Stapp announces for Dist. 5

In 1974, I moved to Mammoth Lakes for the skiing, and stayed for the summers and shoulder seasons. Having lived and worked as a teacher in Mammoth for forty years, I am keenly aware of the economic and environmental challenges confronting the Eastern Sierra. My past commitments to the community include serving on the Mammoth Lakes Town Council for twenty-two years, periodic stints as the president and lead negotiator for the Mammoth Education Association, and the current President of Mammoth Lakes Housing.

These and other experiences have taught me that problems cannot be solved without the involvement of the people most directly affected. That political imagination is the capacity to actively suspend the “givens” of life, to see things from new perspectives, to create new possibilities. That democracy is not what we have, it is what we do.

As the 5th District Supervisor for Mono County, a partial list of my federal legislative priorities would be to oppose federal unfunded mandates, support federal funding for economic development programs (CDBGrants), support funding for broadband deployment, support for H.R. 1241, an act to facilitate a land exchange at the base of Mammoth Mountain Ski Area, support for a balanced approach to the implementation of the endangered species act, and support for access to federal public lands which supports tourism.

At the state level, a partial list of my legislative priorities would be to protect county revenues from state cost-shifts (thief), support funding for state parks, support early Sierra pass openings, support state and federal healthcare reform that provides equitable funding for rural counties, support the promotion of tourism and a diversified local economy in the Eastern Sierra in order to achieve economic prosperity, and strongly support legislation that honors our veterans for their service to our country.

(As a side note: A THANK YOU to Mono County staff for developing the county’s Legislative Platform.)

At the county level my agenda would be to work collaboratively with the many communities within the Eastern Sierra, especially Mammoth Lakes which is a funding source for Mono County services (no more fireworks snafus).

I believe each of us, as citizens, must take the time and have the courage to express our opinions and concerns in order to preserve our quality of life while striving to shape our community’s ambitions.

As a retired high school teacher, I have the time, the experience, and the commitment to represent Mammoth Lakes and Mono County. I would appreciate your vote on June 3.

– Kirk Stapp