Letters
It’s been 30 years since Betty Irwin, the only woman to serve as a Lake County judge, retired after a distinguished career. When she died in 2013, Judge Richard Freeborn wrote, “Her term was notable for an intelligent and compassionate application of the law.”
We have a perfect opportunity on June 5 to vote for only the second woman to join the bench in Lake County’s long history – after a 30-year absence.
Your vote for Shanda Harry, who is running for Superior Court judge, Department 4, will not only be a vote to bring diversity back to the court but will also be a vote for the most experienced candidate with the best judicial temperament.
Diversity is important. Composition of the judiciary should be reflective of society, in much the same way defendants expect to be tried before a jury of their peers. More than 50 percent of Lake County’s “society” is female. Why, for 30 years, have we not had a woman judge in Lake County? It is a well-known fact that judiciaries that are reflective of the populace are considered more legitimate and generate greater confidence and trust from the public.
Shanda Harry is a graduate of UCLA and UCLA Law School. Her family has lived in Lake County for three generations. During her 18 years of legal practice, she has built a broad base of civil, criminal and governmental experience. This is important because our Lake County Courts are approximately 50/50 criminal and civil and a judge who will be ready to be effective on Day 1 needs to have expertise in all areas of the law.
She has promised to focus on procedural justice – ensuring impartiality, consistency and transparency, and unbiased and even-handed sentencing and respect for all in her courtroom.
Studies show that it is easier for people to accept outcomes they do not like if they feel the process was fair and they were treated with dignity and respect.
To learn more about Shanda Harry, visit her Web site www.electshandaharryjudge.com to see her full background and take note of her impressive and diverse endorsements covering all geographic locations in Lake County and all political affiliations.
Vote for Shanda Harry June 5 for Superior Court judge Department 4.
Doyle Awtrey and Steven Sartori live in Lakeport, Calif.
We have a perfect opportunity on June 5 to vote for only the second woman to join the bench in Lake County’s long history – after a 30-year absence.
Your vote for Shanda Harry, who is running for Superior Court judge, Department 4, will not only be a vote to bring diversity back to the court but will also be a vote for the most experienced candidate with the best judicial temperament.
Diversity is important. Composition of the judiciary should be reflective of society, in much the same way defendants expect to be tried before a jury of their peers. More than 50 percent of Lake County’s “society” is female. Why, for 30 years, have we not had a woman judge in Lake County? It is a well-known fact that judiciaries that are reflective of the populace are considered more legitimate and generate greater confidence and trust from the public.
Shanda Harry is a graduate of UCLA and UCLA Law School. Her family has lived in Lake County for three generations. During her 18 years of legal practice, she has built a broad base of civil, criminal and governmental experience. This is important because our Lake County Courts are approximately 50/50 criminal and civil and a judge who will be ready to be effective on Day 1 needs to have expertise in all areas of the law.
She has promised to focus on procedural justice – ensuring impartiality, consistency and transparency, and unbiased and even-handed sentencing and respect for all in her courtroom.
Studies show that it is easier for people to accept outcomes they do not like if they feel the process was fair and they were treated with dignity and respect.
To learn more about Shanda Harry, visit her Web site www.electshandaharryjudge.com to see her full background and take note of her impressive and diverse endorsements covering all geographic locations in Lake County and all political affiliations.
Vote for Shanda Harry June 5 for Superior Court judge Department 4.
Doyle Awtrey and Steven Sartori live in Lakeport, Calif.
- Details
- Written by: Doyle Awtrey and Steven Sartori
Last year, the California Clean Money Campaign scored a victory for democracy when the DISCLOSE ACT (AB 249) was signed into law, requiring that broadcast and print political advertisements clearly identify who paid for the ads.
This year, the California Clean Money Campaign is back with a new bill, AB 2188, the Social Media DISCLOSE ACT.
AB 2188 will require online platforms like Facebook, Google and Twitter to put a disclosure link on every ad about California ballot measures or candidates, a link to a page listing the ad's top three funders. Additionally, social media platforms will be required to keep a database of all political ads, so everyone can see who has been trying to buy our votes.
Like last year's print-and-tv DISCLOSE ACT, this year's bill does not allow fabricated names of so-called "action groups" – the ad must reveal real names.
For example, instead of "Paid for by the Patriotic Citizens Who Love Freedom, Apple Pie and the Constitution PAC," you would know that the ad was "Paid for by Big Oil Inc., Global Fracking Industrial Inc. and Fossil Fuel Conglomerate Inc."
Last week, the new social media bill successfully passed out of the Assembly Elections Committee with a 5-2 vote in favor. The room was packed with citizens who demand greater transparency in our political process. (There was an audible gasp from committee members when almost the entire room rose to express support for AB 2188!)
It took years to pass the first DISCLOSE ACT, and it only passed after the pernicious influence of dark money on our election process made headlines in 2016. We cannot afford to spend as much time waiting for the Social Media DISCLOSE ACT – we need our elected representatives to sign this year's bill into law as soon as possible.
Knowing who is trying to buy our votes is a vital piece of information. We must end the ability of giant corporations or other entities to hide behind deviously named "action groups." This is why I support the California Clean Money Campaign.
Deb Baumann lives in Upper Lake, Calif.
This year, the California Clean Money Campaign is back with a new bill, AB 2188, the Social Media DISCLOSE ACT.
AB 2188 will require online platforms like Facebook, Google and Twitter to put a disclosure link on every ad about California ballot measures or candidates, a link to a page listing the ad's top three funders. Additionally, social media platforms will be required to keep a database of all political ads, so everyone can see who has been trying to buy our votes.
Like last year's print-and-tv DISCLOSE ACT, this year's bill does not allow fabricated names of so-called "action groups" – the ad must reveal real names.
For example, instead of "Paid for by the Patriotic Citizens Who Love Freedom, Apple Pie and the Constitution PAC," you would know that the ad was "Paid for by Big Oil Inc., Global Fracking Industrial Inc. and Fossil Fuel Conglomerate Inc."
Last week, the new social media bill successfully passed out of the Assembly Elections Committee with a 5-2 vote in favor. The room was packed with citizens who demand greater transparency in our political process. (There was an audible gasp from committee members when almost the entire room rose to express support for AB 2188!)
It took years to pass the first DISCLOSE ACT, and it only passed after the pernicious influence of dark money on our election process made headlines in 2016. We cannot afford to spend as much time waiting for the Social Media DISCLOSE ACT – we need our elected representatives to sign this year's bill into law as soon as possible.
Knowing who is trying to buy our votes is a vital piece of information. We must end the ability of giant corporations or other entities to hide behind deviously named "action groups." This is why I support the California Clean Money Campaign.
Deb Baumann lives in Upper Lake, Calif.
- Details
- Written by: Deb Baumann
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