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Letters
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- Written by: Vicki Murphy
Have Yolo County’s “Big Picture” land use issues been abdicated to Tuleyome? It seems that Tuleyome has virtually become the unelected and unaccountable land use planner for this region.
With HR 5455, the Blue Ridge Mountain Range coursing through Solano, Yolo, Lake, Napa, Colusa and Glenn counties will be renamed the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Conservation Area. Why? Tuleyome says, “The Berryessa Snow Mountain region is threatened by encroaching development.”
That is not true.
The majority of the land is already under the Federal Bureau of Land Management, Department of Fish and Game, wilderness areas, the state and various reserves.
So why is this legislation even being developed and considered by our federal legislators when our nation is broke? As is California!
Could it be that it’s more about Tuleyome somehow assuming the role of reidentifying this region and then perhaps connecting it to foreign, global environmental controllers?
Could the designation of the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Conservation Area sweep our entire region into a murky global arena?
Agenda 21 and the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) might do just that.
West Sacramento and Davis are members of ICLEI. For those who don’t know about Agenda 21 and ICLEI, information can be found on Google. Investigate both sides for yourself to see if this designation is something that might be in the best interest of our region and nation.
Both imaginative programs have been around for years, promising utopian environmental outcomes, but are ICLEI members positioning onto boards of directors of conservation areas, conservation easements, and general plans to be later cobbled together into a grand global plan? Will Yolo County’s future funding for its starved municipalities have strong strings attached to ICLEI?
If passed, will the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Conservation Area become just another global environmental derivative, like the mortgage derivatives, and be churned into something bigger with no local voice in being able to identify, understand or control the management policies and programs of our region?
Vicki Murphy lives in Brooks, Calif.
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- Written by: Donna Herndon
I am supporting Judy Conard for Judge. She's one of four Lake County Superior Court Judge candidates to fill a position that will be open in January.
Judy has more than 75 jury trials to her credit, including death penalty cases.
She's worked on both the defense and prosecution. She has also completed special training to represent veterans in front of the VA. Judy's husband, who passed five years ago, was a veteran. She knows firsthand the issues veterans face.
Since I have known Judy, what I appreciate about her is that she has heart, integrity and community loyalty. She understands that the decisions a judge makes impact public safety and our quality of life here in Lake County.
Another aspect of Judy's background that I think matters is the fact that she's worked in other professions. She has been a successful attorney for more than 26 years. Before that, she was a middle-school and adult ESL teacher and the chief negotiator for her teachers’ union. She's from a working class family. Why is this important?
Because I believe that with diversity of life experience and educational background comes true perspective. And perspective, in addition to knowledge of the law, is crucial to good decision making.
Judy understands business. She's been a partner or sole owner of several successful law practices.
Now with the budget cuts facing the courts, having a business savvy judge is a huge plus.
It's pretty clear to me that Judy Conard is truly the best qualified candidate for judge.
Judy has fine personal characteristics that I would hope to find in a person in authority in our county.
She has my vote, and I hope you will consider voting for her too.
Donna Herndon lives in Lakeport, Calif.
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- Written by: Linda Diehl-Darms
When did political parties start believing we were sheep?
I recently read a mailer from the Lake County Democrats endorsing Victoria Brandon for District 1 supervisor.
The mailer states, “You may receive a ‘Democratic Voters Choice’ slate mailer that contains the name of District 1 Supervisorial candidate Jim Comstock.”
It states that the mailer is deceitful, false advertising meant to mislead you because Jim Comstock is a registered Republican.
I presume this mailer is talking about another mailer stating that Democratic Congressman Mike Thompson endorses Jim Comstock for Lake County District 1 supervisor. Nowhere on this mailer does it say that Jim Comstock is a Democrat or that the Democratic Party is endorsing him.
I applaud Congressman Mike Thompson for endorsing a person rather than a party. He recognizes all of the good work that Supervisor Jim Comstock has done in South Lake County. He sees the person not the party – what a concept!
What I find crazy about all this is that the supervisorial seat is nonpartisan. A candidate’s party affiliation does not matter.
Even if this character attack in this Democratic Party mailer sent out on behalf of Victoria Brandon is not a result of Congressman Mike Thompson’s endorsement, drawing party lines in a nonpartisan race is absurd. I for one am so sick of parties publicly attacking the personal character of candidates they perceive as the opposition.
I want to know that a candidate will listen to the people he represents, and what the candidate sees as the needs of the communities he serves. I want a candidate who is willing to fight for his constituents.
Jim Comstock has proven in his present term that he does listen. He is not afraid to take a stand when necessary. He has been our voice for south Lake County.
Jim Comstock has also proven that he comes from a place of integrity and is not afraid to give his opinion even if it is not politically correct. I admire his willingness to speak his mind. He and I do not always agree, but we do respect each other.
I am so tired of government representatives telling us what they think we want to hear and then doing the opposite or attacking others to try and make themselves look better.
I am tired of party lines. Just because a candidate is one party or the other does not mean they are the best person for the job. We are all people first. As far as I am concerned, both parties in our country carry too much power.
We are not sheep to be lead by one political party or another. We are the people, and the people decide.
Linda Diehl-Darms lives in Middletown, Calif.
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- Written by: Becky Curry
The Lake County Democratic Party would like to thank everyone who helped make our Meet the Candidates and Get Out the Vote event, held on May 5, a wonderful success.
The Sons of Italy Hall in Nice provided an outstanding venue.
Special acknowledgements go out to Congressman Mike Thompson, State Senator Noreen Evans, Assembly Member Wes Chesbro, Olga Martin-Steele, Mary Heare-Amodio and Victoria Brandon for their generous sponsorship contributions.
We were pleased to host our attending speakers, all Democratic candidates who are running for office in Lake County.
The speakers were Victoria Brandon, Supervisorial District 1; Fred Langston and Anthony Farrington, Supervisorial District 4; Joan Moss, Supervisorial District 5; Judy Conard, Michael Friel, Susan Krones and Michael Lunas, all running for Lake County Superior Court Judge Department 1.
We were especially honored to be addressed by Congressman John Garamendi, candidate for Congressional District 3 in Lake County.
The day could not have happened without the help and hard work of the many members who contributed time and energy to the event: Wanda Harris, event chair; Wanda Quitiquit and Paula Mune organized and mounted the beautiful Silent Auction and Luisa Acosta provided the delicious Cinco de Mayo meal; Mark Wickhamshire, Jack Troyer, Louis Rigod, Clearlake City Councilwoman Jeri Spittler, Carol Bettencourt, Johnnie and Wil Flato, Sorhna Jordan, Diana Ikeler, James Evans, Wendy White and numerous others who pitched in to help make the event a success deserve our gratitude.
Special thanks to Deb Clarke of the Sons of Italy for hosting the beverage service and facilitating the event venue.
Thanks most of all to everyone who attended. Your support of the Lake County Democratic Party is invaluable.
The funds raised enable us to support all of our Democratic candidates and get out the Democratic vote in Lake County.
Becky Curry is chair of the Lake County Democratic Party. She lives in Kelseyville, Calif.