As Lake County News has reported, on Feb. 17 the Board of Supervisors appears to have voted (the end of the meeting was extremely confusing) to support the county's secession from California to become part of the (so far fictional) “State of Jefferson,” with Supervisors Farrington and Steele in dissent.

This action was taken despite obvious disadvantages to the residents of Lake County, despite the absence of anything approaching a comprehensive financial analysis, despite the last minute news from proponents that a resolution of support would probably involve us in litigation to overturn Reynolds v. Sims (one person/one vote), and without the benefit of the coherent list of options offered by County Counsel Anita Grant.

As a particular touch of irony, one of the most frequent arguments given for the formation of a new state is rural Northern California’s supposed “lack of representation” in Sacramento.

This unfortunate state of affairs may apply to counties such as Siskiyou and Modoc, but its relevance to Lake County was decisively refuted the morning after the meeting by the announcement that Assemblymember Bill Dodd and State Senator Mike McGuire have introduced legislation to provide $2.4 million in funding to protect and restore Clear Lake.

Our supervisors need to work with these excellent legislators for the benefit of the community instead of seizing self-indulgent opportunities for grandstanding and making reckless accusations.

The actual motion, with its wording determined after rather than during the meeting, states “Upon approval by the State Legislature of the petition for withdrawal from the state of California and to form the state of Jefferson, the Lake County Board of Supervisors will consider the measure for placement on the ballot of the next general election.”

Does this mean that the county will be listed as a secession supporter in the meantime?

To clarify the situation, the subject is coming back to the board at 9:15 a.m. on Tuesday March 3.

Although the opportunity for public comment is likely to be restricted to details surrounding the timing and legal standing of a popular vote, it is nonetheless vital to attend this meeting.

In the meantime please write or call your supervisor: Tell him that you oppose the secession of Lake County from California, and that at the very least the people of the county should have an opportunity to express their will at the ballot box BEFORE the board takes it upon themselves to speak for us on such a momentous matter.

Unless the Board of Supervisors is willing to back away from this destructive proposal immediately, they should act to place it on the ballot at the first reasonable opportunity, and in the meantime refrain from stating an opinion in our names.

You can leave a voice mail for any of them by calling 707-263-2368 or send a fax to 707-263-2207. Email addresses are This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Victoria Brandon lives in Lower Lake, Calif.