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Lake County News confirmed with the offices of Congressman John Garamendi (CA-03) and Congressman Mike Thompson (CA-05) that the two men and their respective staffs were safe and sheltering in place Wednesday afternoon following the implementation of the lockdown.
Separately, Thompson posted on social media, “I am currently sheltering in place in the Capitol at a secure location. I will give more updates. This is a very sad day for democracy.”
Garamendi later tweeted, “This is a blatant attack on American democracy. We will have a transfer of power on January 20th, and Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will become President and Vice President on that day.”
He added, “American democracy has survived over 200 years, and it will survive Donald Trump.”
The two men were sworn in to their newest terms in the 117th Congress on Sunday.
On Wednesday, Congress was scheduled to certify the Electoral College’s vote in the presidential election when protesters stormed the building, leading to its evacuation.
Lake County’s member of the California Senate, Sen. Mike McGuire, said Wednesday, “What’s currently happening in the US Capitol is a terrorist act. Lives are in danger. Stoked by the President. All Americans should be horrified and angered by these seditious acts. This is not who we are as a nation. Violence has no place in our democracy.”
State Sen. Bill Dodd of Napa, who formerly represented Lake County in the California Assembly, said, “This chaos at the U.S. Capitol is a result of Donald Trump’s unconscionable rhetoric and efforts to undermine our democracy,” said Sen. Dodd said. “It is an unprecedented attack on American values, our representatives and our fair election process. It simply cannot be allowed to stand.”
On Wednesday afternoon, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) issued a joint statement aimed at President Donald Trump.
“We are calling on President Trump to demand that all protesters leave the U.S. Capitol and Capitol grounds immediately,” Pelosi and Schumer said.
That was followed within an hour by a statement from Gov. Gavin Newsom, who said, “Peaceful protest is an important mechanism of our democracy but what we are witnessing in our nation's Capitol building is reprehensible and an outright assault to our democracy and Democratic institutions.
“The people of California have spoken, and our congressional delegation should never have to fear for their lives to represent Californians. We are concerned for the safety of California’s congressional delegation and U.S. Capitol staff, and are reaching out to offer support in every way possible,” Newsom said.
He added, “President Trump must call for an end to this escalating situation, acknowledge the will of the people to bring President-Elect Biden to the White House and move immediately to a peaceful transition of power."
Trump later issued a one-minute video on Twitter telling protesters to go home but still maintaining that the election was stolen from him.
President-elect Joe Biden said Wednesday, “America is so much better than what we’re seeing today.”
He added, “Our way is plain: It is the way of democracy — of lawfulness, and of respect — respect for each other, and for our nation.”
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday experienced one of the most significant changes in its membership in decades with the retirement of a five-term supervisor who helped lead the county through numerous wildland fires, floods and, most recently, the COVID-19 pandemic.
Supervisor Rob Brown marked his last official meeting on Tuesday, receiving an outpouring of warm and heartfelt congratulatory messages from local, state and federal leaders.
Standing on the porch of his “COVID project” – a new home he is building in Kelseyville – Brown was joined by his children, grandchildren and mother, as well as his fiancee, attorney Angela Carter, for his final meeting.
Tuesday’s meeting brought an official end to Brown’s five terms on the Board of Supervisors, with his successor, Jessica Pyska of Cobb, sworn in during the meeting.
Incoming Board Chair Bruno Sabatier said that it’s impossible to talk about Lake County without talking about Brown.
A Lake County native, Brown previously had served on the Kelseyville Unified School District Board before running for supervisor.
Brown, a Republican, would run a highly competitive race for California Assembly in 2002, getting within striking distance on the predominantly Democratic North Coast but ultimately being edged out narrowly by Democrat Patty Berg.
He chose not to run again for state office and instead focused his attention at home, working on endless community projects, including an interview center for children at the Lake County District Attorney’s Office, building a new wrestling facility at Kelseyville High School and a new skate and BMX park at Kelseyville Community Park, the Main Street Kelseyville lighting project, the new Kelseyville Post Office and the conversation of the old post office ot the Kelseyville Senior Center, and the Ely Stage Stop and Country Museum.
He also supported the purchase of the more than 1,500 acres on top of Mount Konocti which today is a county park and the purchase of the Lucerne Hotel in 2010.
By early 2015, Brown had resolved not to seek a fifth term.
Then, in September of that year, the Valley fire hit, devastating southern Lake County.
In a video message presented at the Tuesday board meeting, Congressman Mike Thompson said he had encouraged Brown to run again because the county needed him to do so.
Brown did just that. He was active in the county’s response and recovery not just to the Valley fire but a litany of others – the Rocky, Jerusalem, Clayton, Sulphur, Mendocino Complex and the August Complex, among others.
With his experience in heavy equipment operations, he wasn’t afraid to get out on the firelines.
State Sen. Mike McGuire recounted Tuesday how he and several others – including now-retired Mendocino County Sheriff Tom Allman – were behind fire lines in Lower Lake several years ago when the fire started moving toward them. McGuire said Brown hotwired a backhoe at an evacuated home and used it to build a fire line, saving three homes.
To try to prevent a devastating fire in the communities that ring Mount Konocti, in 2018 Brown created a successful benefit zone initiative and brought hundreds of volunteers together to clean up fire fuels with the “1,000 Hands Project” in 2019.
During the LNU Lightning Complex in the summer of 2020, Brown again was on the fire lines, this time in his Caterpillar, helping build lines between the fire and south Lake County communities.
More recently, Brown has worked to support businesses hit hard by the pandemic, including developing plans for distribution of $1.3 million in CARES Act funding to Lake County businesses in need.
On Tuesday, in addition to congratulatory messages from Thompson and McGuire, Brown received best wishes from his colleagues on the board, Sabatier, EJ Crandell, Tina Scott and Moke Simon – along with Pyska, County Administrative Officer Carol Huchingon, County Counsel Anita Grant, Sheriff Brian Martin, Auditor-Controller/County Clerk Cathy Saderlund, (who went to high school with Brown), former District 1 Supervisor Ed Robey, Lake County Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Officer Melissa Fulton, Public Works/Water Resources/Community Development Director Scott De Leon, Registrar of Voters Maria Valadez, Public Services Director Lars Ewing, incoming District 5 Planning Commissioner Lance Williams, Deputy Public Services Director Kati Galvani, Jake Reinke – a county IT staffer who has become a key staffer in working the board’s Zoom meetings – and Lake County Farm Bureau Executive Director Brenna Sullivan.
‘We’ve been through a lot together’
Brown said he could spend another 20 years thanking everyone, but offered particular recognition to county employees and department heads – including retired County Administrative Officer Kelly Cox and retired Public Services Director Kim Clymire – with whom he’d created strong bonds over the years.
He emphasized that while relationships are key, there is nothing more important than friendships.
Special thanks also were offered to the constituents who put their trust in him and entrusted him through five elections.
“I didn’t always get it right but I didn’t always get it wrong, either, so I’m proud of that,” Brown said.
Beyond the county, Brown pointed to the friendships he’d built with officials in state and federal government, including Thompson, Thompson’s district representative Brad Onorato and McGuire.
“We’ve been through a lot together,” he said.
While things are tough right now, Brown said the board and county are in good hands. He praised Pyska, saying he was proud of her. “I think she’s going to bring a lot to the board that we haven’t had.”
Most importantly, he thanked his family who sacrificed more than he had during his service.
“Thank you all, and we’ll be seeing you,” he said, tipping his white cowboy hat to the camera.
Simon, the outgoing board chair, read a proclamation to Brown and told him he was honored to have served with him.
Sabatier said he enjoyed working with Brown over the past two years, and appreciated his friendship, their conversations and Brown’s perspective.
“I have so appreciated our conversations over the years,” said Pyska, thanking Brown for stepping up for a fifth term. She said the county had needed him and the consistency he brought because of the Valley fire.
McGuire said he and Assemblywoman Cecelia Aguiar-Curry were presenting Brown with the highest honor from the California Legislature for his service.
He said Brown has stepped up time and again to help the county. “The county is stronger because of you.”
“It's been both a pleasure and an honor to work with you over these years,” Thompson said in his video message, noting that Brown’s love for Lake County and its people is obvious.
Thompson said Brown is recognized for his compassion and for being a great family man. “And we all love your sense of humor – sometimes.”
Sheriff Martin said Brown “set the bar very high for anybody who wants to hold office, particularly in Lake County.”
Robey said Brown was the hardest working and most dedicated of the elected officials he’d worked with and he was impressed by how Brown had grown into the job.
Valadez thanked Brown for being a supporter for her and the elections office, and for always rooting for them.
Brown, noting he couldn’t thank everyone enough, said he wanted to let them get to work and let Pyska get going and he signed off from the meeting.
It was just under an hour into the meeting that Valadez administered the oath of office to Pyska, as well as to Scott and Simon, who were reelected in last year’s primary.
The board then elected Sabatier as chair and Crandell as vice chair.
At Tuesday night’s Lakeport City Council meeting, Mayor Pro Tem Stacey Mattina commended Brown, noting he was usually to be found working in the middle of the chaos.
Brown did a lot behind the scenes that no one ever saw and was a big reason that Mattina said she decided to run for the city council.
Lakeport Mayor Kenny Parlet said he agreed wholeheartedly with Mattina’s sentiments.
“He’s taken slings and arrows from everyone at some time or another,” Parlet said of Brown, who he called an incredible public servant.
“He’s a great man,” Parlet said.
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The council will meet beginning at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 7.
Because of the county’s shelter in place order, Clearlake City Hall remains closed to the public, however, the virtual meeting will be broadcast live on the city's YouTube channel or the Lake County PEG TV YouTube Channel.
Community members also can participate via Zoom.
The agenda can be found here.
Comments and questions can be submitted in writing for City Council consideration by sending them to Administrative Services Director/City Clerk Melissa Swanson at
To give the council adequate time to review your questions and comments, please submit your written comments prior to 4 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 7.
Each public comment emailed to the city clerk will be read aloud by the mayor or a member of staff for up to three minutes or will be displayed on a screen. Public comment emails and town hall public comment submissions that are received after the beginning of the meeting will not be included in the record.
At the start of Thursday’s meeting, the council will get presentations from the Blue Ribbon Committee for the Rehabilitation of Clear Lake and the Hope Center, present a proclamation declaring January 2021 as Human Trafficking Awareness Month, make a presentation to Councilman Russ Cremer and review the city council’s norms and procedures.
Under business, the council will hold the first reading of Ordinance No. 249-2021, which updates the city’s zoning ordinance regarding revisions to cannabis regulations including removing the numerical cap for delivery-only dispensaries and other cannabis businesses, with the exception of retail storefront dispensaries.
In his report to the council, City Manager Alan Flora said those previously approved revisions were not included in the final zoning ordinance updates. “This inadvertent oversight,” he wrote, requires the council to amend the zoning ordinance to include the language it previously adopted related to cannabis businesses.
Also on the agenda is discussion and possible action related to Golden State Water Co.’s request for a rate increase. Over a three-year period – from 2022 to 2024 – the rates would rise in Clearlake by 30 percent, according to Flora’s report.
The council also will consider the mayor’s appointments for the coming year, appoint three members to the Measure V Oversight Committee and consider appointing councilmembers as representatives to the League of California Cities Redwood Empire Division.
Also on Thursday, the council will consider authorizing the purchase of a Graco Linelazer V 250DC Reflective Series self-propelled gas hydraulic airless line striper, model 25D343, from Interstate Sales of Auburn for $30,560.93.
On the meeting's consent agenda – items that are not considered controversial and are usually adopted on a single vote – are warrant registers; minutes of the Nov. 18 Lake County Vector Control District Board meeting; minutes of the Oct. 15, Nov. 5 and Nov. 19 meetings; consideration of continuation of declaration of local emergency issued on Oct. 9, 2017, and ratified by council action Oct. 12, 2017; consideration of continuation of declaration of local emergency issued on March 14, 2020, and ratified by council action March 19, 2020; consideration of Resolution No. 2021-03, approving amendments to the Clearlake Municipal Employees Association memorandum of understanding to be effective through June 30, 2021.
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This program fills a crucial need in Lake County and has been growing since it started four years ago.
It allows a pathway for qualified individuals in the community to become a credentialed teacher while giving instruction with a local perspective.
“This program gives us the opportunity to provide a local and affordable pathway to becoming a teacher for those who are interested or who are already teaching as an intern,” said Jamie Buckner-Bridges, teacher development coordinator at the Lake County Office of Education.
This cohort has a total of 21 individuals enrolled in the Preservice Program. This is the first step in the program to becoming a credentialed teacher.
The Preservice Program will last six months. After, the students will be able to start the intern program and get one step closer to being a teacher.
Classes will be held all virtually and take place two days a week, Monday and Wednesday.
“This program is just a small piece of the bigger picture when it comes to providing job opportunities and economic growth to Lake County. Developing the local workforce benefits our community and the schools of our county,” Brock Falkenberg, Superintendent of Schools said.
Teach Lake County is a multi-faceted program offered by the Lake County Office of Education in partnership with the Mendocino County Office of Education. It is designed to provide training, coaching, mentorship and affordable certification pathways to support permit teachers and teacher credentialing.
If you are already a permitted teacher, the Teach Lake County program provides mentorship, quarterly workshops, intensive summer teacher institute, test preparations and credentialing advice.
Teach Lake County also provides local intern programs for mild to moderate education specialists and multiple subject teachers. The intern program is made to help prepare local teachers so they can support the needs of the student population.
Currently, the intern program is offered as a satellite of the North Coast School of Education. The Lake County Office of Education is currently working with the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing to become its own credentialing program by the end of 2021.
To earn an intern credential, an individual must enroll in the Preservice Program. Enrollment for this program starts in the fall each year with courses beginning in January.
If you are interested in the Teach Lake County program, visit www.lakecoe.org/TLC.