Back in the Hunt

Byng Hunt to run for another term as Mono County District 5 Supervisor

The June Primary elections are months away, but candidates for county offices are already getting their campaigns in gear. Last week, Larry Johnston announced his bid for the District 1 seat on Mono County’s Board of Supervisors, currently held by Tom Farnetti. That seat will be up for grabs following the recent decision by Farnetti not to run again.
Then, just a few days later, on Monday, Dec. 7, Board Chair Byng Hunt tossed his hat in the ring for re-election to the Board’s District 5 seat. Hunt, who previously served as Vice Chair and recently was elected chair in the wake of the sudden, tragic death of Supervisor Bill Reid, announced his candidacy by issuing the following statement to the media and his constituents:
“After much thought and consideration, I have decided to run for another term as Mono County Supervisor, representing the 5th District in Mammoth Lakes.
We live in very challenging times, and although we have been able to meet those challenges with some success, I feel that continuity and experience will be essential to sustain our quality of life in Mono County. With the recent passing of District 4 Supervisor Bill Reid, and the upcoming retirement of District 1 Supervisor Tom Farnetti, that continuity and experience will be more important than ever. The lessons we have learned from our accomplishments over the last few years will be vitally important as we face the serious issues and demands in the years ahead.
The state of California is on the brink of economic collapse, and the pressures on county governments to share in the misery is more evident every day. Our budget must reflect a conservative and realistic approach to this crisis. The work we have done on restructuring our County government, reviewing and planning for our future, protecting and preserving our vitally important public lands, and promoting and supporting our tourist and agriculturally based economy is essential to our future in the Eastern Sierra.
Our experiences with successful collaborations, such as the development of the recently passed wilderness bill, will be invaluable.
If given another opportunity, I humbly accept the challenges that lay before us. My personal goal is to balance the environmental, economic and social needs of my constituents, and move us ahead to a better and more stable life in the mountains. I sincerely look forward to continuing the important work that needs to be done.
Respectfully yours in continued service, Byng Hunt.”
Hunt, a retired pharmacist, has also served three years on the Mammoth Lakes Planning Commission, and one year as mayor during a six-year tenure as a Councilmember on the Mammoth Lakes Town Council, prior to his election to the Mono County Board of Supervisors in 1999.