Letters
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- Written by: Patrick Sullivan
My name is on the ballot: Patrick Sullivan for treasurer-tax collector. I am a licensed attorney and I have worked for the past 10 years gaining expertise in rural finance issues.
I was hired by the county of Lake in 2018 to focus on several high priority issues, including cannabis tax regulation, vacation rental taxation and management of the county’s investment portfolio, all of which can drive revenue into the county.
My time with the county has provided me with invaluable experience and allowed me to make strong partnerships with many in the community.
Once elected, I plan to build a stable and experienced customer-focused team in the Treasurer-Tax Collector’s Office, expand payment options and upgrade processing systems, increase public online data access, and better manage the tax defaulted property sales process providing benefit to the community.
I am grateful for the strong support I have received and look forward to working with the many constituencies who are focused on moving this county forward. I give special thanks to my family who are a source of encouragement every day.
My wife Andrea, a Lakeport business owner for the past eight years, and I are delighted to be raising our children in Lake County and proud to call it our forever home.
Please visit my website www.patricksullivanforlakecountytreasurer.com for a full list of my endorsements, local press and letters to the editor, and videos including a recent candidate debate. My Facebook page is: PatrickSullivanTTC2022. I welcome hearing from you. Call me at 707-278-6893 or email me at
I ask for your vote and your support.
Patrick Sullivan is running for treasurer-tax collector of Lake County, California. He lives in Lakeport.
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- Written by: Hannah Lee
Since deciding to run for assessor-recorder, I have met literally hundreds of Lake County residents who care about the future of our community and deserve the best treatment and service possible.
I have promised to bring the office into the 21st century through automation, to eliminate backlogs and the log jams that create unnecessary delays and to improve the business climate in Lake County, not chase business away.
I have also promised accountability and much improved communication, transparency and service. The details are on my website, www.hannahleeforassessorrecorder.com.
In my campaign, I’ve talked about unrealized revenues to the county’s general fund, fire districts, and school districts due to backlogs and property assessment methods that are driving businesses away. And I’ve pointed out that office modernization is long overdue.
I’ve pushed the idea that new leadership is needed to bring about change. And I’ve stated that eight years is long enough to have addressed the problems that persist to this day under the current assessor-recorder, Mr. Ford.
It does seem under every rock lies another problem.
Recently I discovered that Lake County residents who lost their homes in the Valley, Clayton and Dam fires are still being taxed at the same rate as when their homes and other structures were standing. This is unacceptable. I immediately searched for solutions. I believe I found a blueprint that we can use as a template for Lake County moving forward to prevent this from happening to future survivors of fire and other catastrophic events.
I also learned that hundreds of property owners received surprise changes to their property lines which, in some cases, disqualified them from participating in some types of business. The reason? The assessor-recorder used an information system not designed for the purpose of determining property line delineations. This problem could have been avoided.
More than ever, I am convinced the time for change is now. But why me?
For starters I’m used to being held accountable to the courts when I represent one of 80-plus conservatees under my charge. I’m used to managing individual budgets ranging from $1,000 to a little over $1,000,000 and I’m used to making life and death decisions. Being accountable to the people of Lake County will be an easy transition.
I’m a problem solver who understands that the role of a service provider — as all elected government officials are — is to serve people and to do that efficiently the internal workings of an operation must work.
People say I find ticking time bombs and diffuse them; they say, “if anyone can fix a problem, Hannah can.” As a kid, I was the one others came to for advice or to help them solve a problem.
It’s no surprise that my first job for the county was as an analyst — that’s the person managers come to when they need help improving internal operations and solving problems. This involves getting to the root cause of problems and finding the best practices and solutions.
To this end, sometimes the answers lie in automation, removing redundancies, adjusting policies and sometimes, examining legislation and working with teams to advocate for the right legal remedies. I cut my teeth on this type of work.
My background is diverse. I offer a balance — a strong financial foundation with a strong service orientation. I understand the regulatory aspects of the job; I also see the need for a more human-centric approach in the office of assessor-recorder.
And I particularly understand that Lake County should be at least parallel to other counties with the same responsibilities and problems. We’re not, I aim to change that.
To be clear, I am not in any way intimidated by the technical aspects of the job — which the incumbent suggests are hard to explain, the skills hard to obtain and the tests hard to pass.
School has always come easy to me. I’m educated with degrees in business management and psychology, business administration and tax preparation. I’m also certificated in basic and advanced accounting and taxes. In short, I’m ready to take on the job should you see fit to elect me.
Again, I thank you for allowing me one last opportunity to earn your vote. If elected, day one, I will open my door to you, be accountable to you, and get to work for you. Because the status quo is not acceptable and because Lake County will do better under new leadership.
On June 7, I humbly ask for your vote.
Hannah Faith Lee is running for assessor-recording of Lake County, California. She lives in Kelseyville.
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- Written by: Darlene Holzapple
A method that comes to mind to help repair the fragmented relationship between community and public schools is engaging as collaborative team members which includes mutual respect and understanding the responsibilities that each of us holds for setting a better example to our future generation.
Another action to assist the relationship between the public and school board members is moving past one-sided personal agendas by the general public and choosing to honor diversity which sets a tone for being all-inclusive to everyone involved thus helping students succeed during their formative educational years.
Growing knowledge about the job description for school board members reduces confusion for what these elected positions are tasked with.
Remembering this body of individuals are held to certain parameters set by higher elected overseers will lessen demands for them to make decisions about policy they don’t have the authority to bring into action.
With a behavior and mindset shift toward partnership, a path toward cohesiveness will begin.
Bringing suggestions to the table is welcomed and encouraged which creates food for thought so positive growth happens ultimately resulting in a firm foundation for students to thrive. As adults, methods such as this sets a good role model for students who look to us as guides when presented with challenges.
Life can be hard, having a guide to help navigate the way eases some of the burden for developing minds.
Currently the Middletown Unified School District has school board positions to be filled through a district vote.
Charise Reynolds is a candidate on the ballot. I have taken the opportunity to talk with Charise and read her résumé. All the boxes have been checked for qualities and qualifications needed. Electing her will fulfill a needed presence for having someone to co-partner with other board members; school staff; parents; students and the community at large thus creating much needed unity within the education system.
Charise shared the following thoughts with me for why she wants to be part of the MUSD school board.
“I just want unity. I want parents, school staff and board members to be able to express themselves in a manner that invites collaboration and understanding. I also want to bring back that same level of caring, kindness, and community that we had after the Valley Fire. I want all parents to feel heard; I want all staff to feel appreciated; and, I want all students to feel safe, welcome, and represented. That’s what I want for our district.”
Charise has the support of many in the community as well as receiving endorsements from the following people who feel she will work hard and diligently as an MUSD school board member.
Anna Ravenwoode, schoolteacher, LCOE Board Member Lake County Office of Education (Area 5) Kelseyville.
Cecilia Aguilar-Curry, State Assembly member, District 4.
Doug Harris, trustee, Board Area 7 Yuba Community College District.
Jessica Pyska, Lake County District 5 supervisor.
I too have faith in who Charise is not only as an upstanding citizen in Lake County but also as someone who will bring continuity, commitment and knowledge needed to hold a seat on the school board.
My grandchild will enter school in several years. As a grandparent, Charise is someone I want looking out for the best interests of not only my grandchild but all students in the MUSD sector.
Darlene Holzapple lives in Clearlake, California.
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- Written by: Lois Anderson
the selfless man I married, and the righteous way he conducts his life and career.
There seems to be a small "clique" of attorneys, led by Rachel Abelson, that have been casting generalized accusations of Don's "unethical" and “incompetent” behavior without even giving as much as one example! If you saw something unethical, shouldn't you have said something? Unethical behavior from any co-worker, including your boss, does not bode well for your own ethics if you did not have the fortitude to discuss it or bring it up with him. Only when he endorsed the opponent did any issue of ethics suspiciously arise.
How do you even find time to be commenting on anything about a DA from four years ago? This must make voters ask why. Why comment on a former DA instead of touting your own record of successes? That seems to be a classic diversion technique of many politicians who have no glowing record of their own. Your record on crime, successful trials and combating human trafficking are issues that should be on the forefront of your mind and campaign!
Rachel, you may find personal satisfaction in trying to slay Don's reputation, but how does Don’s winning California’s Prosecutor of the Year substantiate your claim of incompetence? Don has not only won every case he ever prosecuted, but he has also won every jury trial against the current DA’s tenure. Is this incompetence? Many cases the current office brought to trial proved to be a waste of taxpayer money. Where does the incompetence really rest?
So now it's election time. We voters see through deflecting, which is never a good look. I advise the "clique" to look in the mirror, not the rearview mirror, and start talking about what you've accomplished, if anything. We should hear plans for going forward to bring safety to our street and law and order to our communities. Good luck Anthony Farrington!
Lois Anderson lives in Lakeport, California.
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