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Opinion
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- Written by: Julia Carrera
My name is Julia Carrera, and as a dedicated member of our community, I’m excited to announce my candidacy for District 3 supervisor of Lake County. The election will take place on June 2, 2026, but this month I officially launched my campaign.
I’ve lived in Upper Lake since 2016, though I’ve called Lake County home for over 50 years, residing both part-time and full-time in Lakeport and Kelseyville. While my primary schooling was in Santa Rosa at Ursuline High School, I later attended St. Mary’s College of California for my undergraduate studies. I pursued a Master of Science degree afterward, which led me to find my calling in the healing arts — a career I am grateful for. However, it wasn’t long before I realized that nature — my true love — was where I wanted to spend my time.
Growing up playing among the tules and enjoying the natural hot springs of Clear Lake, I was inspired to become an environmental scientist. With my Potter Valley Pomo heritage, my deep-rooted connection to nature has always guided my path. After spending many rewarding years working in alternative medicine, I returned to my roots in the environmental field, founding my environmental compliance business, Julia Carrera & Associates. Over almost two decades, I’ve traveled the hills, creeks, rivers, and backroads of Lake, Mendocino, Sonoma, Humboldt and Trinity counties, retiring from my business in December 2023.
I’ve had the privilege of collaborating with various agencies and organizations, including local and state government bodies, environmental task forces, and the private sector. This diverse experience has equipped me with unique knowledge and skills to serve as your District 3 supervisor, where I am committed to creating a future that benefits everyone in Lake County.
District 3, with its vast geography and diverse communities, deserves strong leadership with a true work ethic. Through my campaign, I am committed to ensuring greater transparency, inclusivity, and accountability in our local government. I’ve launched Coffee with the Candidate as a way to engage with you directly — please check my facebook page for locations and times: https://www.facebook.com/juliaforsupervisor2026. And here is my website address: https://juliaforsupervisor2026.com.
I am also canvassing door-to-door and gate-to-gate to meet as many of you as possible. District 3 is the largest district in Lake County, and it will take me over a year to visit every home, but I’m dedicated to the process.
Since retiring, I’ve remained active in volunteering, sharing my experience with a variety of local organizations. I work with groups that support seniors, protect natural resources like California’s Oak Woodlands, and advocate for our neighborhoods, communities and their environment. I also serve in various business and civic organizations to promote innovation and collaboration throughout Lake County.
If elected as your District 3 supervisor, I promise to work tirelessly for the well-being of our beautiful Lake County. I will also commit 10% of the supervisorial salary to support innovative and action-oriented nonprofits, school districts, and individuals within our community and within our county government. I invite you to join me for Coffee with the Candidate to learn more about this and share your ideas for the well-being of Lake County.
I hope to earn your trust and your vote in 2026, and together, we can make Lake County a better place for all.
We can do better together.
Julia Carrera lives in Upper Lake, California.
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- Written by: Carolynn Jarrett
Supervisor Brad Rasmussen presented Phil Kirby with a certificate acknowledging and thanking him for his 51 years of service in education in Lake County.
A representative of Congressman Mike Thompson gave Phil a similar framed declaration of thanks that had been read into the Congressional Record.
The board and the audience stood and clapped, and Phil remarked as you would expect him to that “it’s always been about the kids.”
Phil started out in Lake County as the principal of Lower Lake High School in the Konocti Unified School District. He then went to the County Office of Education and ran the School Attendance Review Board for many years.
The icing on his educational cake was 17 years as a trustee on the Lakeport Unified School Board. In between he often worked as a substitute administrator at various schools.
Phil just had this wonderful aura. He was all ears and heart. He would listen; he would care. But you also felt that there was absolutely no-nonsense about him.
When I was taking a student and their parents to the School Attendance Review Board board, it meant that all the school-based interventions had not worked. They were still truant.
Phil would preside like a Solomon; each side, the school, the kid, the parents, would walk away feeling like a solution had been reached. Responsibility had been properly laid out, and expectations and consequences were clear going forward.
When he came to sub for the principal at Pomo Elementary, he was out on the playground at every recess. He was always surrounded by kids.
I wish that more of Phil’s colleagues could have been present on Feb. 4 to witness him being honored.
I feel grateful that I have known and worked with Phil who has had such a positive impact on the lives of so many students throughout the county.
Thank you, Phil!
Carolynn Jarrett lives in Clearlake, California.
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- Written by: Mary Borjon
Solidarity, led by Newsom, is the only thing standing between Trump’s desired kingdom and individual freedom in this state.
Blaming Newsom for wildfires is like blaming parents because their teenagers have raging hormones.
Climate change is the main culprit for what we are now experiencing when fire breaks out, and yet Trump and his loyalists are utilizing every underhanded method they can to “drill, baby, drill” for personal gain.
I do not want to entrust the leadership of this great state, at this critical time, to any candidate or party shallow enough and corrupt enough to exploit the despair of California’s fire victims.
Now is not the time to change our leadership. It is the time to stand with continuity, experience, and with proven leaders who will defend our rights and our individual citizens.
Newsom has stood firm for California and will continue to do so.
Mary Borjon lives in Kelseyville, California.
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- Written by: Barbara Christwitz
I won't pretend to know how to solve the problem of war, but I do know that war is a barbaric, outdated, expensive, temporary solution to a problem.
The enemy is war, not Israel or Gaza.
We teach our children to use words, conflict resolution skills, and we certainly do not finance their fights.
I contact my congressional representatives regularly to demand a stop to the billions of dollars of military aid and munitions that the U.S. supplies to Israel. More weapons only exacerbate and prolong the agony.
“May peace prevail on earth and let it begin with me” is an apt mantra.
Now is a good time to read Jimmy Carter's book, “Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid.”
Barbara Christwitz lives in Clearlake, California.