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Opinion
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- Written by: Ryan Kasmier
Helen Owen’s supporters point to her long tenure in the county and her local business ownership as qualifications. Yet, I can’t help but ask: Is that truly enough to serve as a county supervisor?
Supervising a county isn’t something you can learn on the job without serious consequences. Owen’s backers claim she will “listen to the people” — an admirable quality, but certainly not the sole requirement for a role that involves managing the county budget, improving public safety, making complex land use decisions and selecting department heads. This isn’t about having a chat over coffee; it's about having the expertise to act decisively on issues that affect all of us.
Owen’s lack of real experience in this realm or applicable experiences makes it hard to imagine her handling the fast-paced demands of the office. In fact, for her, this job would likely be more about learning than leading, and while she’s busy learning, Lake County would suffer the delays. What’s the plan while she’s catching up? Who will make the tough calls when she doesn’t even know what questions to ask?
One of her supporters recently wrote, “We need her especially in this day when our values are being attacked.” But whose values? “Values” has become a convenient dog whistle, a stand-in for nebulous ideals that mean one thing to one group and something entirely different to another. If Owen's supporters can't articulate a real plan for the county, is this the best they can offer? We need a leader with more than platitudes.
On the other hand, John Hess is a candidate who not only talks the talk but has walked the walk. With a political science degree, experience in Washington, D.C. working on military legislation, and nearly a decade of service on Lake County’s Planning Commission, Hess knows the ins and outs of this job. He’s been working on these issues — budgeting, fire safety, housing, and more — since 2016. This is not someone who needs time to catch up; he’s already running full steam ahead.
John Hess chose Lake County as his home, not because he grew up here, but because he saw the potential and immediately rolled up his sleeves to make a difference. He didn’t need to wait for an election to start serving his community; he’s been doing it for years. He understands that the role of a supervisor is about accomplishing big goals, not learning how to keep up. His qualifications make him not just the better choice, but the only choice if we’re serious about moving Lake County forward.
The decision for District 1 supervisor is clear. We don’t need someone who will be learning on the job while Lake County’s challenges pile up. This isn't a popularity contest or a partisan decision. We need someone with real experience, vision, and a proven track record of getting things done. That person is John Hess.
Ryan Kasmier lives in Hidden Valley Lake, California.
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- Written by: Charise Reynolds
I was discussing the candidates with a friend recently. They told me that they didn’t care about “experience.” They wanted “someone who cares about Middletown.” I don’t believe the two things have to be mutually exclusive. I have no doubt that both candidates care about our district. But, when you hire someone for a job (or vote someone into office), you look at everything that they bring to the table. John brings a lot of knowledge to the table. Knowledge about the issues and knowledge about how to get things done.
When the candidates first announced their candidacy, I didn’t know a whole lot about any of them. So, I made a point of attending the Middletown Area Town Hall candidate forum in January. At that time, there were five candidates. Early on John stood out from the pack. With every question asked it was clear who had the facts and who stated their opinion. Not only did he know about the issues and processes that were brought up, but he could speak at length about any question posed by the moderator, and his responses were very detailed. Some of the candidates even deferred to him on certain topics.
That evening was no fluke. At the supervisor candidate forum on Aug. 21, once again, John answered thoroughly and spoke knowledgeably. He’s put in the work, literally. He has been on the Planning Commission for the last eight years. He’s studied the issues and he knows the process. The main purpose of the commission is to review all aspects of a project and then make recommendations to the Board of Supervisors. You can view the video of that August forum for yourself at hessforsupervisor.com on the “news” page.
John has never held a public office. However, his experience is remarkable for someone seeking a local office. John served as Barbara Boxer’s senior advisor at the state level and as her senior policy advisor in Washington, D.C. He later served as chief of staff for Jane Harmon for 12 years. Harmon was the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee before chairing the Homeland Security Committee's Intelligence Subcommittee.
Throughout his career, he has forged relationships with decision-makers (like Mike Thompson who he’s known for 20 years) and the staff of decision-makers. These relationships are so important for bringing federal dollars into our county. Lake County never has enough money to cover all of the things that need to be done. Things like fixing our roads in a timely fashion, having reliable broadband to support high-wage jobs, and creating much-needed housing require funding.
John spent years in Washington evaluating requests for assistance from local elected officials like our Board of Supervisors. He understands the different funding streams, he knows how to put together a winning request and the best channels to use to secure funding.
John will be an effective advocate for our district. He has the expertise and knowledge to help our county flourish. He is the best candidate for the job. I urge you to join me in voting for John Hess for District 1 supervisor.
Charise Reynolds lives in Middletown, California.
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- Written by: Dr. Jesse Ortiz
Doug has been a strong advocate for the Lake County Community, his experience and dedication have shown to be successful to keep Lake County in the forefront.
Over the last few years there have been difficult decisions that have been made, Doug has shown true leadership with his insights and compassion in representing the Lake County community. His continued professionalism and voice will be needed in the near future as the district faces upcoming challenges.
A vote for Doug Harris is a vote for leadership, experience and dedication for the Lake County community.
Join me in supporting Doug for your representative.
Dr. Jesse Ortiz is the Yuba Community College District trustee for Area No. 3. He lives in Woodland, California.
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- Written by: Jim Comstock
I am pleased to endorse John Hess for District 1 supervisor in the upcoming county election. I join current District 1 supervisor Moke Simon and former supervisors Voris Brumfield and Ed Robey in my endorsement.
I have lived my whole life in south Lake County and have seen it grow and change over more than 70 years. Our county has a unique set of challenges and opportunities, and requires leaders with vision, good judgment and experience.
Having spent more than 30 years on county boards, the Middletown School Board, and as a county supervisor, I am very aware of what it takes to succeed in local public office. During the two terms that I served as supervisor for District 1, I came to fully appreciate the challenges of the job as I sought to make decisions that would help our community flourish.
Mr. Hess brings a wealth of experience in public service at all levels of local, state and national government, which I believe makes him the best candidate for this position.
Mr. Hess has demonstrated a commitment to all members of our local community. He has the experience necessary to not only make wise decisions for the district, but to also obtain resources for our area at higher levels of state and federal government.
Three former District 1 supervisors and two current sitting county supervisors all believe that Mr. Hess is the right choice for our community. I encourage our District 1 neighbors to vote for him in the upcoming election.
Jim Comstock lives in Middletown, California.