theSheetNews.com

In sync with this week’s Presidential Debate, local communities held Town Hall-style candidate’s forums where members of the public were allowed to ask questions of candidates via a moderator.

The first forum was held on Thursday, Oct. 11 in Mammoth Lakes. The Mammoth Chamber of Commerce hosted the event, which featured the two candidates for Mono County District 4 Supervisor, Bob Peters and Tim Fesko, as well as the Mammoth Unified School District Board candidates John Stavlo and Shana Stapp. The third candidate for the MUSD Board, Luis Villanueva, was unable to attend the forum.

The 90-minute forum was broken into two, 45-minute segments. The first was devoted to Peters and Fesko.

The District 4 race spilled over into the November election after neither Peters nor Fesko secured 50 percent plus one of the vote in June. The candidates have met in several public forums over the past few months, but last Thursday they aired their difference once again.

Fesko said he belives that the Board should not have such a “hands off” approach, citing his broad background and experience as good assets to the County to use in more ways than simply setting policy.

He used an example of a recent Board meeting he attended where the Board was considering purchasing two boilers for the old hospital building in Bridgeport at the tune of $125,000. Fesko suggested cheaper ways to get the job done to both staff and the BOS but was brushed off as not understanding the process.

Fesko, however, said that if a Board member has an idea on how to save the County money, he or she should voice it.

“Yes, the Board is responsible for setting policy and direction but you have to know how to get from A to B,” he elaborated.

Peters on the other hand stuck to the theory that the BOS should decide policy, “not how a rain gutter is constructed.

“Too many people are looking at the acorns, not the trees,” Peters said.

In closing statements Fesko pointed out that he has gone through county processes as a customer and therefore knows where there are strengths and weaknesses in the system.

“It’s important to have someone with passion,” he said. “I hear what people say and act on it.”

Peters closed by saying that he would support whatever the County has to do to grow its economy, whether it be support of an airline subsidy, expansion of fish enhancement, or simply protecting our biggest asset, the environment.

The forum then swung to the MUSD Board candidates.

Stapp and Stavlo discussed everything from what type of cuts they would make to balance the budget (Stavlo said teacher’s salaries, Stapp wasn’t sure how she would do it, but didn’t want to cut salaries), to what they felt was a Board member’s role in the day-to-day operations of the district (both stated “very little”).

There are two seats available on the MUSD School Board and three candidates. Stay tuned for Geisel’s interviews with each candidate one-on-one.

ESUSD Board

On Tuesday, Oct. 16, an Eastern Sierra Unified School District Board Candidates Forum, sponsored by the teacher’s union, competed with the second Presidential Debate. The crowd in the Lee Vining Elementary School gym was small, but their questions packed a punch and revealed much about the four candidates vying for two seats. Here’s a breakdown of what we heard.

Pam Haas-Duhart brings teaching experience to the table. She was an educator for 22 years and has taught in the Mono County area.

She felt that true decisions regarding budget cuts could not be made until after the election in November because of the measures on the ballot that would ultimately affect schools.

If elected, she promised to be at every school in the District at least once a month. She admitted this could be tough in the winter.

Haas-Duhart was asked if she was a California taxpayer since she has Nevada license plates on her vehicle. She said that she does pay California taxes.

“I am married to a Nevada resident, and he pays his taxes, too” she said. Her husband is a ranch hand in Smith Valley. She travels back and forth between Mono County and Nevada not only to see her husband but also to teach in Nevada at a California Charter School.

Arya Degenhardt brings youth to the table. She is currently the Communications Director for the Mono Lake Committee and stressed two main points throughout the evening:

1. Communication is critical between Board members and the community.

2. Schools are the heart of the communities in the Eastern Sierra Unified School District.

Her solutions for budget cuts included collaborating further with the Mono County Office of Education and raising revenue in new ways.

“Unique communities need unique solutions,” she said.

When it came time to discuss the district’s level of trust with the current superintendent, Don Clark, all of the other candidates wholeheartedly stated that the community did not trust Clark [because of the budget crisis that occurred within ESUSD in 2010], but Degenhardt danced around the issue.

“You always hear the bad things, so yes, I’ve heard there is a lack of trust, but time does heal and there is an earnest effort to rebuild trust,” she said.

John Peters, son of Bob Peters the District 4 candidate for Mono County Supervisor already mentioned, operates the Bridgeport Inn with his father and lives in Walker.

With his oscillating preacher’s voice, Peters demanded attention as he gave his answers.

In regard to budget cuts, he felt that budget management was in fact the real issue for the District at this time.

“The budget was reduced after the initial crisis [2010] and is now seeing growth in the reserve,” he said. “Tightening it is not the issue right now, rebuilding is the issue.”

Peters believes that while kids need to be exposed to influences and cultures outside of the Eastern Sierra, they also need to be given the opportunity to experience what is in their own backyard.

“We need to emphasize learning,” he said.

Jimmy Little has four kids currently going through the ESUSD at different levels.

“I have a vested interest and will be living with the decisions made [within ESUSD] for at least the next decade,” he said.

He owns the Virginia Creek Settlement and got involved in District politics during the budget crisis of 2010.

He felt that the Board should work together to be more welcoming to the community, pointing out that Board meetings at this time have a negative atmosphere.

Little also stressed that kids in the ESUSD need to be prepared for the culture shock of the bigger world and stressed that there can be no cookie cutter approach in schools, as each student is unique.

Little strongly believed that the superintendent should pay close attention to the Board’s guidance.

“If the Superintendent doesn’t like the Board giving guidance then he shouldn’t work here,” Little said. He also added that in order for the community to have faith in the superintendent it needed to have faith in the Board.

Items the candidates agreed on

-The Edna Beaman Gym should be built

-Sports are an important part of education and should not be cut

-Teacher’s salaries were not known to any of them so they could not really comment on whether or not the pay was high enough

Closing statements that stuck

Little: “If I’m going to open my mouth, I’m going to step up.”

Peters: “We need to provide transparency to the taxpayers, even those without kids.”

Degenhardt: “Running is my way of saying I’m committed to our kids.”

Haas-Duhart: “Vote for me. If not I’m going to cry a lot.”

Aldridge

Griffiths and Aldridge challenge Cash in Inyo County’s 2nd District

Two-term incumbent Susan Cash is defending her seat on the Inyo County Board of Supervisors this year. She is being challenged by current Bishop City Councilman Jeff Griffiths and local businessman Russ Aldridge.

Cash, who has a background in accounting, is a former county employee who toppled Julie Bear to gain the District 2 seat (which essentially encompasses the City of Bishop) in 2004.

She says she got into politics over the tobacco settlement issue, where she said the will of the voters (who wanted the money allocated to local hospitals) was trumped by a lack of responsiveness of the County Supervisors.

She appears to be running on the strength of her fiscal record. As she said in a statement which appeared in the Inyo Register:

“I am proud to say that Inyo County is one of the most economically stable counties in California. Out of 58 counties, Inyo is ranked #2 in Net Assets per Capita. Inyo County is one of the few counties free of structured debt. We have reduced staff through strategic reorganization of duties in response to lower revenues, while continuing to provide the same quality services to our communities. This is directly attributable to our employees’ dedication to the public and the fiscally conservative oversight of the Board of Supervisors. We have our reserves intact, balance the budget every year, and we are moving forward on several issues.”

Cash

In her statement, she also trumpeted her role in advancing the Digital 395 broadband project and an ordinance which gives preference to local contractors when bidding on County projects.

In follow-up calls to Praxis Associates’, the company which spearheaded and will ultimately build the Digital 395 project, representatives said they perceived Cash as more of a bandwagon-jumper. They assigned more credit to Griffiths and Mono County District 2 Supervisor Hap Hazard in advancing the project.

Griffiths, a six-year Councilman, said he enjoys government work and feels like he’s done a good job on Council. As far as his fiscal record, he points to reducing the City’s administrative costs by $400,000 during his tenure.

Griffiths believes his strength may be in how he leads. While he touts the City’s partnerships in creating a dog park and community garden, it’s his perception that the County needs to be more collaborative in working with agencies.

When all three candidates were asked by the Register “Is there adequate communication and/or coordination between the County of Inyo and City of Bishop on matters affecting the greater Bishop area?” there was a clear gulf in perception.

Cash said the County and City worked together in a variety of ways.

Griffths

Griffiths said there was room for improvement.

Aldridge was more blunt. “It is my understanding that the communication … is very poor.”

Aldridge, who has been a plumbing and heating contractor for 28 years, is refreshingly blunt about a lot of things.

Though there is no history of political activism on either side of his family – “My family can’t quite understand it,” he says of his foray into politics – Aldridge said “I realized there had come a point where I feel too many people are getting taken advantage of.”

As for the ordinance regarding preference to local contractors, he doesn’t recall Cash being much help.

“The opposition from the City and County was unbelievable,” he said.

Aldridge, a member of the Owens Valley Contractors and Vendors Assn., said it took 18 months for both governmental entities to get something done. “It boils down to lazy attorneys,” he said flatly.

Aldridge was also the only candidate to take a definite position regarding the construction of a new consolidated County office space in Bishop. While Cash and Griffiths circled the issue elucidating pros and cons, Aldridge balked at the terms of the proposed lease/purchase agreement, saying the cost was simply too high. Besides, he said, “They don’t take care of the buildings they own [already].”

“I think this is a vanity-type deal,” he concluded.

District 3 Mono County Supervisor and 2012 incumbent, Vikki Bauer faced off against challenger Tim Alpers on Tuesday night at a candidates forum in Lee Vining. Due to last year’s redistricting of Mono County, Lee Vining is now part of District 3.

The following is a summary of highlights of the candidates’ answers to some of the questions asked throughout the evening.

What will be the biggest challenge to Mono County be in the next five years?

Alpers: Balancing projects and financial stability; improving the human environment and business.

Bauer: Pension reform; keeping Mono County solvent is the first order of business otherwise we can’t provide services. Pension reforms could lead to bankruptcies. We need to get county pay in line.

Thoughts on term limits for supervisors.

Bauer: There’s a sweet spot; 12 years is good, but 16 is too long [Bauer has currently served 8 consecutive years as a supervisor]. Voters showing up [at the polls] are the best solution.

Alpers: I’m a term limits guy. I impose limits on myself. You go into office with goals you want to accomplish, and it takes a lot of energy and work. The longer you’ve been in office the more slips through the cracks. I’ve been away and had time to recharge my batteries [Alpers served as a Mono County supervisor from 1983-1989 and again from 1993-1997].

How can you help small business development get going?

Alpers: The county needs to remember who it is working for. People are being harassed when they are trying to get a business going; we need to figure out how we can help. From serving in the past I know what works and what doesn’t.

Bauer: By having a personal touch. I have a personal relationship with the Planning Department (Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story stated that Bauer had a personal relationship with the Planning Commission, which was incorrect). [Bauer then gave an example of how she helped a man in June Lake open a taco truck business]. I helped him understand all the hoops. I couldn’t relieve the hoops but I could explain them. It took six months but it worked.

Would you support trying to get Hwy 158 designated as a state scenic byway in an effort to promote and encourage economic growth?

Bauer: I don’t see any reason not to, we have a large planning grant right now.

Alpers: I think we should look through the lens of making things better for small business and I would support any effort in that direction.

The current pay to Mono County supervisors and management, and the raises that the supervisors have received in the past three or four years outrages the public. What are your thoughts?

Alpers: We should index the employee with economic reality. Some things should be on your own dime. I recently went to D.C. on my own dime and spoke with the President for three minutes and now he wants to come to the Eastern Sierra.

Bauer: We [supervisors] receive a $740 car allowance, which is considered income so taxes are taken out. There’s a lot of travel as a supervisor and there are months that I go over that allowance. It ends up being a wash. In 2009 the supervisors took cost of living raises because employees received cost of living raises as well. Salaries are in line with 2008 and 2009. You have to honor the employees you have both union and management.

Mono County RPACs are the front lines in the county, how do you see your role with these groups?

Alpers: RPACs are where the rubber meets the road. I brought the first RPAC to Chalfant. Supervisors should be seen and not heard at RPAC meetings. We should bring information but then just listen. These groups are where you start building interest.

Bauer: I am the product of a RPAC in June Lake. As a supervisor I have been appointed to the Lee Vining RPAC when it was left without a supervisor on several occasions. I was able to step in and take care of you. I have played a part in RPACs all along.

The Bodie Hills are special and unique but have recently been threatened by gold mining. Will you support the permanent protection of the Bodie Hills?

Bauer: We have to make recreational opportunities economically viable. I supported the mining because Bridgeport needs viability. As a trade off I am working to get Bodie into the national monument program.

Alpers: The Bodie Hills are beautiful but we need to look at the bigger picture. We need a strategic plan. We need to polish our jewel and promote business. We need to get preservation and sustainability language into our policies so people coming in know what to expect.

Are you in favor of promoting something that would help businesses survive in winter?

Bauer: The RPAC plays with that all the time. Making practical use of ideas is the trick. The government needs to help move it along but not pay for it. It seems that in Lee Vining the best thing would be a permanent drought because I hear you’ve had your best winter ever. But the county counts on Mammoth so much and Mammoth needs snow.

Alpers: Government needs to provide an inviting environment. We need to get a whole variety of things. We need to be possibility thinkers. Think in bigger terms and don’t just hunker down in a hole for the winter.

The USDA is willing to loan money to my small business but the local bank won’t loan it. How can you help when there’s money out there but we can’t get it?

Bauer: Persistence is the answer. You have to prove that you can pay it back. You need to build your case with a tight business plan. Perhaps scale back to fit into constraints.

Alpers: This is a national problem, too. You have to show that you can sustain a day-to-day business. Paying attention to details separates the winners from the losers. Networking is a great key so talk to your peers. Ask yourself if you are willing to work hard enough to pay the money back.

Currently the supervisors have given up a lot of control of running the county to one person holding three positions [CAO Jim Arkens who is also the HR and Public Works Director]. One person running the county, whoever it is, isn’t good and affects the county’s checks and balances. Is this an issue for you?

Alpers: The supervisors ran the county when I was in office the first time because there was no CAO. The board is losing control of the team framework in the county. We need to go back to four board meetings per month. Team Mono County needs to be built and we need to watch bureaucratic growth.

Bauer: I’ve seen it both ways. Checks and balances cost money. Combining positions has kept us alive, fiscally. We won’t go back to what we were. We are in a new era of consolidation and we won’t ever be able to afford what we had before. Two people may be doing what three were doing. One person shouldn’t have three jobs, but I choose that versus not being able to put snowplows on the road.

During closing statements, Alpers made five promises to Lee Vining. “I will correspond promptly, hold office hours in Lee Vining, attend all RPACs, report RPAC results at the board level, and have at least two town hall meetings per year.”

He also stated that he would make all of his decisions in office based on three things: his personal philosophies, what his constituents want, and what the laws allow.

Bauer asked that the public review her record when making its decision for whom to vote.

“I am just hitting my stride and would like four more years,” she said. “I enjoy my work and am an active problem solver. I ask for your vote and your support.”

Since Lee Vining does not have a polling place, residents will receive their vote by mail ballots on May 10.

In the race for District 2 Supervisor, incumbent Hap Hazard now has competition from Long Valley Fire Chief Fred Stump. The Chief told The Sheet on Thursday of his decision to mount a challenge to the current seatholder.

In District 3 news, June Lake local Patty Heinrich had been mulling a run at the seat currently held by Vikki Bauer, but opted instead to throw her support behind challenger Tim Alpers.

While competitive races for County Supervisor are already promised for District 3 (Bauer v. Alpers) and District 4 (Peters v. Fesko), whither District 2? Two-term incumbent Hap Hazard does not yet have an opponent. However, The Sheet heard that Long Valley Fire Chief Fred Stump might challenge, and called Thursday to ask him about it.

“I have requested papers, but I have not gathered signatures yet,” said Stump. “I’m kicking it around in my mind.”

The larger question, says Stump, is “Can I make an impact on the culture in Bridgeport, which I view as dysfunctional?”

As Fire Chief, Stump noted there have been many instances and interactions with County government which he would describe as not “teamwork-oriented.”

He then went on to make the following analogy. If you look at politics as a great lake, Mono County is but a drop of water and a Mono County Supervisor is an amoeba. “There is no room for arrogance” on the part of any local elected official, said Stump.

Stump did reference the current labor negotiations between the County and its employees, and thought it telling that Supervisors were demanding employee concessions while not volunteering to cut their own pay and benefits, which he says have doubled in the past eight years (ironically the amount of time Hazard has sat on the Board).

Expect a yes/no decision from Stump within the next few weeks.

The big candidate news this week comes from fishing entrepreneur Tim Alpers, who announced Thursday morning he’s challenging incumbent Vikki Bauer for District 3 Supervisor.

Alpers said in a press statement he recently retired from a 42-year career in Aquaculture to “pursue my passion for public service.” In a phone call with The Sheet, the well-known fish farmer and fishing industry activist, who has his own variety of trout named for him, said he had previously run for office in the ‘80s, and served as District 3 Supervisor in the mid-‘90s.

“I turned the administration of the [Conway Ranch] over to my partners, and I’m ready to get my old seat back,” Alpers told The Sheet. “District 3 is one of the most beautiful in all of California, but it’s also very complicated. There are lots of issues between the Town, Mammoth Mountain Ski Area, which is in the district, and the County. We need to get our collective heads together between the town and the county and get past this ‘Cowboys versus Aliens’ mentality.”

Bauer announced her plan to seek re-election last week.

“It seems like I’ve finally found my way around in the thing called government,” she said. “It would be a shame to waste all that I have learned.”

In addition, Mono County District 2 Supervisor Hap Hazard has decided to throw his hat in once again as well.

Hazard said he wasn’t initially sure he was inclined to run, but decided there’s just “too many important issues facing the county to not stay involved.” -Geisel

This year, Mono County voters will go to the polls in June. One of the decisions that will be before them will be filling the District 4 Board of Supervisors seat that opened when current representative Tim Hansen was redistricted out last year.

Late last week, at least two candidates filed papers and announced they are running for Hansen’s seat on the dais.

Tim Fesko, owner of the Meadowcliff Lodge in Walker-Coleville, and Bridgeport Inn owner and former Interim District 4 Supervisor Bob Peters have both said they are formally starting up campaigns.

In an email statement to the media, Fesko said, “After much soul searching and encouragement by many of you, along with a strong desire to represent the North County, I am hereby formally announcing that I will be seeking the seat for the Mono County Board of Supervisor, District 4.

Peters told The Sheet on Saturday morning, “I believe that the new District 4, even though it’s not ideal from a geographical standpoint, will provide real opportunity to create a better understanding between the needs of residents of the Town of Mammoth Lakes and the unincorporated north county communities. Bringing a more responsive Mono County government closer to the people was an important part of what I did as a member of the Board of Supervisors for the unincorporated communities in 2010. I intend to do just that, if elected, for the Mammoth Lakes residents, who are now part of District 4.”

Fesko narrowly lost to Hansen during the last election for the District 4 seat, which was to replace then Interim Supervisor Bob Peters, who was hand picked by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to take over after the sudden death of Bill Reid.

Peters has a lengthy public service history. He has served as Chairman of the Bridgeport Valley Regional Planning Advisory Committee, (RPAC), on the Mono County Tourism and Film Commission for six years, including two years as its Chairman, and was most recently Chairman of the Mono County Redistricting Committee during summer of 2011. Peters said he plans to soon debut his campaign website.

The end result of the redistricting process means District 4 now includes a portion of Mammoth and its cache of registered potential voters. It also means that Hansen, who lives in Lee Vining, is now a resident of District 3, and can no longer represent District 4. Current Board of Supervisors Chair Vikki Bauer represents District 3, but Hansen so far has said he has no plans to run for that seat. Apart from Fesko and Peters, no other candidates for the District 4 seat have yet emerged.

The Inyo National Forest announced earlier this week that Ed Armenta has been selected as the next Forest Supervisor for the Inyo National Forest. Currently he serves as District Ranger of the Tonto National Forest in Arizona.

Born and raised in Southern California, Armenta graduated from Humboldt State University in 1983 with a degree in Wildlife Management.  He began working for the Forest Service as a wildlife biologist trainee on the Plumas National Forest in Northern California in 1981, and moved to the Sequoia National Forest in 1990. He then promoted to Arizona serving as a Deputy District Ranger on the Prescott National Forest before becoming a District Ranger on the Tonto National Forest in 2000.

During his last 10 years as District Ranger he was Acting Forest Supervisor on both the Lincoln and the Kaibab National Forests, in New Mexico and Arizona respectively.

Armenta has been actively engaged in EEO and Civil Rights programs, and has a strong fire and fuels management background.

“I spent much of my early years fishing, camping and hiking there with my family, and it has been a lifelong dream to live and work in the Eastern Sierra,” Armenta said.

Armenta is expected to assume the post this spring, replacing Jim Upchurch, who was transferred to the Coronado National Forest last October. Meanwhile, Jon Regelbrugge will continue as Acting Forest Supervisor until Armenta arrives. -Press Release

U.S. Forest Service Regional Forester Randy Moore announced Thursday that Kit Mullen will take over as Interim/Acting Forest Supervisor for the Inyo National Forest, in light of the scheduled departure of INF’s previous supervisor, Jim Upchurch. Mullen is currently the District Ranger for the Hat Creek District of the Lassen National Forest in Northern California.

In a media statement, Moore said Mullen brings “a wealth of experience and background that will serve her well in this temporary assignment.” A Colorado State University graduate with a degree in Wildlife Biology, Mullen spent many years in a variety of jobs in the private sector, including working on a cattle and horse ranch, as an instructor at Colorado Mountain College, as a guide for snowmobile tours and big game hunting, and as director of the Alaska Zoo in Anchorage. She also lived for many years in Solo Creek in the Alaska bush, during which time she built her own log cabin, ran a team of sled dogs, maintained all her own equipment, and basically lived a subsistence lifestyle with a high dependence on wild, renewable resources.

She began her federal service career with the National Park Service, working at such iconic national parks as Wrangell-St. Elias in Alaska and Grand Teton in Wyoming. She then spent eight years as the Park Superintendent of Timpanogos Cave National Monument in Utah, prior to her taking her most recent posting at Hat Creek.

Mullen said she’s spent her life exploring the great outdoors and loves traveling, hiking, boating, Nordic skiing and fly-fishing. “I am delighted to be here,” Mullen stated. “I look forward to getting to know the people who call this incredible area home, as well as those who come to visit and revitalize their spirit. The Inyo [National Forest] is a dynamic place with a stunning landscape. I’m honored to have the opportunity to help care for it.”

Moore said it’s anticipated that Mullen will serve as Acting Forest Supervisor until a permanent replacement for Upchurch is announced.  -USFS

Last June, four candidates vied for the District 4 Mono County Supervisor seat that opened following the sudden passing of Bill Reid. Of those who ran — Renn Nolan, Bobby Tems, Tim Fesko and Tim Hansen — Fesko and Hansen pulled enough votes to send the vote to a runoff in November, neither garnering the 50 percent of the vote necessary to win.

Of the 822 votes cast in District 4 in the June primary, Hansen had 285 and Fesko had 269. 268 votes went to the other two candidates,

One thing is certain: our new District 4 Supervisor will respond to the name “Tim.”

We gave both candidates a chance to pitch themselves to our readers one last time before the vote, and answer a few questions we thought might be of interest. (The candidates’ responses appear following the questions in no particular order.)

1.) Since the June primary, have you changed or modified your position on any issues or approach to the county, be it government or public sector?

2.) The County’s just passed a $71 million budget, but did use a fair amount of its surplus. Did you agree with what was approved? If so, why? If not, what problems do you have or foresee based on what was approved?

3.) What do you think are the Top 3 or however many issues facing the County that should be prioritized and will be a priority for District 4 if you’re elected?

4.) Been to any good Tea Parties lately? Seriously though, what are you thoughts on the Tea Party movement? Do you think it will affect local and state races in the same way it seems to be having an impact on the national races?

5.) Do you consider yourself conservative or liberal, or liberal about some issues and conservative about others?

Tim Hansen

“In the months since the [June] election, I have continued to attend Board of Supervisors, RPAC, IRWMP and Fisheries Commission meetings, as well as the County Budget meetings.

As the economy continues to falter, it is clear that tough financial decisions will have to be made. Mono County has a $71 million budget for the coming year, but a good portion of the reserve fund is gone. The County’s future financial health is uncertain and we need representatives who are willing to say no to requests of funding for unnecessary projects and studies.

If elected, I will: urge fiscal restraint and maintain a strong reserve fund, fight to reduce spending on consultants paid to plan projects that may never be built, and fight to preserve our historic agriculture, aquaculture, water rights and recreation.”

Answers to questions:

1.) The only issue I needed to consider long and hard was “The Walker River Irrigation Water Leasing Plan.” Although I hate to see any water leave  the Bridgeport and Antelope valleys, I think the decision lies with the landowners and water rights holders.

2.) I attended the County’s budget hearings. Every department’s budget was reviewed and scrutinized but most were approved at close to the same level as last year. I think that, with the state’s financial disaster looming in the

very near future, a modest reduction at all levels might have been appropriate. Solid waste remains a money pit and the Road Fund had to be funded at a higher level because of less state funding.

3.) Economy, Economy and Fish. I would very much dread ever having to lay off any County employees. These people represent friends and neighbors, and as County residents they should feel their jobs are being watched over.

Although the Willow Flycatcher issue [as a threat to fish stocking] has subsided for now, all stocking programs need to be monitored and supported. Mono County may have to pick up the slack for DFG, as any new governor will probably cut funds for state agencies. Fishing is the number one segment of our economy [in District 4].

4.) If your definition of “tea parties” is mainstream America, less government, lower taxes, ordinary Americans going to political events for the first time in their lives, and leaving the Constitution alone, I am very excited about it. I believe it is definitely bringing out more frustrated people to run for office and vote, both locally and statewide … in a word: democracy.

5.) I consider myself and most people in District 4 to be mostly conservative; however, I don’t believe they need any special name, except “Americans.”

Tim Fesko

I have lived in Mono County since 1997. My wife, Mary, and I purchased the Meadowcliff Lodge and Restaurant from the Zippwalds. We have been directly involved in tourism ever since and understand the importance and how it effects the lives of everyone in Mono County.

I have direct experience dealing with the issues facing so many of us here in Mono County, including dealing with tourism, jobs, planning, agriculture, water rights and the County’s many departments.

Since moving here, I have served my community from day one. I was instrumental in bringing local internet service into the Antelope Valley when there was none. I have been on the Antelope Valley Regional Planning Advisory Committee for 10 years, and am proud to have served as its Chair. I am a Charter and 10-year member of the Northern Mono Chamber of Commerce, and presently serve as its Director. I am also a founder and a continued force behind the successful Eastern Sierra ATV Jamboree.

I believe in the principles of our founding fathers, fiscal responsibility, Constitutionally limited government, private property rights, free markets and self-responsibility.

As Supervisor, I will work hard to represent all of you in District 4. I will always be fair, thoughtful and respectful. My door will always be open to hear all issues, good or bad.

As your government servant, I will be honored to serve you the people, as we work together to maintain and build a better Mono County.

Answers to questions:

1.) NO! We are still in tough times, no matter what others might say. Even if the state’s economy was improving, Mono County usually runs 1.5 to 2 years behind the rest of the state. With tourism reported by many businesses to be down by as much as 35%, the next couple of years are going to be tough and uncertain!

2.) The County started the budgeting process with approximately $4.5 million in reserves. They ate through roughly $2.3 million to balance the budget. About half of this was for the Solid Waste Program that is running a huge deficit.

A proposal has been made to the Board to raise fees from $50 per ton to $96 per ton — a 92% increase! This will certainly cause gate fees, and residential and commercial curbside fees to go up as well. In these economic times, can anyone afford this sort of increase? Even a 25% increase would hurt many of our seniors and others living on fixed or reduced incomes. A possible solution is to get the County out of the solid waste business altogether. Allow private enterprise, such as D&S, Mammoth Disposal or some other entity, to haul trash out of the county for a fraction of the cost.

3.) We are mainly a tourism-based economy. Because disposable income is at one of the lowest points in history, we need to be more aggressive in getting tourists here to stay for one, two or more days. Our Tourism Commission has done a wonderful job with a small budget, especially when you compare us to some of the state’s larger, wealthier counties. I propose that we at least double the budget for tourism, so we can compete better. Increasing tourism means the private sector will create jobs.

Fishing is a major part of our tourism economy but it is not year-round. We must look at doing more to increase the off seasons and in fact, we must increase all seasons. Mammoth does well in the winter due to skiing but what about the rest of the county? Each community must look at what it can do in the off season, whether that is snowmobiling, cross country skiing, bird watching, fall colors, etc. If we can increase the volume of these other activities, and work with each community based on what each has to offer, we can help build and sustain our economy for a long time to come.

I believe that we cannot wait on the state or federal governments. We must take responsibility ourselves, and do what we can to jumpstart the economy. Recently, the Board approved huge increases in fees for things like well permits, septic permits, building permits, remodeling permits, land developments, etc. In a time when there is little if any sort of development, can we really afford to raise fees? I say NO! In fact I think it’s time to REDUCE fees. Have you thought about adding an addition to your home, or putting on a new roof, or building a garage, or a workshop, or how about an addition for Grandma? Let’s allow these projects and others to go forward with lower fees! Lets help people, not hinder them! Think of the jobs we would create, as well as the BOOST to the economy! We take a “one-time” hit in fees for a “lifetime” of increases in revenues from increased property taxes!

4.) We live in a time when people see our country and our way of life changing, which many feel is not for the best. When people are losing jobs or when the idea of a better tomorrow does not seem to be a possibility, people lose hope. The American spirit is tough, but it has taken a battering. Our founding fathers saw a system “of the people, by the people, for the people.” They also knew that people must be involved in their government or else the government could become corrupt. I see people finally saying, “Enough,” and getting involved in all levels of government. I have always been proud to be an American and I am especially pleased to see the concern and involvement in our great country.

5.) I consider myself an independent thinker, and would use these guidelines to make decisions that are solid, fair and consistent when looking at any agenda item: First, what do my constituents want? This could be from a local community or a District standpoint. Second, what do my personal philosophy and education dictate? I look at all things based on a philosophy of our founding fathers. Third, what rules, regulations and laws apply to this situation? How does the law pertain, if at all? Fourth, what are the long-term consequences for a particular action or lack of action? An action today may solve a short-term solution but could create an even larger problem down the road.