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Opinion
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- Written by: Jeff Davis
As the water purveyor for the majority of what is now the city of Clearlake, we have seen the town grow from a few farm homesteads to the blossoming city you see today.
With the long list of developments, the city of Clearlake has on the horizon, we are continually dedicated to ensuring our current customers are adequately serviced and not financially impacted by these projects.
Highlands Mutual Water Co., Konocti County Water District, Golden State Water, Lower Lake County Water Works and Lake County Fire Protection District work diligently together to identify areas that could benefit from increased fire hydrants and/or water pressure.
In the last year Highlands Mutual Water Company has added an additional 19 new fire hydrants to its distribution system including a raw water hydrant. With all new developments, the appropriate water company and the fire department work closely with developers and contractors to ensure fire suppression is adequately serviced and established consumers are not hindered.
These agencies have formed an alliance that works together for the betterment of the community.
While none of the listed water companies service areas overlap, they do however, provide service adjacent to each other within designated service boundaries. These boundaries are clearly defined through engineered mapping and/or the Lake Local Agency Formation Commission.
Just as the city of Clearlake is very different from the county of Lake, the water companies throughout the area are just as diverse with their business structure, rates, and fees. As water companies we only have one focus and that is to serve our customers for all of their water needs.
Our mission here at Highlands Mutual Water Co. is to provide safe, high quality drinking water while accommodating consumer needs with distinguished customer service.
Jeff Davis is general manager of the Highlands Water Co. in Clearlake, California.
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- Written by: Mary Benson
I was struck by Jessica Pyska’s comments at the Jan. 10 forum that she had begun preparing for the supervisor position two years in advance of the 2020 election when she was first elected. I thought that showed a remarkable amount of dedication to earning a job. Since then, it seems to me that we have been getting our money’s worth: she devotes more than full time to the position. Jessica Pyska has built upon the community organizing skills she honed after the Valley Fire and in obtaining grant funding for Cobb after the fire, and as Supervisor she has helped to expand grant funding for all of us in Lake County. Her predecessor had been opposed to travel outside of our area to lobby for funding, but Jessica Pyska has successfully brought dollars home from trips to Sacramento and Washington, D.C. Jessica Pyska seems to take a broad view and looks to the future, and I believe we need that.
She also has shown that she listens and responds to her constituents. I have learned from Jessica Pyska that the whole renaming of Kelseyville issue was taken out of our collective hands when the healing organization filed for the name change with the federal government. Once those papers were filed, we no longer were in control of either the process or of the outcome. We can have input through an email to
In the meantime, it seems that our elected supervisor is incorrectly being accused of spearheading the name change process and chastised for not taking a stand on either side. Good leaders don't divide their communities; they encourage all voices to be heard and they are there after a decision is made to assist with the healing process. Staking out a strong position and siding with one side of the Kelseyville community, as her opponent has done, will alienate the other side and will do nothing to help deal with the outcome; in fact I believe it will make the aftermath even more difficult.
Mr. Bridges has shown a surprising lack of preparation for this job he is applying for. I was disappointed that he didn’t have even a basic grasp of the Middle Creek marsh project that has been ongoing for close to 20 years and could have a major impact on the quality of the lake water. His body language during the Jan. 10 forum conveyed to me a sense of impatience and unwillingness to listen to his opponent (such as eye rolling, checking his phone, dismissive gestures). Don’t take my word for it — you can see it for yourself on YouTube. Supervisors spend an incredible amount of time listening to people who have other points of view, and the best supervisors listen well.
Mr. Bridges was unwilling to commit to devote full time to this position at the Jan. 10 forum, and later walked back his comments to clarify that he would still participate in his day job but would make time for the Supervisor position. I am out of patience with candidates who promise (let alone those who don’t promise) to give up their day job, and we citizens later end up having to make do with less than full time effort from our Supervisor.
I am voting for Jessica Pyska to continue the work she has started, and I hope you will join me.
Mary Benson lives in Lower Lake, California.
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- Written by: Roberta Lyons
The incumbent, Jessica Pyska, has an impressive record and fresh ideas. She has many proven accomplishments that you need to know about.
They include: securing numerous grants for wildfire safety programs including for removal of 20,000 hazardous trees along our roadways, home hardening in the Kelseyville Riviera, improvement of senior citizen centers, safe routes to schools for Kelseyville, and extending broadband in the county. Jessica can point to many more accomplishments which can be viewed on her website.
Don’t fall for the simplified and divisive rhetoric of her main opponent, Boone Bridges. He has latched on to an inflammatory narrative to divide people — pitting neighbors against each other over the controversial Kelseyville name change issue.
Whatever your stance is on this proposal, (and in my opinion, it’s premature to have a stance without hearing all the details and listening with an open mind as the process unfolds) you can rest assured that Pyska will be there to do all she can to support the entire community.
Besides, is Kelseyville’s name the most important issue for those of us living in District 5? It isn’t for me.
The important issues include responsible vegetation management to protect communities against wildfire, improving our roads, and sustainable economic development.
If you ask Jessica about any of these topics, she can answer with knowledge and tell you exactly what she has accomplished and what has already been set in motion.
What are Boone Bridges’ plans? Does he have a relationship with both state and federal agencies and representatives that have been able to help Lake County? Does he have specific knowledge of the numerous grants that are available? Will he treat this position as a full-time job as has Supervisor Pyska?
Roberta Lyons lives in Jago Bay near Lower Lake, California.
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- Written by: Cyndy Forbes
I attended the candidates’ forum on Jan. 9th and streamed the Lake County Farm Bureau on Feb. 3. Laura stood out to me from among the other candidates because of her strong business sense and her ability to apply common sense solutions to key issues affecting District 4 and Lake County residents, such as our low housing stock and the impacts of climate change on our water supply.
When Laura addressed questions about building a secure environment for small businesses in Lake County at the candidates’ forum, it was clear that she was drawing on the many years as the CEO of our Chamber of Commerce, her experience as a human resource professional and an employee working for large corporations and small businesses.
I was also impressed by her publicly stated willingness to collaborate with statewide elected assembly members and senators on both sides of the aisle to get the funding and resources Lake County needs to address the challenges faced by business owners. And because of her extensive experience working with developers through the Chamber of Commerce, I am convinced that she understands how to work with government agencies to streamline business permitting and get the housing we need built.
She has already built the relationships needed to balance the needs of Lake County residents ranging from business owners to unhoused community members and farmers to members of the Pomo tribe. As a result, she will be ready to address our needs from the moment she is elected.
In conclusion, I believe that Laura McAndrews Sammel is the right choice for the District 4 supervisor seat. Her understanding of our district's financial needs, her commitment to maintaining and enhancing vital services, and her leadership in business advocacy and human resources make her an excellent candidate for this position.
I urge all District 4 voters to support Laura in the upcoming election. Who we elect as supervisor will impact all District 4 residents for the next several years.
Cyndy Forbes lives in Lakeport, California.