today knows how to pronounce it.
Now, everyone knows “Kelseyville” as Kelseyville. If we were to change the name back to the native name of the place, it would become “Yoxagoi.”
I have first hand experience with this. It is not a good idea.
Why would we change the name? A few people have expressed they are hurt by the perceived respect it offers a man named Andrew Kelsey who has absolutely no respect in the community.
Not one person has stated that we should retain the name of Kelseyville out of respect for the rapist and murderer who preceded the current population. Not one.
But changing a name would be a victory for those groups, mainly the somewhat ironically named “Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians,” who have for eight to 10 generations coexisted with descendants of immigrant Europeans and others.
My question is why not, as the past Lake County museum curator suggested, simply change the narrative?
In that option honor is given to another Kelsey — C.E. Kelsey, who in the early 1900s served as secretary of the Northern California Indian Association and, in that capacity, crusaded for the rights of California tribes. He successfully lobbied Congress to create rancherias for non-reservation tribes. He also served as a special agent to the region’s Indian Office, advocating for tribes including those in Lake County.
No one would have to change the name of their business, no one would be honoring a horrible person, no one would lose decades of branding invested by community leaders. And nobody would have reason to feel hurt.
We could furthermore rectify things by creating art in public places that honors the history. I personally would like a statue of the little girl who survived the Bloody Island massacre by submerging herself in the lake and breathing through a reed.
The divisiveness created by arguing about a name makes us all look bad.
Maile Field lives in Kelseyville, California.
- Details
- Written by: Martha Mincer
Having managed a national consulting company that worked with supporting large organizations in times of change, I know that the critical element to ensuring future success is “leadership.”
I’m sure Daniel “Boone” Bridges is a good man, but having worked closely with many senior leaders of big companies over the last 50 years and having had a chance to talk to Jessica Pyska about the county, I am truly impressed with her leadership skills, intelligence, values, vision and ability to find solutions for the issues we face here in Lake County.
I believe we need leaders like Jessica. Though she doesn’t “brag,” I see the effort and accomplishments she has given Lake County so far and I believe retaining her as one of our leaders will make an important difference as we move into the future.
Martha Mincer lives in Kelseyville, California.
How to resolve AdBlock issue?