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Letters
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- Written by: Val Meyer Nixon
Shanda has a very diverse legal background, which has prepared her to be a judge. She is a UCLA Law School graduate and since graduation has been an associate at a Los Angeles Law Firm, a general counsel for Robinson Rancheria and a tribal representative in child welfare cases, she has investigated and prosecuted varied cases as a deputy district attorney for Lake County, and she has provided legal services in extremely diverse cases for Lake County as deputy county counsel. She has an exemplary ethics record. Her background, temperament and work ethic make her ideally suited for the position of Superior Court judge.
I am voting for Shanda Harry because she is putting forth ideas for improving the current system and making the courtroom experience understandable. She is fair and impartial.
I encourage you to visit Shanda’s Web site at www.electshandaharryjudge.com.
I urge you to vote on Nov. 6 and hope you will join me in voting for Shanda Harry for Superior Court judge.
Val Meyer Nixon lives in Kelseyville, Calif.
- Details
- Written by: Sharon Thornton
Two.
The first was at the board room at the district office. A room full of concerned teachers, parents, LUSD staff (past and present), and community members. I was there to voice my opinion as a homeowner, taxpayer, voter, aunt, and concerned parent of a child that is supposed to start Lakeport Elementary next year. I stood in front of the school board as they stared blankly at my face, not listening to a single word I said.
You can copy and paste that for every single person in that room. We all stood in front of the school board as they stared blankly at our faces, not listening to a single word we said.
The second meeting was yesterday evening. The seats in the MAC building were full of the same crowd that was at the earlier meeting, plus all of the other teachers, parents, and community members that were cheated out of the opportunity to go to the 2 pm meeting because it was sprung up out of nowhere in the middle of the work day.
More people stood in front of the blank stares of the same board that we did earlier. More people pleaded for the board to do the right thing. More support, more requests for the board to reinstate Rachel Paarsch. Everyone spoke of what a wonderful person, teacher, and principal she is.
The board fired her.
They never explained what Rachel had done. But it couldn’t have been something as awful as the rumors that are being spread around or they wouldn’t have said she’s reinstated as a teacher. Whatever she “did” makes her safe enough to be in a classroom one on one with our children, but not safe enough to sit in an office chair and have a position of any power to make positive changes to try and save our school from the superintendent and the board.
They don’t care about the public opinion. They don’t care about the fact that the students love Mrs. Paarsch. Or the staff. Or the community. And they certainly don’t care about the children at Lakeport Unified School District. The people of Lakeport send their children to a school everyday where the teachers and staff are being bullied by the board and the superintendent. They cemented the fact that anyone who speaks out against the board or the superintendent will be removed from any administrative role and face retaliation.
I am a homeowner in Lakeport. I pay taxes to support this school. I have nieces and nephews that go to this school. I spent my entire school career from kindergarten to high school graduation at this school. This is OUR school. My child is supposed to start school next year and I’m not sure that there will be any teachers left to teach him. How many students transferring districts, how many families now paying for private school, how many teachers and staff leaving is it going to take to make the board realize what the problem truly is. It’s the lack of leadership from the board and the superintendent that have put our school in such a sad state. The fact that any teacher or LUSD staff member that speaks out against the superintendent or the board, or makes any complaint about how the school is being run into the ground puts a target on their back is a PROBLEM. Our school is dying, and the smell of rotting futures is coming from the district office.
Register to vote.
Vote for a new school board.
It’s time for a change.
Sharon Thornton lives in Lakeport, Calif.
- Details
- Written by: Glenn Neasham
Don't vote for Don Anderson as Lake County judge. Here's why …
Really? Don quotes in his mission statement, "As Lake County’s District Attorney I believe the importance is not winning a case but seeing that justice is served.”
You allowed a non-crime to be prosecuted that wasn't even a crime and destroyed my businesses (I’m in the process of rebuilding Neasham Insurance Agency), family and my life. You never even had the compassion or empathy to apologize.
The California Supreme Court thought the case was so ridiculous that when the attorney general tried to appeal the appellate courts decision after they overturned and reversed it in full 3-0 they wouldn't even hear it. If my case would of stood the "free enterprise system" would of been destroyed.
Besides making my client over $42,000 on her annuitization value on a $175,000 investment in 2.5 years you charged me with larceny because I should have known my client had the onset of dementia. Really, Don?
The bank (Mendocino Savings Bank) sold her a CD at the same time she bought the annuity and you didn't prosecute them. You're aware of that right? It's called a double standard. Also, if I would have known she had the onset of dementia I wouldn't of helped her.
The court also forgot the intent part in the jury instruction which violated my constitutional rights (how is it even possible that happened? I've heard the last time that happened was five and a half years ago and according to my source he was guilty and let go free), and your department just happened to find an audio tape the day before closing arguments where the client said herself two months after the sale she bought the annuity for tax purposes and no one forced her to do it, and she claimed she did it by her own free will and choice. I have the DA report (dated in April. She bought the annuity in February of the same year). That's proof again it should of never gone to trial.
Why did your department withhold that, and the judge allowed the jury to see a video of her out of her mind three years after the sale. Don't you think that would impeach the jurors, Don?
You, the judge and the Department of Insurance should of publicly apologized to me and still should and make it very clear to the community/public it was never a crime in the first place but you didn't. You've destroyed my businesses, and now my family and I had to file personal and business bankruptcy. Instead you just swept it under the carpet like I was a piece of trash.
You do realize if you or one of your relatives ever sold one of their used cars to a neighbor, TV, stereo, camera, computer, a new car, boat, doing a demented person’s taxes, taking a home in collateral for a bail bond, an attorney taking someone's money to represent them in a civil matter, setting up a living trust, selling someone a home, or anything over $950 the state could of come back and arrest you up to three years later and charge you with larceny if they determined your client had the onset of dementia/Alzheimer's if my case would of stood? Really? She wasn't even conserved until three years after the sale.
Do you still think Lake County residents want you to potentially be their judge?
Glenn Neasham lives in Hidden Valley Lake, Calif.
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- Written by: Bob Bridges
I told her I believed that the last bond issue to build what we now call the “MAC” had been partially diverted to help build a new superintendent’s office that wasn’t on the bond list.
She assured me that the new bond proceeds would only be used for the library/computer center and a new swimming pool.
I said to her “no bait and switch” – “no hanky-panky” – and she assured me there would be no bait and switch.
I agreed to let her use my name. I went around my neighborhood to convince people to vote for the library/computer center and swimming pool. I believe I secured many votes for the bond.
Now the school board tells us that they have spent $4.2 million on a new food service and culinary arts kitchen and cafeteria.
I understand the item was not on the posted agenda when it was approved. A review of the bond project list that we all voted on does not reveal a “culinary arts kitchen” only a ”food service dining area.”
When the board’s misspending is combined with the library/computer center now under construction, the Board of Trustees tells us that there is not enough money to build the swimming pool. They hope to acquire other uncertain state funding in the future years to build the pool.
While the current Board of Trustees members are nice people, who are well-intentioned, they have not displayed the ability to budget, prioritize or respect the desire of the voters. It’s time to elect new board members who have the courage and critical thinking ability to not be misled by nonelected advisors and build the pool.
I am voting for Carly Alvord, Dan Buffalo and Jen Hanson for the Lakeport Unified School District Board of Trustees.
Bob Bridges lives in Lakeport, Calif.