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Letters
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- Written by: Thomas Hingston
August Schmitt is correct in that the office is a critical county office (Schmitt: Lee will make positive changes, Sunday, May 15). School funding, public projects and fire budgets are directly affected by the work done in the office.
Consequently, if and when we have someone truly qualified for a job and willing and capable of completing it, it behooves us to try our best to let them do the job.
Richard Ford is doing a great job and has created an atmosphere in his office that has the full support of his staff.
He has no need of creating strawman scenarios or hearsay comments about his office’s performance. His ability as a leader is represented by the strong support of his staff.
Additionally, he has not felt the need to throw the office’s employees under the bus by implying through said hearsay comments an endemic rudeness and untimely work ethic.
It is applaudable when someone is willing to step up and involve themselves in the community but one should be qualified and able to fulfill the job.
Unfortunately, the challenger has not demonstrated the qualifications nor the maturity needed to take on this particular responsibility.
Thomas Hingston lives in Lower Lake, California.
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- Written by: Timothy Toye
Our current assessor-recorder caused such incidents by closing the recorder's office on Fridays for “catch up,” when electronic recording is available to us, and still not operational.
Sending dramatic increases in tax bills to local property owners without advance warning or explanation is similarly thoughtless. Advancing assessments that are as much as three times above the recent purchase price, to increase income to his employer, is yet another unforced error.
But the most basic error is the failure to see Lake County residents, old or new, as those worthy to serve with due consideration and fairness.
Fortunately, there is an election. I, and many others in the real estate community, suggest eight years of this is enough, and candidate Hannah Lee is someone who can be trusted to turn things around, welcome new residents to Lake County, and treat all of us fairly.
Timothy Toye lives in Cobb, California.
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- Written by: Mary Heare Amodio
Patrick has worked diligently here in Lake County since joining Lake County’s Administrative Office in 2018 as its tax administrator.
During his tenure as tax administrator, he has concentrated on identifying and capturing tax revenue that was not being collected by the prior tax collector.
Those taxes include collecting of the transient occupancy taxes, particularly for AirBNB and VRBO rentals, working to update the cannabis tax program (adapting and revising the program so that it complies with changing regulatory framework), creating a streamlined and regular program to sell tax-defaulted properties, and has worked to establish and develop an investment plan for the county.
He was also admitted to the State Bar of California while working as the tax administrator, and his family lives, works and goes to school here in Lake County.
Prior to joining the Lake County Administrative Office, Patrick worked at the Mendocino County Tax Collector’s Office gaining invaluable experience about the issues and challenges that face small rural counties, particularly a county that has many absentee landowners.
Moving to Lake County was a life choice for many of us, but those of us who are still here are those that have assimilated into and love the Lake County culture.
We don’t need “big city” ideas about how to run government. We see how bad things are in the big cities and counties and don’t need their purported solutions to our issues.
The challenges and issues that surround life in rural America are markedly different from big city issues.
We need thoughtful solutions based on experience, local knowledge and awareness, and a clear commitment to the community and its welfare.
I have known Patrick for a number of years now and have admired his commitment and tenacity. He will make a wonderful treasurer-tax collector for Lake County.
The fact that all of the current county supervisors, as well as many other community leaders, business owners and local individuals have endorsed Patrick speaks for his connection to the Lake County community.
Mary Heare Amodio is an attorney who lives in Lakeport, California.
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- Written by: August Schmitt
This is an important office that I would like to see improved.
Hannah will make positive changes as the next assessor-recorder for Lake County.
She is committed to serving the public and working with the real estate community to help people close their property sales and purchases more quickly, and this will help to improve the county’s fiscal soundness.
This, in my opinion, is crucial to the sustainability of our real estate market.
One more thing about Hannah — if you call her, she’ll respond timely, courteously and she will do her absolute best to provide excellent customer service. She cares and it shows.
Leaders like that are what we need in Lake County and why my vote will go to Hannah Lee.
August Schmitt lives in Clearlake Oaks, California.