Liana Simpson from Old Town and Melinda Ciarabellini from
Southwest.
Guests of Rotarians
Shannon Falk Carlsen with Boy Scouts came with Susie
Smelser; Asa Shively from Edward Jones. Keith Crossley brought his wife Carol,
Bruce Rupp’s his wife Marilyn, and Dick Storre his wife Debbie. Matt Owen
introduced Mike Jones, and Dan Heinen brought Mike Newman--both members of
Eureka City Council.
Announcements
John Bradley mentioned Backpack for Kids Buddy Night tickets
will be sold today as the last chance. The fundraiser will be held at Cher-ae
Heights Casino Sunday night at 6:30 pm. Donations are still needed; if you can
donate an item to be auctioned please talk to Jeff Leonard.
Our next club board meeting is May 30th.
Jay Reed just earned his blue badge and is to be
congratulated.
Anyone not wearing a shirt put $5 on the table, said Hank
Ingham. Steve Beckman asked not to be recognized, so Hank said, “I don’t know
you.”
Chuck Ellsworth was accused by Pres pro tem Hank of various
things, some of them profane or silly, but finally admitted that he did go to
Texas to run a race with
Jim Hoff. That will be $145, Chuck.
Roy Frostenson was accused of nefarious heroic deeds like
bagging a buck with a Ford F-150.
But it turns out that he did go to South Africa—that’ll be $145.
Stacy Lane, “Where have you been?” asked Hank. She
responded, San Francisco, San Diego and back. Hank recognized her for the heck
of it in spite of her meager itinerary.
Dan Heinen was perhaps going 80 mph in a parking lot, or
raising artificial flowers, but actually went to a place that begins with ‘C’
and no one could pronounce or spell.
Ziggy Ziegenfuss got accused of being the following:
bartender at Elks Club, honor flight attendee and soon to be Rotary moderator.
Guilty on all three counts.
Anniversaries
Ted and Anne Loring (5/2), Steve Beckman and Ellie Lee
(5/5), Dale and Jeannemarie Warmuth (5/5), Kurt and Linda Barthel (5/10), Lane
and Susan Strope (5/15), Cindy and John Cree (5/17), Gregg and Beth Foster
(5/20), Ryan and Jamie Fray (5/25),
Birthdays
Susie Smelser and Will Kay (5/1), John Winzler (5/5), Chuck
Edwards (5/7), John Ash and David Kuta (5/9), Dale Warmath (5/11), John
Bartholomew (5/19), Robert Prior (5/22), Dan Price and Carlton Nielsen (5/15),
Joe Mark (5/17), Craig Hansen (5/18), Larona Farnum (5/28)
Beth Matsumoto from The League of Women Voters served as
moderator and introduced the candidates. First she asked them to make opening
statements.
Brief opening statements:
Click here to watch the video of today's forum.
(Candidate web sites can be access by clicking on their name below)
Cheryl Seidner thanked the League and Rotary for
hosting this event. She was born and raised in the First District, went to
school in Loleta, and has lived here ever since (except for 3 years). Her roots
go deep here. As supervisor she would look to people who live here and wants to
hear their ideas to get direction.
Rex Bohn thanked Rotary and The League of Women
Voters. He is running because he wants to take his community commitment a step
further. While supervisors can’t create jobs, they can open the door to
business and create good laws regulating building and zoning. Rex loves the
County of Humboldt.
Annette Demodena said service is the key to the way
she lives her life. Since leaving teaching she has volunteered for numerous
positions including many boards and the Grand Jury. She says she understands
the concept of service, she also understands the need for jobs, transportation,
etc.
Question #1: Name one piece of legislation that the
County Supervisors have done that has benefited the county.
Annette: The General Plan.
Cheryl Seidner says, So many things, but the supervisors
must listen to the people of the community. Prosperity is fabulous, but we need
to listen to the people.
Rex Bohn said they have managed the headwaters fund
well. He also approved the laying of the redundant fiber optics cable. Committing land to the oyster industry
has benefited us, and this little niche industry is a great usage of our bay.
Question #2: Please share your thoughts and plans for
economic development and environmental protection.
Rex Bohn Those can go hand in hand says Rex. He gave several examples
of companies that are doing a good job at doing both. The County needs to
develop a what can we do for you, rather than, what can we do to hold you back,
attitude.
Annette Hates to agree with Rex, but there can be a
balance between economic development and environmental protection. Our harbor
needs to be improved. We need to protect the land and use it responsibly.
Cheryl: streamline our regulations and put them in
one place. Talk to one another and communicate better with each other.
Education is important. University and City College need to reeducate people
who want to go back to another job. Environment and economy go hand in hand.
Question #3: The County planning and building process
including the staffing and budget--how would you regulate these?
Cheryl: Communication is key. Sometimes the county
planners are at odds with each other and sending mixed messages. We need to
come together to plan better and communicate better.
Rex: the board of supervisors will address this
tomorrow. In other counties the supervisors actually look forward to doing
business with you and, finally, talk to the people who do business here; they
might have the answers.
Annette: Planners need to give service to those who are
the customers; there must be a review system. Board of supers is working on a division of duties. Planning
Dept. needs to be smaller, headed by new persons.
Question #4 Who are your largest financial supporters?
Rex has had over 900 people contribute to his
campaign, including a lady who gave him a dollar. He said the Sheriff gave
something like $5,000. Jack Rieke of Ace Hardware is also a large supporter. And
finally, I have envelopes if anyone wants to donate to my campaign.
Cheryl: her treasurer deals with all the money that
comes in and she sees little of it. Most of the donations are between $5 and
$1,000. Humboldt County Employees
gave her $1500. Grassroots and putting people first. This is about you and not
about me.
Annette agreed. Her highest contributor gave $1,000
dollars. It’s about you and not about me.
Question #5: What specific programs would you advocate to
bring jobs here?
Annette: Harbor revitalization. Harbor must be used;
do a feasibility railroad study. We need to build an east and west railroad.
Harbor then could take the grain to Asia cheaper.
Rex: there are a lot of employers in our room.
Schooling and training are important. If you have a trade work force that is
good, industries will come. Also throw in the pre-permitted property on top of
that will attract businesses. They will come because this is a great place to
be.
Cheryl: our bay is under utilized. Make it so the
youth can stay here. It’s great to come back home after going away to school.
Streamline regulations. Can’t depend on retail. Rely upon ourselves for the
solutions.
Question #6: Please address your experience in private
sector, public sector and governmental agencies.
Cheryl: Tribal chair of Wiyot Tribe, Humboldt County
Schools office, Indian Action Council, worked at HSU for 28 years in he
educational opportunity program. Helped them fill out applications,
homesickness, whatever they needed.
Annette: Taught for 28 years. Ran a small business.
Worked at Arthur Johnson’s.
Rex: has been at it since 9 years old sorting bottles
for his dad’s store and collecting baseball cards. Has worked in agriculture,
owned a small restaurant in Eureka, bar and restaurant. Worked for small family
owned businesses, and then at the Pulp Mill. Can hit on both sides of the plate.
Question #7 If selected what is your approach to Occupy
Humboldt Group?
Annette: I believe in free speech. So, no problem
with them being there. But it became a problem in taking away the rights of
others. Action had to be taken. I know the supervisors will study it and do
what is right.
Cheryl: speech is very important. Not a good thing to
stop free speech. That was not a good way to go about it. If they feel
disenfranchised they can’t voice their opinion. The beginning of Occupy started
with teachers and professors.... others moved in.
Rex: I don’t think our forefathers planned on having
people camp at the county seat, or defecating on nearby property. So today they
can’t sleep on county land, but now they sleep on Cal Trans property, which
means the sidewalk. They are adversely affecting those going to work. We need
to fix it.
Question: #8: What is the biggest strength of your
opponent? And which would you vote for if not yourself?
Rex: I have two very nice ladies who are running
against me. But, if I had to vote to for one or the other, I might not vote at
all.
Annette: Rex has name recognition and Cheryl is a
dear friend, and a good soul. I’d vote for Cheryl. But, of course, I will vote
for me.
Cheryl: I’ve been sitting with these two individuals
for 4-5 weeks and we chat and hug and rap on each other. We all have good
strengths. Each one thinks highly of their strengths and themselves. Rex, you
need to vote. I registered at 21 years and will vote.
Question #9; What can be done to help small businesses in
Humboldt?
Cheryl: Listening to them; buy local. When I shop 99%
of my vegetables from Farmer’s Markets. We need to streamline the regulations.
While we cannot eliminate them, we need smaller government. Put people first,
or things get out of hand. Work with businesses that are here and make them
viable.
Rex: I was raised with a small business. So many
government regulations are aimed at 24-25 employees. We should shift
regulations to the amount of net income rather than number of employees. Talk
to small businesses and find out what they do well.
Annette: give them a labor force that is adequate to
their needs. Prosperity 2012 assesses the training that they need. New jobs
require better training and education, more certificates. Look at regulations
and they are crippling. The amount that is needed to put out in money for a new
business damages job creation.
Question #10: What issues or challenges do you identify
as being specific to the first district? And list solutions.
Annette: It is too early to prescribe solutions. We
have diversity of enterprise: dairies, city workers, oysters, and farmers. We need roads; we need to make sure ht
Redwood Highway works for our good. We need to work together.
Cheryl: We have a big community from mountain and
hills to pavement of Eureka. Three rivers than must be kept clean. Other
enterprises are illegal: the marijuana growers are banking our streams. That
part that hurts the environment must be regulated even though they have 215
cards.
Rex: Eel River Potter Valley diversion would be
terrible. Wind farm Shell oil energy wind farm proposals. 20-year-old units on
top of the ridge are old and cumbersome and need to be re thought.
Question # 11: Should the community financially support
another airline into Humboldt County?
Rex: If you live on the south side of Humboldt it is
only 4 and a half hours to drive to the Bay Area. No, we should not subsidize a
bankrupt airport. As a company, we bought a $25,000 credit card for Delta and
did not get to use it.
Annette: I’m not sure; we would have to look at that.
It is not the business community’s responsibility to do that. I’d like to see
more statistical work being done to show what those airlines can do for us.
Rather than what we do for them. Let’ look closer at what they give us.
Cheryl: I think about the Shell Wind Farms in
Ferndale; we are giving our taxpayer money away
for a foreign company. WWII we
brought pilots here and it’s hard to get in and out of here, I know. I have to
see more statistics and more reports. Again, it is going to take us all.
Question #12: What is your feeling about the Richardson
Grover diversion?
Annette: We need to see it through; I want to see it
done.
Cheryl: Realignment is a good idea. We need to bring
things in and get things out. There are lots of things going further than
Humboldt County. My Dad was a faller; he fell the big redwood trees. I would
like to not see those trees go.
Rex: for the safety of the kids who ride school buses
and it only effects about 8 trees, none of them old growth. People today are having to reload trucks
in Oakland and it costs 800 to 900 dollars per load.
Closing statements:
Cheryl: Thank you for your time. Think about it and
choose wisely. I am endorsed by Wes Chesbro and Patti Berg. My door will always
be open; it will not be closed.
Annette: One thing I have seen is the concept of we
and they. It has to stop. Create unity, whether with development plan. Not my
agenda vs. your agenda. I offer a new voice and a new vision. I ask for your
vote because together it works for all of us.
Rex: I decided I was going to run four years ago.
Observing what is going on. I know people all across the county; I can bring
people together. I met with Longshoremen and they endorse me. We can ship out of here, not just logs
going out unfinished. I am running for the kids, so that they can stay here if
they want to stay.
Respectfully Submitted,
Dan Price
