Letters
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- Written by: Linda Diehl-Darms
This letter is in regards to the Lake County Board of Supervisors vote on recommending to the Board of Geographic Names to change the name of Kelseyville.
It is apparent that the hat two of the Lake County supervisors, Moke Simon and EJ Crandell, were wearing were of influential county tribal leaders and not the hat of elected officials representing all citizens of Lake County who voted 70.58% advising the supervisors to recommend “no” to the Kelseyville name change.
What was the purpose of putting this on the ballot if the decision had already been made? Was the hope that the vote would go the other way and they could say “we went with the people”? It appears that there was a rush to get this through before two of the board members left office.
In my opinion, both supervisors who are also tribal leaders should have recused themselves due to a conflict of interest as the name change recommendation of Kelseyville centers around Native Americans.
The history of Lake County in the 1800s concerning Native Americans was horrendous. Blood was shed on both sides. The solution is not erasing history, the solution is learning from the mistakes of history, honoring and mourning the loss of innocent people. As Supervisor-elect Helen Owen has said on numerous occasions, let’s not erase history, let’s honor and mourn the loss and create an interactive cultural center in Kelseyville — similar to the ones at the Little Big Horn or Custer’s Last Stand.
The people of today had nothing to do with this event. There are Native Americans in our county who are not in agreement with changing the name. How will changing the name bring healing? Are there those who carry anger and bitterness toward acts of long ago that no one in the present day committed? How will changing the name change hearts?
Is it possible that the overwhelming vote to recommend not changing the name had nothing to do with a community of racists, but had to do with the fact that this name change will have a negative financial impact for thousands of people who live and own businesses today in Kelseyville? There will also be costs incurred for the county of Lake in time, labor and material to change property tax rolls and other paperwork concerning the proposed name change.
One would think that the vote of our county supervisors who we elected (with the exception of one appointed) and entrusted with overseeing the business of Lake County would have been a unanimous “no” honoring the vote of the people of Lake County. After all, four of the five would not hold office if it weren’t for voters. One would also think that consideration of the county expenditure involved with this name change would in itself call for a “no” recommendation so that more funds are available for much needed road repair or other infrastructure needs that would benefit all Lake County residents.
On a side note: My summation is that the California Advisory Committee on Geographic Names and the U.S. Board on Geographic Names are agencies tasked with changing names to geographical appropriate sites.
Mt. Konocti is a geographical site so the word Konocti would be in line with these agencies for approval of a name change.
Had the board voted “no” on the recommendation to change the name, then as far as these agencies are concerned, it would have been the end of it.
Linda Diehl-Darms lives in Middletown, California.
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- Written by: Carolynn Jarrett
Supervisor Moke Simon is quoted as saying, “I got what I wanted.” Good for him, but what about the rest of us?
The board made an end run to avoid a controversial decision and voted to get public input by putting Measure U on the ballot. The voters were loud and clear: 70% said NO to the name change. If Supervisor Green thinks 30% is a “significant number” (of yes votes) – what does he think of 70%?
We the people paid $50,000 to have that measure on the ballot. If it was just a meaningless gesture, perhaps those supervisors who had already made up their minds should foot the bill. Governing means that you listen to all the input before you make up your mind.
I am totally in favor of bringing this issue back before the board after the new supervisors are seated in January. When that happens there should be two separate decisions: should the name be changed? And if so, what should the new name be?
In south county, the Konocti Unified School District has been in existence for decades. It makes no sense for the new name of Kelseyville to be Konocti.
Carolynn Jarrett lives in Clearlake, Calif.
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- Written by: Jessica Pyska
I have been frustrated with this from the beginning because it is a bureaucratic process that does not involve the people, and the decision will ultimately be made by people who will never even come here.
I spent the past year pushing both the state and federal committees to show up to engage with the people. They did not and it has compounded the problem.
What was most important to me this year were two things. The first was to keep my promise to remain neutral so that I could be available to all constituents. Over the last year I sat with and listened to people from all sides of this issue, and I deeply value those perspectives. The second was to involve the people.
I called the special meeting in July to bring an advisory vote so we could see where the people stood on the name change. To be clear, no one asked me to do this, I did it because I wanted the people to participate.
This Tuesday, the item came back to the Board of Supervisors for a final decision. I said we needed to honor the vote of the people and suggested we pass it on to the state and federal committees as the recommendation of the people. Three of my colleagues disagreed and wanted to make a recommendation for the name change.
Before the vote was taken, I insisted the people’s vote be included in the recommendation. The vote was 3-2, in favor of the name changing, and with the results of the vote included. I voted “no” because I could not support the board making the recommendation.
I understand why people are so angry and feel like their vote did not matter. It does matter. The vote is on record, it happened, it is part of the history that is unfolding, and it is included in the final recommendation approved by the Board of Supervisors.
I take my role as your elected representative very seriously and I worked hard to ensure you had a place in this process. You may not agree with my decisions, and that is OK. Please know that as difficult as this year has been, I learned from you, I supported you, and I will always show up for you.
If you have questions or comments, as always, I am available to you at
Comments to the Board on Geographic Names (BGN) can be sent to:
Comments to the California Advisory Committee on Geographic Names can be sent to
Jessica Pyska is the District 5 representative on the Lake County Board of Supervisors.
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- Written by: Michael Froio
As I near the completion of my first term, I hope the dedication and hard work I’ve put into representing Lakeport over the past four years have been evident.
Serving as a councilmember has been a privilege. It is a challenging position, requiring countless hours of listening to residents, researching key issues and preparing for council meetings.
Beyond that, it involves representing Lakeport on various boards and committees, attending special events, and ensuring that citizen concerns are not only heard but addressed.
This year, I had the honor of serving as mayor. It has been a rewarding experience that deepened my connection to both the city staff and our community. In this role, I’ve worked closely with constituents to tackle critical issues and continue the progress toward making Lakeport an even better place to live, work, and do business.
However, there is still much more to do.
One of my top priorities is revitalizing our city’s appearance. To achieve this, I’ve proposed adding a new code enforcement officer position that will be focused on cleaning up areas of blight throughout Lakeport. My vision is to ensure that the buildings along our busiest streets are well-maintained and aesthetically appealing, with fresh paint and colors that reflect a thriving, prosperous community.
Enhancing the look and feel of our city will not only boost civic pride but also attract more visitors and business opportunities. It’s clear that no amount of advertising dollars can improve our economic prospects if we don’t first invest in beautifying Lakeport. We need to update our city’s entrances, and ensure that visitors are greeted by a clean, welcoming environment that says, "We’re open for business."
When people visit Lakeport, we want them to leave excited to return. Our hospitality sector plays a vital role in this, and I believe our lodging partners need support in upgrading their offerings. I have a plan to encourage them to enhance their accommodations to better reflect the beauty and charm of our city.
You may have noticed my campaign signs around town alongside those of Kim Costa. Kim was appointed to the city council two years ago, following the resignation of a previous member, and has proven to be a tireless advocate for Lakeport. Her passion for increasing housing options in the city aligns well with my vision for its future, and I’m proud to be running for reelection alongside her.
As we approach Election Day, I urge voters to focus on experience, dedication and the proven ability to get things done. In city government, where partisan politics can lead to unnecessary division, it’s crucial to elect leaders who are committed to serving the community’s best interests and who have a track record for doing so.
Please vote for the candidates who have the vision and commitment to continue moving Lakeport forward. Together, we can build a brighter future for our city.
Michael Froio is completing his first term on the City Council for Lakeport, California.
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