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Opinion
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- Written by: Michael Adams
I am writing in support of Judy Conard for judge of the Superior Court.
I first met Judy when she became a member of the board of directors of People Services. It is in her role as a trustee and advocate for the disabled that I first saw Judy and her ability to listen, inquire, assess and decide.
These are the exact skills required of a judge. Her ability to seek the required information and make sound, fair and impartial decisions is outstanding.
What has caused me to be such an advocate for Judy is her commitment to the truth. It is such a commitment over the past years in her private legal practice that results in her strong advocacy for her clients.
While the appellate court may take in question her filing of an appeal, I’m sure that the client who she represents feels that they have had an advocate in the complex and often rigid legal system, that sometimes misses the point. It is because of her willingness to provide this advocacy that their rights within this system are being fully considered. This attitude should be applauded, not sanctioned.
What's important to understand is that Judy is the only candidate with experience on both sides of the court, the prosecution and defense; that she has expertise in representing children and has complex jury trial experience including trademark, copyright cases and cases involving DNA science, and that she has taken 75 jury trials to verdict, including death penalty cases.
Two other very important factors to consider are that Judy is the only candidate that has been evaluated by the State Bar's Commission on Judicial Nominees and recommended to the governor for appointment and she is the only candidate endorsed by two Lake County judges.
Judy has worked hard for what she has accomplished, earning her law degree at night while raising a family and working full time.
In my view she has the most complete background needed to handle the challenges our courts are facing, including budget reductions and calendars so full that victims of crime must wait entirely too long for their day in court.
As an attorney she is a staunch advocate for fairness in the law and the system, I know firsthand that she will continue to be committed to the truth and to make this system serve the people.
Please join me in supporting Judy for Lake County Superior Court judge.
Michael Adams is a board member for People Services and executive director of the Soper-Reese Community Theatre. He lives in Kelseyville, Calif.
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- Written by: Andrew Luchsinger
I’ll admit it, I’m one of those Ron Paul supporters. Although the media has fooled many of you into thinking I’m an anarchist who just wants to legalize weed, please know that I’m quite the opposite. I’m an educated engineer with strong family values and have never once considered inhaling toxic smoke.
Perhaps like you, I’ve discovered that the Republican Party no longer represents my values; which are based on: personal liberty and economic freedom.
Here are three assumptions necessary for my main point:
- Personal liberty and economic freedom are inversely proportional to the size and scope of the federal government (within reason);
- Mitt Romney will not reduce the size and scope of the federal government as much as we require in these critical times;
- Mitt Romney has virtually no statistical chance of winning California’s electoral votes.
During the Republican primaries I can’t remember how many people I talked to who would not vote for Ron Paul because they said he didn’t have a chance at winning. Even though they agreed with much of his pro-liberty message, they focused their selection on only those candidates who they felt had a chance at winning.
Well, here we are in the general election. By the same logic, and due to the winner-take-all electoral college system, I suppose the only suitable candidate to vote for in California would be Obama. I mean, why waste your vote on Romney who’s most certainly going to lose?
That was obviously a rhetorical question. Here’s my proposition to you: Feel free to influence the election in swing states, but don’t waste your vote on Romney here in California.
Instead, use your vote to send a message to the Republican Party that if their future candidates want to win this state, they had better offer a stronger pro-liberty message. Therefore, as a voter from California, the only logical vote is Gary Johnson (Google him).
Gary Johnson, former two-term governor of New Mexico and Republican presidential candidate, is running as the Libertarian Party’s candidate.
On the ballot in almost all 50 states, Gary Johnson is the only candidate who advocates for immediate balanced budgets, sound monetary policy and personal freedom.
If you feel that neither the Republican or Democratic candidates lean far enough toward liberty, make your vote count, and vote for Johnson.
Andrew Luchsinger lives in Lakeport, Calif.
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- Written by: Lake County News Reports
Probably the oldest lake in North America, a unique ecosystem supporting fish and birds and wildlife in teeming abundance, and a landscape of breathtaking beauty, Clear Lake lies at the social, economic and spiritual heart of our community. This natural treasure is in trouble, and the responsibility of bringing it back to health falls on those of us lucky enough to live here.
That’s why I’m supporting Measure E, despite personal reservations about spending money on nuisance weed and algae control rather than on the identification and repair of the root causes of the problems afflicting the lake.
Although some of Measure E’s objectives are more significant than others, all are beneficial and some – keeping invasive mussels out and implementing the Middle Creek marsh wetland restoration project – are of surpassing importance.
Furthermore, by demonstrating our willingness to take financial responsibility, we will increase the probability of obtaining additional funding from additional sources for other desirable projects.
Restoring Clear Lake’s vitality is imperative for its own sake, and also indispensable for the future of our community.
The proposed tax is too tiny to be burdensome to any individual, all the receipts will stay right here in Lake County rather than being exported to Sacramento like most other sales and property taxes, and the measure includes a far greater level of public oversight than applies to any other segment of the county budget.
Please join me in voting for Measure E.
Victoria Brandon lives in Lower Lake, Calif.
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- Written by: Deb Baumann
Like many Californians, I have received multiple big glossy color pamphlets in the mail, paid for by the over-$40 million No on Prop 37 campaign.
Corporate biotech is relentless in its campaign to stop consumers from knowing what is in our food. Most of that $40 million-plus has been spent on television ads, a veritable blitzkrieg of misinformation.
I have closely followed both the science and the politics of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) since 2009. In the expensive pamphlets I received last week, I recognized lies that Corporate Food and the biotech industry have been telling for years. The level of deceit in these mailers is shameless.
For instance, one mailer presents two columns representing food groups, as a way of presenting inconsistencies in the Proposition 37 language. In the “Would be Labeled” column is listed “Dogfood made with beef.” In the “Exempt” column immediately opposite the dogfood entry is listed “Beef.”
Sounds crazy, right? Why should “Dogfood made with beef” be labeled, but not beef itself ...?
Well, it’s really quite simple. Big Food is, once again, lying to you.
In this case, a subtle lie is created by juxtaposing words in a manner to create a false impression.
The reason that dogfood would be labeled as containing GMOs is because most dogfoods contain corn, soy or canola oil made from genetically engineered crops (80 percent of all GMO crops go straight to animal food industries).
It does not matter whether or not the dogfood contains beef, because beef is not the ingredient that triggers labeling.
And yet, through clever and deceptive advertising, Corporate Food creates doubt in your mind about the validity of Proposition 37’s language, by inserting the words “made with beef” after the word dogfood.
Don’t be fooled. Don’t allow corporate ag and the giant food manufacturers to dissuade you from voting for Proposition 37. We have a right to know what is in the food we buy.
And no, it will not raise food prices. That is another lie. Sixty one countries around the world have mandatory GMO labeling. The citizens of those countries are not paying higher food prices because of it. The citizens of those countries are not “confused” by labeling, and Americans won’t be, either.
Vote yes on Proposition 37. Stand up for democracy. Don’t let big corporations continue to steal our voice.
Deb Baumann lives in Upper Lake, Calif.