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Letters
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- Written by: Jack Baxter
Lake County candidates have had their signs stolen, damaged and torn down by people with a different political view. Worse yet our well-meaning citizens have been harassed and intimidated for not sharing these views.
When people feel they must resort to vandalism, intimidation and threats that has gone way too far. We must all stand together to ensure the rights of every one, which includes their right to openly express their thoughts or to run for public office. Rather then attack candidates we should thank them for offering to step up and run for public office.
I too signed the political fair practice agreement and pledged to abide by it in the spirit for which it is intended. I stand by that pledge and I stand by everyone’s right to free thought, speech and freedom of the press.
I disagree with both my opponents in this sheriff’s race as far as leadership and management style and philosophy. This is my right as it is theirs to disagree with my own.
I have stuck to the issues and not personalities, rumor or innuendo. If I do not know something is a fact I say so, however, I believe it is the obligation of candidates to share their views on the various topics when asked.
I believe in the right of free press, which has often exposed wrongdoing by our public officials who would have that information covered up. As a public official I believe it is my duty to work with the media not against them. Granted there are times when information must be held because of legal restrictions or an ongoing investigation however whenever possible the door must remain open.
I too followed the local blogs hoping to gather information to help make my decision to run for office. I hoped to learn what their perspective of problems and issues in Lake County were. I was amazed at the things being said about local officials and their families by people hiding behind the mask of anonymity and I have said so many times.
Complaining about government has become a national pastime but it is our right to do so. Sharing your thoughts of government and our elected officials is a good thing and we can learn from this. Attacking while hiding behind a mask is another.
I was very disappointed to see the vicious attacks on our deputies and their families and law enforcement officers in general. Nowhere do these victims have an opportunity to face their accusers or have an opportunity to defend their good names. Each time they have tried they are subjected to more attacks and shouted down. This is not the American way and I have no time for such foolishness. I stopped reading these blogs months ago.
I would encourage everyone to take the time to listen to what each candidate has to say, review what he or she have to offer. Only then can we each make an informed decision as to which candidate best suits our needs. Stick to the issues not personalities, then vote for the candidate of your choice. Please give everyone the same opportunity, free of interference, because your personal views may be different.
We must all stand together and not allow a few would-be thugs with special agendas to bully our community. Their rights are guaranteed but so are ours.
Jack Baxter is a candidate in this year's sheriff's race. He lives in Lakeport.
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- Written by: Tony King
I recently learned Lake County is one of only two counties in the entire state of California without debt attached to its general fund, which means the Board of Supervisors in Lake County has been operating within its budget and are in the black.
This information came from the California State Association of Counties and is something all of us in Lake County should be proud of.
Jeff Smith, as the senior member of the Board of Supervisors, and all of the board should be lauded for their fiscal responsibility in these challenging economic times.
As a taxpayer, I am greatly impressed and will be voting to retain Jeff Smith as supervisor in the coming election.
Tony King lives in Clearlake, Calif.
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- Written by: C. Richard Smith
I worked with Wally Holbrook on the Lake County School Consolidation Task Force. Wally provided leadership and information to the committee that was invaluable in our deliberations.
I served on that committee because I am a former school superintendent and currently teach graduate courses in school administration. I teach my students that a basic requirement of school leadership is to be trusted.
I trust Wally to provide the leadership the county schools need to get through some tough times. You can trust that Wally will be an outstanding county superintendent because he has integrity, and is an honest, ethical and moral man.
He has been a successful school leader in Lake County and has been a leadership coach to many of the other school leaders in our community.
Wally has my support and he deserves yours.
C. Richard Smith, PhD, lives in Kelseyville.
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- Written by: Karyn Dunn
Hello, my name is Karyn Dunn and I am a law enforcement officer in the state of California. I was also a good friend of Lynn Thornton, a recent retiree from a 25+ year career in law enforcement, who was killed by the boat driven by Lake County Sheriff’s Captain Russell Perdock in 2006.
Mr. Perdock will likely never be brought to justice. I hold Sheriff Rodney Mitchell responsible for this terrible and shameful injustice. On June 8, you can too by voting for Francisco Rivero for sheriff.
Mr. Mitchell protected his employee, Russ Perdock, who was second in command at the time of Lynn’s death. I believe Mr. Perdock will never be held accountable for Lynn’s death, which is a grave injustice.
As many of you may know, Bismarck Dinius, who was on the sailboat with Lynn Thornton, was wrongly charged. A jury of Lake County citizens acquitted him – this after a three-year delay in bringing the case to trial and satisfying the statue of limits protecting the man really at fault. The Lake County people on the jury did the right thing in acquitting Mr. Dinius. Rodney Mitchell did not do the right thing by Lynn Thornton, her son, family and friends, or the people of Lake County.
Unfortunately, unless perjury or some other illegal act can be proven, it’s too late to bring Russell Perdock to justice. It was Rodney Mitchell’s job to bring charges forward at the right time. He should have presented a case to the district attorney against his captain, Russell Perdock, just as he did against Mr. Dinius. After all, it was Perdock, who crashed into the sailboat at a high rate of speed in the dark of night. It was Sheriff Mitchell who also did not do the right thing and no amount of explaining can rationalize away his failure!
On June 8, 2010, vote Mitchell out of office!
Frank Rivero is the only active sheriff’s deputy with the strength of character and conviction to speak out against this and other injustices under the leadership of Rodney Mitchell.
Isn’t it time for good character and moral standards to win? Please vote in remembrance of Lynn Thornton.
Karyn Dunn lives in Citrus Heights, Calif.