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- Written by: Ron Green
District Attorney Jon Hopkins, who along with Sheriff Rod Mitchell, tried to scapegoat and destroy Clear Lake sailing enthusiast Bismarck Dinius of Carmichael, was successfully removed by the voters in the primary election. That’s a good thing.
Now, we have two choices to replace Hopkins – Doug Rhoades and Don Anderson.
They are both nice guys, and if I were voting strictly on the basis of who’s the nicer guy, it would be a close call, but I just might vote for Don. And, if I were voting on the basis of who was a hero as a deputy sheriff 30 years ago, I would surely vote for Don.
But, as an attorney, I know these are poor reasons to decide who to vote for in the district attorney’s race.
I view this election as an opportunity to elect the best possible attorney and an experienced criminal trial lawyer as district attorney. It is important to have a bright and accomplished criminal lawyer in this position who can immediately command the respect of all the tenured attorneys in the District Attorney's Office. Doug Rhoades is the only candidate who can do so.
Doug Rhoades is an experienced criminal lawyer who will bring intelligence, good judgment and common sense to the District Attorney’s Office. I am confident that he will set the right priorities for the District Attorney's Office and will not waste taxpayer money on frivolous prosecutions. He will bring respect back to the District Attorney's Office.
Although Don is a really nice guy and was a genuine hero 30 years ago, he is not the best man for this job. We need an intelligent and well-organized attorney with extensive criminal law experience, and from my vantage point as an attorney, Doug Rhoades far surpasses his opponent in these qualifications. Incidentally, Rhoades is endorsed by the Democratic Party.
I’m voting in the district attorney's race for the better attorney with the most relevant criminal law experience. Without a doubt, that’s Doug Rhoades.
Ron Green is an attorney. He lives in Lower Lake, Calif.
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- Written by: Dave Gebhard
We feel entitled to our parent’s love, we feel entitled to have a good life, a good education and someday a good family.
It is only after we grow up, that we learn that nothing is free or easy, that even love needs to be earned, except for a mother’s love, of course. (She earned the right to love unreservedly, by bearing and rearing us.)
We are so enthralled with the rich 1 percent that we all aspire to be one of them, especially with the example of real Horatio Algers: Bill Gates and Mark Funderberg. We even give them tax breaks, even though it means the middle class has to make up the difference, or we must cut social programs. Something has to give, someone has to pay the piper.
Americans feel entitled, due to our forebears paying in blood for our freedoms. Regretfully, entitlements are paid for by someone, and if not shared equably, become a burden for those who do pay.
Are we a third world country that allows the 1 percent that have the freedom to jet set, own multiple homes, cars, boats, etc. to skate free on taxes?
America needs a flat tax, a flat percentage of their income that everyone has to pay. That is the fairest way to tax. Instead we have the rich paying expensive specialists who assist them in not paying taxes, finding loopholes that congress leaves deliberately for themselves and their peers to use. We lose untold billions thanks to the tax evading industry.
In Congress, the price the Republicans are asking for their support is that the rich be included in the new tax bill. We must hold firm and allow the tax breaks for the overburdened middle class to be retained, while eliminating the free ride for the rich. Just return to the Clinton level of taxes, remember how well the country was doing then?
I sometimes feel we are a country ruled by lobbyists; Congress has such a sense of entitlement, that perks, such as vacations, golf weekends and the use of corporate jets are felt to be justifiable perks of the job.
Congress opts itself out of Social Security, yet is charged with the job of rescuing it. Ever wonder why they have no sense of urgency? They have no worries about Medicare or retirement, as they voted themselves guarantees for life, even after serving just one term.
We need to grow up, and stop dreaming of being included in the upper 1 percent, as they will continue having all the freedoms of great wealth, even after paying their fair share. They will still have just as many luxuries.
Dave Gebhard lives in Lakeport, Calif.
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- Written by: Helene Montgomery
At the fundraiser on Oct. 9 at the Keys Club to benefit Jerry and Sandy Edgington's daughter, Julie, and her family, there was standing room only for the raffle and auction and a full house for the dinner. Julie was stricken with Guillain-Barre Syndrome earlier in the summer.
We would first like to thank the merchants who donated food for the dinner and items for our auction: Red and White Market in Clearlake Oaks, Sentry Market in Nice, Foods Etc, Grocery Outlet and Rays in Clearlake, Noggle Winery and Gardens, High Valley Winery and Vineyard and Brassfield Estates in Clearlake Oaks, Robinson Rancheria, Cache Creek Casino, Bogle Winery, Classic Cut Ups, Dr. Paula Dhanda, John Clarke (artist), Mendo Mill of Clearlake, Kathi Monthei, Clearlake Mattress Outlet (CLO), Head Over Heels Hair Salon (CLO), Finest Nails, David Neft (musician), Richmond Park Bar and Grill (the Streckfuses), Lakeshore Bait & Tackle and Impact Training Gun Shop, and, of course, the Keys Club itself for donating all the plates, utensils and cups, etc.
Next we'd like to thank the donor individuals of either items for the auction and raffles, or donations to help with the food purchases: Tom and Maureen Burns, Ernie and Shirley Vasharesse, the Edgingtons, Sammy Jo Brassfield, Summer Kraml, Jim and Dee Bradley, Bob Rider, Linda Richmond, Janet Miley, Dan Towers and Chris Dunbar, Dean and Rita Welch, Nora Collins, Dorothy Leyrer and Marian Summerrill.
Our sincere thank yous go to all that gave a monetary donation just to help the family whether you joined us at the event or not. People we don't even know that read it in the paper or on a flier somewhere. There are too many to list, and due to cash donations in a jar, we don't even have all the names, but you know who you are and you know how grateful we are, to say nothing of how grateful Julie and her family are. Many thanks to those who purchased dinner tickets and were able to join us. You all made it so fulfilling and successful. Special thanks to Supervisor Denise Rushing for her support.
We must again thank Linda Swesey for finding us Charles Dean, our live auctioneer (owner of Lake Appliance in Middletown), and for organizing both the silent and live auctions and all the raffles, and John Zimmerman, musician, for playing for us far into the night when he had only committed for three hours, and our bartenders Barbara Higman and Irma Rivera, who kept up with the crowd and never faltered.
Lastly, we must thank our “crew,” who planned, passed out fliers, visited merchants, decorated and cooked and cleaned up and bought tickets and donated items and dollars to boot: Grant and Elaine Berringer, Claude and Kathleen Soones, Betty Ekelmann, Irma and Ron Rivera, Kathy Tanner, Mari Roth, Mike and Barbara Higman, Fran and KenYoung, Bonnie Walker, Everett and Linda Swesey (and her assistant Lyn Ringuette), Mary Flanders, Max Lay, Jerry Edgington and Helene Montgomery.
Helene Montgomery is a member of the Keys Club Board of Directors. She lives in Clearlake Oaks, Calif.
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- Written by: Jim Burton
Knowing the true nature of a person can be a challenge if you don’t know them personally. I think that’s where character references can be important. And that’s why I decided to share my reasons for supporting Don Anderson, candidate for Lake County district attorney.
Don Anderson is the kind of person who will always be true to his nature and his nature is compassionate and giving. Recently, he provided my family with some legal help at a time when we were grieving the loss of our son while at the same time needing to make arrangements for the proper care of his son. Don was there for us and he asked for nothing in return.
There are many ways to serve your community. Some people join clubs, sit on boards or volunteer to help organizations that exist to help the less fortunate. Don is known for helping youth as a mentor and coach. I found out he does so much more. Over the years, Don has quietly donated his legal services to countless people in need. I understand attorneys take on cases on a pro bono basis from time to time, but with Don, it’s a way of life and one way he’s chosen to give back to his community.
Don is one of the most standup people I know. He can be counted on to seek the justice we all expect from the District Attorney’s Office, to keep the public trust and to serve the people, 100 percent of the time.
The job of district attorney won’t be an easy one, that’s for sure. Our community has seen some of the toughest cases come through our court system and, sadly, there’s surely more to come and at a time when resources are getting more and more scarce. That’s where one’s true nature comes in. With a person like Don Anderson in charge, I know he will give it his all, each and every time.
Jim Burton is the retired fire chief for Clearlake Oaks, Calif.