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Opinion
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- Written by: Tina Scott
I held the District 4 supervisor seat for five and a half years. I understand precisely what this job requires. Laura is the only candidate with the resourcefulness, professional background and modesty to comprehensively tackle the difficulties that a supervisor in Lake County is challenged with.
I watched the candidates’ forum on Jan. 9 and the Lake County Farm Bureau Forum on Feb. 3. Unlike the other candidates, who are not without strengths, it was clear that Laura fully understood she would be working for the people of District 4. Not the other way around.
Laura often talks about herself as a connector and collaborator. We see evidence of this in her willingness to facilitate conversations with Kelseyville business owners and the Pomo tribe. We also see evidence of her ability to fight for funding for small businesses as the chief executive officer of the Chamber of Commerce.
Laura will collaborate with statewide elected officials to get the funding and resources Lake County needs. She already has relationships with many of them and knows these relationships are vital to our county’s success.
I believe that Laura McAndrews Sammel is the only District 4 supervisor seat choice. Her understanding of our county’s financial needs, commitment to improving programs for rehabilitating people experiencing homelessness, willingness to tackle animal welfare issues and extensive leadership skills make her an excellent candidate for this position.
I urge all District 4 voters to support Laura in the upcoming election.
Tina Scott lives in Lakeport, California.
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- Written by: Kirk Andrus
Ms. Pyska has proven herself to be an effective and hard-working supervisor. There is absolutely no reason to vote to replace her.
Boone Bridges is a nice person, but he does not have the credentials or the background to serve as supervisor. Being a sixth generation Lake County resident and serving previously as a youth director for his church does not qualify him as the type of “community leader” necessary to do this important work.
Mr. Bridges’ promotional flier lists “real solutions for our future,” all of which have been or are currently being addressed by our current Board of Supervisors and the many hardworking county employees.
The back of his campaign flier was made to appear that he was quoted in two different news publications, neither of which exist.
The outsourcing of local jobs by the current Board of Supervisors that Mr. Bridges states as a concern refers to hiring individuals for positions that require expertise not found locally.
For example, it has been difficult to hire and retain a medical director for the Lake County Health Department, so it has been necessary for the Board of Supervisors to widen its search outside the county.
Likewise, a similar practice would be a school district reaching out of county when recruiting for a superintendent. And like school districts have found, sometimes this works out and sometimes it doesn’t.
There is certainly no policy to outsource local jobs and “enrich outsiders,” and this type of language is divisive and unproductive.
When voting for District 5 supervisor, I believe it is wiser to say no to “nice” and yes to “the
best.”
Please join me in voting to re-elect Jessica Pyska as our District 5 supervisor.
Kirk G. Andrus, MD, lives in Kelseyville, California.
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- Written by: Mandy Feder-Sawyer
He brings a wealth of experience to the forefront. I found Brad to be honest, transparent and forthcoming at all times. He was unfalteringly accessible, fair and reasonable. He is the true picture of grace and action under pressure. He was also one of the hardest working people I have ever met.
He is a candidate who would represent all of the citizens without bias. In my opinion, Brad has earned the trust of the community he serves. He is mindful of the challenges that face Lake County and comes armed with real world solutions based on his extensive research and involvement in county affairs.
Brad brings institutional knowledge. He was born and raised in rural Northern California. He hails from a family of firefighters and law enforcement. As a law enforcement professional, I knew him to be dedicated, respectful, welcoming, caring, inclusive and tirelessly driven to serve others.
He is also a compassionate pioneer in problem-solving. I knew him to master difficult situations and provide outcomes that best benefited the community.
Brad has been consistently ahead of curve in making updated police policy and training changes that reflect the best practices in the industry and provide for the betterment of the people in the community.
As a newsperson, I am a natural skeptic, but it is without hesitation or reservation that I fully endorse Brad Rasmussen as your next District 4 supervisor — for the best interests and love of Lake County.
Mandy Feder-Sawyer is a journalist and professor of Journalism at California State University, Chico. She lives in Red Bluff, California.
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- Written by: Verge Belanger
I agree with their statement that “It is best to educate about the history instead of trying to erase it.”
I thank the Save the Name of Kelseyville Committee for acknowledging that “The history of the Native Americans … is appreciated and respected. Their story is important …”
Are the people respected as well? How do we show this when the most evil person in their history is celebrated by naming the original inhabitants' former home after him after they were driven out? By learning more about this painful history we can move forward in the process of healing.
I appreciate the great job that the Kelseyville Business Association does, bringing five major festivals and the street dances to our town and how they have worked so diligently to build the brand of Kelseyville.
This is a beautiful town with lots of art, music, fine people and much camaraderie among those who live in the area. The town deserves a name that we can all be proud of.
Far from being an outlier group, there are many members of C4H and supporters that live in Kelseyville, though there are many throughout the county who also feel that the town’s namesake is thoroughly disgusting.
To say that no one condones Kelsey’s despicable behavior is ridiculous. For crying out loud, the town is named after him. Towns should not be named after hateful characters, and for good reason. Every time the person’s name is used their behavior is condoned, accepted and promoted.
There was a functioning Pomo community in this Valley until 1847 when Andy Kelsey and Charles Stone arrived and enslaved, starved, tortured, raped and murdered the local natives. The trauma caused by the treatment of these people continues to the present and needs to be addressed.
I agree that changing the name of Kelseyville will not change the past, but a new name changes the future.
They say that there will be no winners if the name is changed. Embracing the name change to Konocti is a win-win, bringing a beautiful name to the town and creating an environment where all can feel welcome and respected.
For more info on the history check out https://citizensforhealing.org/.
Verge Belanger is a member of Citizens for Healing. He lives in Upper Lake, California.