Marion Chase an Introduction

My name is Marion Chase, I am a Native of Sonoma County and the 5^th District. I am not running as a politician, but rather as someone whose heart and life is here. I want to preserve all that is beautiful in the 5th District while finding ways to improve our overall quality of life. To accomplish this, we need someone who does not just think outside the box, but someone who doesn’t even see the box. I do not see what can or cannot be done, but rather what needs to be done. I believe the 5th District has been neglected by the full Board and will endeavor to change that.

My earliest childhood memories involve going out to Doran Beach to body surf and Armstrong Woods to commune with nature. For me Armstrong Woods is not just a destination, but rather a church. In my 20s and 30s you could find me spending most of my weekends in Guerneville. I remember when 3R was RRR was Russian River Resort was Francine's :heart:.

I believe we need to seek balance :Yinyangv:.There are lots of voices representing special interests and businesses. I will be the voice for homeless - small business owner – environment -the people. I believe that corporate entities must be responsible neighbors. I believe growth is important, but not if it comes at the expense of the environment. Wineries and vineyards are an integral part of our District, but we need to assure that they are good stewards of the water resources and streams. Tourism is an essential part of our economy, so we must be sure that our infrastructure can sustain growth in tourism.
I hear “you will make a great Supervisor, once you get more experience.” What does that even mean? If you are like me, you have applied, at some point, for a job that requires certain qualifications or equivalent experience to that qualification. I believe I meet the Life Experience in lieu of qualifications.

I was a Pharmacy Technician for 10 years. I worked at the Sonoma Developmental Center for 4 years. I was one of the Technicians responsible for purchasing and inventorying $100,000s in medications every month. I was also fortunate enough to be hired over the phone to work for 1 year as a Pharmacy Technician in New Zealand. Pharmacy Technicians in New Zealand must go to school for a 2 year program. They must also be knowledgeable enough to double check the Pharmacists work. I qualified by taking and completing all 27 assessments in a 4 month period, while working full time. I obtained both a Work Visa and a Residency Visa with no outside assistance. New Zealand recognizes same sex partners, but requires they come over on a Residency Visa. If I wanted to bring my partner with me, I would have to go that extra step. I am the only one of the 5 candidates who has a true understanding of what is involved to work and gain residency in a foreign Country.

I have worked in Economic Assistance (Medi-Cal/CalFresh) for almost 3 years. I see on a daily basis that there is still income inequality in Sonoma County. There are more than 110,000 people in Sonoma County on Medi-cal. This is the equivalent of the 5th District. Sonoma County has between 12,500 and 13,000 families on CalFresh. These numbers reflect families, not individuals. We have families living out of their cars. We have homeless families split up because they are unable to find a place where they can all live together. I find this unacceptable.

I was hired when the Affordable Care Act first became active. I was showing experienced workers how the new system worked. We had to interact with 3 computer systems that were not designed to play nice with each other. We were lucky if all 3 were actually up and running simultaneously. My coworkers and I had to become creative. My Supervisor gave me the title of Early Adopter, because I was unafraid to try something new. Jim lives in the 5^th District, and has been my most ardent supporter. He knows my work ethic and looks forward to getting to vote for me.

I am telling you my work history so that you get a better understanding of who I am and what I can accomplish when given the opportunity. I am very focused and thrive when learning and accomplishing new skills.

My focus will be Infrastructure, Homeless and Housing

We need to improve our infrastructure while interest rates are still at historic lows. We need to find innovative ways to pay for this. By investing in infrastructure, we are investing in our Future.

I want to see the Transient Occupancy Tax increased 3%. This revenue MUST be dedicated to the community it came from. If the revenue comes from Guerneville, it must stay in Guerneville. If the revenue comes from Bodega, it must be allocated to Bodega. These funds will then be used for improving roads, as well as Emergency Services for the area. These special Districts will determine what the priority is for their community. I recommend this, because communities in the unincorporated areas of the County cannot assess a sales tax. Currently funding for emergency services in the unincorporated districts is based on whether they existed prior to or after Proposition 13. This has led to Fire Stations, only miles apart, having very different funding.I will push for a daily fee or by the mile fee be charged to all vehicles rented in the County by non-residents. These funds will be dedicated to paying for a Road Preservation Bond. When Recreational marijuana is legalized, we can place a tax on that as well, with a portion of that revenue going towards infrastructure and affordable housing.

We need to bring High Speed Internet access to Guerneville and beyond-to the Coast. Access to High Speed Internet allows businesses to expand. It also improves communication for the Sheriff's Department.

We have a growing senior population. I have been speaking with seniors in our community, who are concerned about how to stay in their homes as they age. There is currently a lack of quality affordable alternatives. We need to actively address this issue and work together to find solutions.

We cannot merely warehouse our homeless into shelters or housing that does not offer resources. There must be services nearby (Mental Health - Counseling) – including a bus line nearby or a dedicated shuttle (run by volunteers) that assures they can get to appointments and services (Employment and Training – Healthcare – Social Services).

We need to work collaboratively with the private sector to create more accommodations - such as the Palms Inn on Santa Rosa Ave. This is a perfect example of what great things we as a community can accomplish, when we work together. We need to take underutilized buildings in the County (including County owned properties) and configure them into affordable apartments to help ease rental shortages and homelessness. We can explore changing or adapting rules for where and how regular 2nd units can be added to a property – granny units or Tiny Homes on Wheels. Rules can be put in place that stipulate these must be used as long term rentals for a period of time - to be determined. I believe this could be greatly utilized in West County.

Currently there is a 3 year wait for HUD Housing, and that is if you have the voucher. We need to make it easier for Developers and Investors to build HUD Housing – Apartments. We can have a specialist designated at Sonoma County Housing Authority. We can offer different fee rates as well as tax credits.

What we need is the will to get this done. We need to be more concerned about building ourselves up, instead of tearing others down. We need to be more concerned about doing what is best for our County and the 5th District than what is politically expedient.

We are a diverse group here in the 5th District. This is what makes our District so amazing and full of life. We can work as a community of individuals pursuing what is best for West County. I believe that “It takes a Village” as it pertains to creating a healthy community. Please let me know your concerns and how you believe we can create a unified and vibrant Village. I ask for your support in my bid to represent West County on the Board of Supervisors. I look forward to talking to you individually to hear your concerns and solutions.

Thank You – Marion (www.marionchase4supervisor.com) :Yinyangv: