What do you think of Lynda Hopkins?

I keep hearing that Lynda is a staunch environmentalist and she is not in the pocket of business and developers- even though she is being funded and endorsed by the Sonoma County Real Estate PAC and the Sonoma County Business Alliance PAC. I also heard that she told the crowd at the Bodega Bay debate that she is 'not really paying attention' to the money pouring in to her campaign from big business.

I think Lynda is a nice person with good intentions.... And yet.. when I see things like this I am even more sure that we need a committed experienced Supervisor like Noreen Evans.

And there is an old barn dance saying that needs no translation. "Ya gotta dance with the one who brung ya."

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Posted in reply to the post by Lisa Maldonado:

There is a well know saying in Spanish " Dime Con Quien Andas y Te Dire Quien Eres" . Loosely translated this means " tell me who you go with and I'll tell you who you are"

Read the PD article and see why some of the Farm to Table organic rhetoric pushed by the Hopkins campaign is in stark contrast to the people who are backing her (including her Republican consultant Rob Muelrath). The real estate development lobby, big money wineries and the Sonoma County Business Alliance don't back green and progressive candidates. They back those who will support their interests. Wake up and smell the Greenwashing

Field set in pivotal 5th District race for Sonoma County Board of Supervisors

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Hi Lisa,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luiwyzDmCL4

You're good, don't look forward to tangling with you after I get in the top two after the primary. Just wish you'd have done as well by the thousands of retiree's, before Noreen Evans on Santa Rosa City Council and the Sonoma Supervisor's gave the first wave of retiring baby boomers the 50% retroactive unfunded retirement.increases. As a result we are in the midst of the worst fiscal disaster in the history of Santa Rosa and Sonoma County, with five-fold increases in pension costs and corresponding cuts to education, mental health services, social programs, roads and infrastructure.

I'm sure you've already printed the hit pieces against Lynda Hopkins with the "guilt by association" tag. Note my response at Friday nights debate in Bodega Bay, when Noreen tried to pull this nonsense. Go ahead and do what you tried to do to Efren with the same result in 2008.

respect and kind regards Lisa...wish you represented more than the retiring Baby Boomers...maybe try representing the Millenials and Gen'Xer's.

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Posted in reply to the post by Lisa Maldonado:

I keep hearing that Lynda is a staunch environmentalist and she is not in the pocket of business and developers- ....

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Update on Ernie's Assessment of the Hopkins Campaign: Firstly, it's getting weird out there. Would like to be a fly on the wall when Hopkins learned that her campaign manager/consultant/handler Bob Muelrath was working for the Cloverdale Rancheria to establish an Indian gaming casino near Cloverdale. It was the Windsor Casino near her Fourth District farm and home that got her stoked to run for Fifth District Supervisor! I am sure she will be asked the question of how she reconciles this. It appears as a double standard but winning is everything. No?

Hopkins campaign has tried to create a "high road" and "Why can't we just all get along" theme. It is perfectly rational for the developers and Big Wine candidate who has more real estate, development and Big Wine money than she can spend to try this approach. It is what James Gore did in the Fourth and Hopkins has inherited the apparatus, same campaign manager, same real estate funding including out of County Real Estate Pacs,and essentially, the same approach, keep controversy down and buy the election with advertising and limitless money. Except the Fifth District is not the Fourth District. The West County likes to know their candidate and asks those kind of questions. I see Hopkins veneer cracking under this scrutiny. Her gambit of taking the high road in favor of not answering questions about her backers and motivations is no longer working. People have caught on and the stress is evident. Hopkins perhaps doesn't want to be the developer candidate, but she clearly is! People will continue to ask these questions.

She gave a strange rambling opening at the Sevastopol candidates forum about how people were mischaracterizing her campaign. She wants the heat to go away in favor of "we are all in this together" and somehow become immune to the criticism of real estate, Alliance of Developers. Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce, and more real estate money coming onto her campaign. Welcome to the Fifth District where people are independent thinkers and ask those kind of questions. Hopkins is caught between her beliefs and her financing. It is why she took so long to come out in support of the GMO ban many people theorize. A few fore heads were slapped over at the Farm Bureau on that one. Worse, her campaign nickname for Noreen Evans is "Mean Noreen" because Evans, not a mean person, points out the differences in their finances. Evans does what candidates are suppose to do, point out differences.

Just what we need in the Fifth, a candidate who was spurred on to run by Indian gaming near her Fourth District home, who calls her self an organic farmer, and whose campaign manager is promoting Indian gaming, and he has opposed every good farm measure in Sonoma County in favor of chemicals and traditional farm methods for years. Yes, things are getting weird around the Hopkins campaign. The Fighting Fifth has had eight bad years of failure to resolve our problems-e.g sewer, water, roads, development, Right to Farm. We need to do better than the cryptic District jumping Hopkins and her "why can't we all just get along" campaign. Just getting along with her vision is giving the District over to Big Wine and development interest. Why else would the money spigot be turned on for Hopkins by these interest? Go read for yourself online at the Sonoma County Clerks office, the campaign finance reports.

Campaign finance reports are now out and you can follow the money by clicking here: https://campaigndocs.sonoma-county.o...ge=0&yearrange

Type in the candidate's last name to see the reports - you will find them very revealing.

I did a rough, unscientific count of contributors to Hopkins from 1/1/16 to 4/23/16 totaling about $123K.
Some of the contributions are from people associated to business, some are direct.
This was a quick count, but you get the idea.


wineries 30
contruction, consultants, PACS 20
business, real estate, banks, PACS 26
lawyers 7

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Posted in reply to the post by scamperwillow:

Campaign finance reports are now out and you can follow the money by clicking here: https://campaigndocs.sonoma-county.o...ge=0&yearrange

Type in the candidates last name to see the reports - you will find them very revealing.

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Posted in reply to the post by scamperwillow:

Campaign finance reports are now out and you can follow the money by clicking here: https://campaigndocs.sonoma-county.o...ge=0&yearrange

Type in the candidate's last name to see the reports - you will find them very revealing.

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I found Hopkins but not Evans, Lynch, Sergent. Have they not filed?

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Posted in reply to the post by Ernieman:

[U] The Fighting Fifth has had eight bad years of failure to resolve our problems-e.g sewer, water, roads, development, Right to Farm. We need to do better than the cryptic District jumping Hopkins and her "why can't we all just get along" campaign. Just getting along with her vision is giving the District over to Big Wine and development interest. Why else would the money spigot be turned on for Hopkins by these interest? Go read for yourself online at the Sonoma County Clerks office, the campaign finance reports.

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Snore, Ernie...what are your comments about Evans? - who stated that she's always longed to live in Sebastopol, but bought a home in Far East Santa Rosa in the 1st District last year before this big opportunity to move into our district to run for the seat. The last 8 years have brought us movement on Roseland Annexation - something Evans did ABSOLUTELY nothing about when she sat on the City Council...Sonoma Clean Power...and a park in Moorland which could have been built when you were the supervisor if you hadn't blocked it - I wonder how you sleep at night.

as we are sorting through the truths let us us begin by being clear that the Supervisors who sat in those seats for the past 27 years did ABSOLUTELY nothing to build a Park in Moorland....including Efren Carrillo. They never had an intention to build that park the year Andy was killed or any other year. So, backslapping Efren is out of the question.
It took the killing of Andy Lopez by Erick Gelhaus to Finally give that neighborhood their due Park! And, even after Andy died, Efren was trying to backstep from naming the Park which, by the Way, the Board voted on unanimously before the end of 2013 to build the Park in Andy's honor. Also, City of SR has never annexed Moorland and they STILL are NOT annexing Moorland, But, they have millions to pretty up downtown. once again, Moorland is told to wait.
Dying is what it takes unfortunately, and a whole lot of community pressure to force these knuckleheads to even begin to do the right thing.
Lynda Hopkins allegiance to the Winery fat/cats is all over the place, i hope everyone is paying attention. She couldn't be neutral of who she is owing to if she tried or wanted to.. frankly it is painful to watch. And, she hasn't a clue what the BOS is about, but she doesn't have to worry anyway. Because, if she wins all she has to do is take orders from the rest of the kowtow Board.

Evans is there. If you type in her last name, you get the report. The others have probably not raised enough to be required to file.

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Posted in reply to the post by jbox:

I found Hopkins but not Evans, Lynch, Sergent. Have they not filed?

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Posted in reply to the post by Ernieman:

Evans does what candidates are suppose to do, point out differences.

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Exactly. There is no difference between Ernie Carpenter, Noreen Evans, and the rest of the natural succession of leaders who have brought us to the point where we are now; extreme homelessness, lack of skilled labor jobs, horrible roads, terrible traffic, severe income inequality, more violent crime, high suicide rates, etc. Why would any right minded citizen vote to reelect someone who was previously a direct participant in this natural succession of leadership?

That property was privately owned until Efren coordinated its purchase. Had the developer been required to build the park at that site over 20 years ago, as proposed, the taxpayers would not be footing the bill for that park today. The land was owned, and the park was promised to the community when the very dense development went in...Carpenter stopped that park from being built in exchange for "freezing the land" until such time as it was annexed into the city. It became the weed infested, trampled lot that you see today.

Due to County efforts, the neighborhood will soon have their neighborhood park. Say what you will, but the developer had the land on the market for nearly a million dollars just a few years ago. It was private property destined for housing until the Lopez incident.

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Posted in reply to the post by Ernieman:

Just what we need in the Fifth, a candidate who was spurred on to run by Indian gaming...

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Here is a link to the gambling and casino interests that supported Noreen Evans; Gambling and Casino Donors.

oh WOW. guess we are Lucky- you know, 'that incident" as Andy's parents call it :(
quite the contrary- that land was destined to be an empty lot that's why it WAS an empty lot. everyone was gonna sit on their laurels till the cows come home.

a million dollars! and they got it for a little over 50k- hmm, how cheap our children's lives are
and yes, it was County's efforts, specifically Regional Parks, along with an amazing architect Steve Cancien and further along with the community and a steering committee, all working hand and hand to create a beautiful park which will finally come to fruition. it is indeed, bittersweet.

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Posted in reply to the post by Ann Onimus:

That property was privately owned until Efren coordinated its purchase. ...

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Posted in reply to the post by Ernieman:

It is perfectly rational for the developers and Big Wine candidate who has more real estate, development and Big Wine money than she can spend...

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Here is a link to the wine & distilled spirits manufacturers that supported Noreen Evans; Wine & Distilled Spirits Manufacturing. And, here is a link to the real estate interests that supported Noreen Evans; Real Estate Donors.

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Posted in reply to the post by Ernieman:

Would like to be a fly on the wall...

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After reading your continuous barrage of hypocritical and venomous words directed at Lynda Hopkins, as far as I am concerned Ernie, you are like a "fly on the wall" that someone should smack.

Here's a question for the candidates: Does the County provide a car for the Supervisors? If they don't Noreen may want to re-think her candidacy because she totally lost it when the State took her car away. I think that's why she left office.

I don't get the notion Ernie Carpenter had something to do with stopping a Moreland Park. I left office in 1997. On my watch we developed the large park on Hearn Avenue and added land to it. Eric had acquired the property earlier but it was developed on my watch. There was no thought of a park on Moreland. There was a private development that local people opposed that put up a park but it did not proceed. In 1990 this site and area was too green for development-e.g narrow roads, no sidewalks, no drainage or surrounding development.

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Posted in reply to the post by Ann Onimus:

...Carpenter stopped that park from being built in exchange for "freezing the land" until such time as it was annexed into the city. It became the weed infested, trampled lot that you see today....

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Posted in reply to the post by Ernieman:

I don't get the notion Ernie Carpenter had something to do with stopping a Moreland Park. ...

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Maybe your memory is failing. The developer of that extremely dense subdivision clearly remembers that at the board hearing, after he thought his project was a "go", that you reversed course, froze a portion of the development, and did not require the park to be built as some sort of consolation prize. The board minutes reflect that as well. The property had been owned by the same person that built that very dense subdivision adjacent to what will now become a park - it's in the record, Mr. Carpenter.

As it turns out, the community will get a much larger park - but the taxpayers will foot the bill, not the developer.

Great. Glad you are supporting the Park. I was able to assist current effort by obtaining $5,000 from the Community Foundation. Memory fine. Just differ on fact. It was really too small to benefit the community, it benefited the developer. Glad Caryl Hart able to pull the funding off for a real park.

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Posted in reply to the post by Ann Onimus:

Maybe your memory is failing. ...

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Posted in reply to the post by Ernieman:

Just differ on fact.

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Ernie, don't you mean "differ on made up facts?" Evidently, when you are confronted with the true facts about the sources from where Ms. Evans has received past campaign contributions [big wine, real estate, and casinos], you suffer a tongue malfunction as exhibited by your silence.

This is my great concern with Noreen. She is the last of a generation who voted for massive, retroactive, unfunded, 50% increases in retirement benefits, for the first wave of retiring baby boomers, who control the unions, the management and most electeds. Over Noreen's 20 year career, with a 100% voting record (legislator average 11% for the boomer controlled unions), Noreen received $Millions in contributions, and almost every year submitted bill after bill written by the unions, to further increase pensions, benefits, even make municipal bankruptcies more difficult.

Fortunately a fiscally responsible legislature voted no on all Noreen's rubber stamp bills, and finally Governor Brown and a unanimous legislature, forced Noreen to vote for PEPRA (Public Employee Pension Reform Act), which rescinded the 50% increases for the next generations of public employees. But the boomers still get their unfunded benefits, and we've seen a five-fold increase in retirement costs, with corresponding cuts in all of our social programs, mental health and homeless services, education, housing, roads and infrastructure. Noreen's slogan "She's for us" doesn't correspond with her role in the demise of all the essential services government was once able to provide for generations.

I have defended other candidates from Lisa, Ernie and Noreen's "guilt by association" tag, and "who do you trust nonsense". No doubt Noreen's camp have already printed the hit pieces, that will go out next week, trying to undermine and slander other candidates. To me this is a battle for the future of all our public services, to prevent a further dramatic spiral down, with continuing suffering for lack of services, especially to the least of thee among us.

Also troubling to me, is Noreen's lack of understanding and solutions offered toward providing affordable housing in the Fifth District. Lynda Hopkins and I are advocating "Junior Second Dwelling Units", similar to Marin's (www.lilypadhomes.org), created in owner occupied homes, with zero impact fees, no utility hook-up fees, and no affordability covenants. At the KOWS/Rural Preservation forum last Thursday, Noreen said people don't want to live in small affordable apartments (BS), she said the solution is "jurisdictional housing" requiring developer's of subdivisions to provide a certain percentage of affordable housing (a good thing). But how many subdivisions are planned for the Fifth District? None---

Noreen rented a house in Sebastopol in December, she's never voted in the Fifth District, doesn't understand we're losing population with schools closing, and dysfunctional commutes whereas most of the work force live in overcrowded Santa Rosa housing. I will vote for myself June 7th, but if I am not in the top two and Noreen is, I will not vote for Noreen Evans.

Tom Lynch www.tomlynchforsupervisor.com

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Posted in reply to the post by riverosprey:

This is my great concern with Noreen. ...

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Wow. Now I know why they call you Manure Man! That is the biggest load of compost I have heard in a while. You know NOTHING about unions and you, Mike Martini and Efren Carillo seem to be the designated " Dirt Carriers" for the Hopkins Campaign. I guess you guys throw the anti -labor mud while Lynda wrings her hands and tries to distract everyone about why she's raised thousands from developers, wineries and real estate interests.

I must say your lack of knowledge about Noreen Evans is almost as breathtaking about your ignorance about unions and pensions . If I had time I would try to educate you about how many including SEIU1021 are run by young people and women of color who are employed in the industry ( 2/3 of SEIU county workers are women of color) and that is why we fight for 15$ and Paid sick days and family medical leave etc.

BUT I know that you are simply here to beat the anti union drums along with Efren and try to throw shade on working people so that no one notices the greenwashing by the real estate and developer interests that worked so well with Efren and Gore. 5th district Voters are not easily duped and hopefully they will # follow the $ and the endorsements. Noreen is endorsed by the Sierra Club, Sonoma Conservation Action and SEIU. LYnda is endorsed by the Real Estate PAC, developers and the Sonoma Business Alliance and Wineries.

Lisa Maldanado - last time I checked you lived in the McDonald Avenue neighborhood in Santa Rosa. You and Omar and all the other people weighing in on this election who don't live in the Fifth should just butt out. At least Ernie has lived here for decades and served our community. You do not have standing.

i attended the forum in Sebastopol. It was evident that Tom you were there more for Lynda Hopkins than for yourself. i mean for a moment, some of us wanted to get up and ASK, whaddya doin'??, seemed like many of your responses, HAD to include, "what me and Lynda want"...and i have to say this approach did nothing but backfire on you. Sorry, but i think people can make up their own minds without you being a cheering section on the forums!

let everyone stand on their own ok. Is it because you Know you are not going to be a real option when it comes to vote that you have to put in a plug for Hopkins. I actually liked some of the stuff you had to say. Though, you seem to harp an awful lot on pensions. You know, those folks who already put their blood sweat and tears into their jobs, but there is not enough left for them. (hey, while you are at it, could you ask the BOS to take a pay-cut? it's killing uS!)

i actually enjoyed listening to everyone and frankly, though she probably doesn't have a remote chance, Marion was quite refreshing. Obvious, she isn't beholden to anyone and she can say what she wishes, she does and her forthright, non-manipulative approach put me at ease.

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Posted in reply to the post by riverosprey:

This is my great concern with Noreen. She is the last of a generation who voted for massive, retroactive, unfunded, 50% increases in retirement benefits, for the first wave of retiring baby boomers, who control the unions, the management and most electeds. ...

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This morning as I was reading the Tom Lynch thing on Noreen, and after attending the Sebtown Forum, I realized the Tom is actually a Bosco Boy plant to be Lynda's dog in the fight, so that she can seem to to stay above the fray. I have to hand it to the BB's for being very clever, well funded and manipulative. They find a young, intelligent woman, fund her with the big money interests, plant the carpet bagger tag on Noreen (knowing full well that Lynda just moved into the district), and have a handy, well known Tom Lynch to do the dirty work. And please don't lynch me for having my say.

With all that said, I like Tom, I'm sure Lynda is sincere, but we have been thru this before with the BB's. Efren, Gore, Rabbit, and Kerns are all part of the machine that control much of what goes on.

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Posted in reply to the post by beshiva:

i attended the forum in Sebastopol. It was evident that Tom you were there more for Lynda Hopkins than for yourself. ...

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Posted in reply to the post by Ann Onimus:

Lisa Maldanado - last time I checked you lived in the McDonald Avenue neighborhood in Santa Rosa. You and Omar and all the other people weighing in on this election who don't live in the Fifth should just butt out. At least Ernie has lived here for decades and served our community. You do not have standing.

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YES , while I do indeed rent a home in the third district- a great many of the working people in SEIU 1021 live in the fifth district. It's everyone's right to participate and have a say in local politics - especially when I see the lies and greenwashing going on by the real estate developers and wineries in the Hopkins campaign who already have pushed the working class to the brink in this county. Those of us fighting to keep our county beautiful AND affordable are supporting Noreen Evans- and your bullying won't keep me from expressing my opinion and exposing the fact that the same fat cats who supported Efren Carrillo are supporting Lynda Hopkins.

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Posted in reply to the post by Michael Anthony:

After reading your continuous barrage of hypocritical and venomous words directed at Lynda Hopkins, as far as I am concerned Ernie, you are like a "fly on the wall" that someone should smack.

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Sounds like what Trump would say. Swat us all down for daring to challenge the entitlement of the rich and priveliged to put their person on the board of supervisors.
I think former supervisor Carpenter has great information to share about the big wigs trying to elect their candididate. They have won the sign wars. How about paid precinct walkers or out of the area Hopkins telemarkers that can't pronounce Sebastopol?
Ken Sund.

You are good Lisa...like I said before I don't look forward to tangling with you :). You certainly know more about unions than I. I was a union member of the UFCW packing plant in Spencer Iowa...IBP eventually broke the union. Also used to rent a small apartment from Joe and Doris Murphy in Occidental. Joe was a former Wobley (International Workers of the World-IWW), and a legendary Bay Area Labor Leader, they called him "One Punch Murphy." He regaled me with stories of the early labor battles (Before your time :) I also approved $Millions toward prevailing wage projects in Guerneville with redevelopment funds.

My problem with the present retirement system Lisa, is it is poised to destroy SEIU in favor of the first wave of retiring Baby Boomers that you are paid to represent. SEIU and Noreen Evans did not represent the thousands of SEIU union members who retired from the city of Santa Rosa or Sonoma County before the 2003 (+/-) 50% unfunded increase. Nor does SEIU represent the next generations of union members allowing the "new tier" with rescinded retirement benefits even less than the "before 2003 retirees", mark my word these kids will not see a retirement. I do not believe in "second tier" for younger workers, and want everyone to receive the same (new PEPRA limits).

I believe the present system approved by Noreen as SR City Councilwoman and the retired Board of Supervisors will eventually bankrupt the system. I think you know this Lisa, you are not stupid, but it is your job to continue a "willfully blind" stand trying to justify it. I believe Noreen representing only the retiring Baby Boomers on the Board of Supervisors will hasten the inevitable insolvency and cause great suffering among those that this county used to be able to afford to provide services to.

As you can see I am no longer LABOR Democrat, if it means putting at risk young and old union member's pensions, nor sacrificing the services Democrats have fought for generations to take care of the young, old, poor, mentally ill and sick, to educate our children and maintain our roads and infrastructure. I loath the present situation Lisa and will fight the current politico's like Noreen that do not accept their responsibility in this failed system.

respect and kind regards,
Tom Lynch

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Posted in reply to the post by Lisa Maldonado:

Wow. Now I know why they call you Manure Man! ...

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Richard, I have always loved you and Brenda, and appreciated ALL that you both have done for our community. You are perhaps too young to remember that in 1990 I re-registered as a pony-tailed Republican to take on Doug Bosco for Congress, as he was in favor of increasing wastewater discharges in the River. I encouraged Darline Comingore to run on the Peace and Freedom ticket. And endorsed Republican Frank Riggs for Congress, helping him win the Congressional District over Bosco (and we eventually elected Mike Thompson). D'ya think Doug has forgiven me for my roll in getting rid of him as a congressman? That was a great year as we also passed the open space disctrict AND Bill Kortum, myself and a few co-conspirators stopped the widening of Hwy 101 with the "No on B campaign".

As to Noreen taking credit for getting Santa Rosa's wastewater out of the River, she voted against the Geyser's plan as there was a schism in the environmental community, many wanting to see Bill Kortums "South County Irrigation" plan. I fought for the Geyser's plan, and there was sort of a parting of the ways with Bill and I, but we now have THE most exemplary wastewater plan in the world.

Richard...please don't call me a "Bosco Boy". I fight for what I truly believe in and Noreen Evans as our Supervisor is not something I take lightly. That is why I am running for Supervisor...I think Noreen's positions in favor of the current Boomer's controlling the Unions, and her failure to address the affordable housing crisis, make her unworthy of the position.

Respect and kind regards Richard and Brenda (Erin go Bragh!!)

Tom Lynch

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Posted in reply to the post by Richard Nichols:

This morning as I was reading the Tom Lynch thing on Noreen, and after attending the Sebtown Forum, I realized the Tom is actually a Bosco Boy plant to be Lynda's dog in the fight,...

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Wow, Lisa and Doug Bosco are neighbors! I'm not saying nothin :)... Lisa you're right, we all have a right to participate and have a say in local politics, including myself, and I will not be bullied either. As to your comments about lies and greenwashing from real estate developers and wineries, these are the same entities along with unions, attorneys and tribal casino's that gave Noreen $ Millions over the last 20 years. Do you really believe that under Noreen it will be anything different than the same old **** different day? You get paid very well to pile this on, but you're right, the voters of the Fifth District are smart and they're gonna see through this BS. I am fighting to keep our county beautiful and affordable by preventing Noreen Evans from continuing the failed policies she's responsible for. Noreen sold the farm to the first wave of retiring baby boomers and management, and doesn't understand what needs to be done to create affordable housing with Junior Second Dwelling units.

I want the majority of workers presently commuting from overcrowded housing in Santa Rosa, to be able to live in the communities they work in in West County, in Second Dwelling Units. Ernie Carpenter has never supported this and now has Noreen parroting his failed housing ideas.

Of course few voters are following our conversations, but it's nice to vent a little before you unleash all these negative flyer's with the guilt by association nonsense.

Respect and kind regards Lisa...

Tom Lynch

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Posted in reply to the post by Lisa Maldonado:

YES , while I do indeed rent a home in the third district- ...

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Chris thank you for your public service, my goal is to make the system sustainable, and be able to continue to fund your retirement. I like Lynda Hopkins more than Noreen (mind you I like Noreen as a person, just not as our Supervisor), and we share some similar ideas.

But I actually think I have a shot at being in the top two... Last time I was on the ballot in the Fifth against my friend Wes Chesbro in 2012, I got 5500 votes. The top two vote getters will probably be in the 7000-9000 range. Beings that two of the top candidates have never voted in the District, I think I have a shot (kind of like Jim Carrey in Dumb and Dumber asking the pretty girl if there's a chance she'll go out with him :).

respect and kind regards Chris!

Tom Lynch - www.tomlynchforsupervisor.com

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Posted in reply to the post by beshiva:

i attended the forum in Sebastopol. It was evident that Tom you were there more for Lynda Hopkins than for yourself...

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I’m really getting sick and tired of Lynda Hopkins accusing people of running a “dirty campaign” and accusing people, like myself, of spreading “rumors” about her.

What really is a “clean campaign” as Lynda Hopkins says she wishes this campaign would be?

When I think of a clean campaign I envision a campaign that does not spread FALSE rumors about a candidate. Does it mean not stating the obvious, even when the obvious is damaging? No! A clean campaign is one in which the truth is told and the lies are exposed. Recently, Lynda Hopkins defended the statements by concerned voter like myself, that she was “being groomed” and “handled” by Efren Carrillo and his backers. I will lay out why these statements about Lynda is not a dirty campaign, but rather the TRUTH!

When your major contributors are the same individuals who donated to Efren Carrillo, when your treasurer on your committee is Efren Carrillo’s district representative (Susan Upchurch), when your campaign manager (Herman Hernandez) has been quoted saying Efren Carrillo is like a “father figure” to him, when Tom Lynch (Efren Carrillo’s appointee to the planning commission) drops your name about 50 times at a recent forum (“I agree with Lynda, me and Lynda agree, I like what Lynda said…”), when your major endorsements include the same endorsements that Efren Carrillo received (including Eric Koenigshofer), and your campaign consultant is the same consultant (Indian gaming, casino loving, Republican, Rob Muelrath) as Efren Carrillo’s, and to top everything off, Efren Carrillo himself writes a negative Op Ed in favor of you. What are we to assume other than you are a puppet being “handled” and “groomed” to take over for Efren when he leaves.

We need a NEW face in the 5^th district, and that means supporting Noreen Evans!

At the Sebastopol forum last Thursday, Lynda Hopkins was vague about who is funding her campaign. She mentioned her many small donations. She failed to mention her big donors.

Thankfully, Lynda's Form 460 spells out who her major donors are.

Not surprisingly, among her major supporters are the four Big Business Political Action Committees that have backed development-friendly candidates in the past. She's gotten major donations from road builders like Northern California Engineering Contractors and firms that make water treatment plants like Western Water Constructors. Big money. Big development.

Cement companies alone have together (Superior Supplies leads the way), contributed more than $15,000 to Lynda's campaign.

Click those links, especially Lynda's 460. See for yourself. Then consider:

Why are big developers investing so heavily in Lynda's campaign? Why would Lynda, who calls herself an organic farmer, accept money from developers and cement companies? Is there organic cement?

I sure appreciated what Lois Pearlman wrote in the PD (4-3016.) about the Hopkins campaign.
But Wow. This "What do you think about Hopkins?" has turned into what do you think about her running mate, Lynch. It sure seems like Mr. Lynch is running as the big lineman attempting to mow down the opposition so that Hopkins can score a big victory for the real estate, winery and construction investors who own the "team".

Not only are some of Carrillo's staff working for Hopkins already,(fielding the big money coming in) but also his planning commissioner disguised as a candidate. I don't see any "new deal" when the same old players are running the show.
Ken Sund.

Noreen Evans is a "new face" like Hillary Rodham Clinton is a new face. Blech!!!

You are right about the need for the new -- and not a new puppet, either! Hopkins is a giant disappointment, and Evans is an old dry bone. Maybe start looking *seriously* at the other 3 candidates?

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Posted in reply to the post by Erik Perez:

... We need a NEW face in the 5^th district, and that means supporting Noreen Evans!

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Also curiously, three employees of superior supplies - an office manager, a truck driver, and an administrator - each contributed $2500. They must be really well paid to make contributions like that......

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Posted in reply to the post by Dan Gurney:

...Thankfully, Lynda's Form 460 spells out who her major donors are. ...

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Posted in reply to the post by Michael Anthony:

...Noreen Evans, and the rest of the natural succession of leaders who have brought us to the point where we are now; extreme homelessness, lack of skilled labor jobs, horrible roads, terrible traffic, severe income inequality, more violent crime, high suicide rates, etc.

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A funny thing happened today while I was walking to the boot shop. I crossed paths with Noreen Evans and Una Glass canvassing Sebastopol and struck up a conversation with both. Noreen said [as she has before] that Lynda Hopkins' campaign is funded by big wine and real estate interests. I reminded her that when she was in the senate, she too received donations from the same interests. She acknowledged that it was true and said that she had always voted against those interests and that was why those interests are not supporting her run for supervisor. Instead they opened their wallets to the newcomer Lynda Hopkins whom they assume will be any easier convert. Having now met both ladies [Noreen and Lynda], I do not believe that Lynda will submit to special interests any easier than Noreen.

I then told Noreen that I had indirectly blamed her for all of Sonoma County's woes on Wacco [see above post]. Boy, did she ever get mad and proceeded to tell me that it was like blaming all people over 40 for the same. To this I had to concede and I apologized for my blanket statement. Nevertheless, I have always held that if I say something behind someone's back, I am willing to say it to their face.

With that said, Noreen struck me as being a kind, caring, and thoughtful citizen just like the rest of the candidates. Therefore, I will no longer say anything negative about any candidate and adopt Benjamin Franklin's advice which says; "Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation."

Erik Perez...Welcome to Wacco! Who are you really? Lisa Maldonado? Marty? Ernie (no Ernie would post under his real name)... So Lynda is accusing YOU of a "dirty campaign"? It's funny...Doesn't appear to be anyone named Erik Perez in Sonoma County, but whoever you are, welcome aboard :).

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Posted in reply to the post by Erik Perez:

I’m really getting sick and tired of Lynda Hopkins accusing people of running a “dirty campaign” ...

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Lisa has been known to write under pseudonyms. A bantam mma fighter from mexico? Totally her alter ego!

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Posted in reply to the post by riverosprey:

Erik Perez...Welcome to Wacco! Who are you really? Lisa Maldonado? Marty? Earnie (no Earnie would post under his real name)... So Lynda is accusing YOU of a "dirty campaign"? It's funny...Doesn't appear to be anyone named Erik Perez in Sonoma County, but whoever you are, welcome aboard :).

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Tom, thanks for your measured response. I withdraw the Bosco Boy portrayal. I've respected your role in the community over the years. However, I do wish someone could explain why Lynda's campaign has a lot of the same folks who got Efren elected, and many of the same contributors as well. To see Efren attack Noreen, and to see Eric the K escorting Lynda (I saw that somewhere), makes me wonder. Can anyone explain what is going on?

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Posted in reply to the post by riverosprey:

...Richard...please don't call me a "Bosco Boy". ...

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Thank you Richard (Hi to Brenda :). Yeah, I think Efren shouldn't have accompanied the endorsement with a dig at Noreen. I would like to see everyone run on the issues instead of this guilt by association business. Let's hope with the candidate forums over that will be the case...I just fear a repeat of the 2008 campaign of negative portrayals.

kind regards, Tom

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Posted in reply to the post by Richard Nichols:

Tom, thanks for your measured response. I withdraw the Bosco Boy portrayal. ...

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Posted in reply to the post by rossmen:

Lisa has been known to write under pseudonyms. A bantam mma fighter from mexico? Totally her alter ego!

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I am not Eric Perez. I write in my own name. Like many of your remarks here (the statement that I "have been know to write under pseudonyms" ) is offered without facts or evidence in the apparent belief that repeating lies makes it true. Your repeated nonsensical remarks about unions and "baby boomers" and pensions follow the same pattern. I am not lurking behind every articulate poster with a Spanish surname.
Is it so hard for you to believe that there is more than one smart Mexican in the county?

The 5 candidates all have the same positions more or less, on all the key issues, except maybe the pension stuff. I'm not sure it is negative to identify where candidates get their endorsements and funds. As I've said before, to quote a barn dance saying, "you gotta dance with the one who brung ya".

I'm outta this thread now. Richard

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Posted in reply to the post by riverosprey:

... I would like to see everyone run on the issues instead of this guilt by association business...

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Seriously!

Everyone acts like there are only two candidates in this race, but the only reason people are talking about them because they have each spent almost $100k on their campaigns to date according to their own reports submitted to the county.
I thought people of the West County wanted fresh ideas and new ideas!

Those things are only going to come from people like Tim Sergent, Tom Lynch or Marion Chase! These are the only 5th District candidates who are truly running their own campaigns and speak their minds without prepared opening statements. I looked at all the campaign statements and the ones submitted by the two big money raisers have spent a lot of money on consultants and campaign managers and staff. Press and written statements cost a lot of money when professionals are creating it for them for candidates!

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Posted in reply to the post by Glia:

...Maybe start looking *seriously* at the other 3 candidates?

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Posted in reply to the post by riverosprey:

Erik Perez...Welcome to Wacco! Who are you really? Lisa Maldonado? Marty? Ernie (no Ernie would post under his real name)... So Lynda is accusing YOU of a "dirty campaign"? It's funny...Doesn't appear to be anyone named Erik Perez in Sonoma County, but whoever you are, welcome aboard :).

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Wow! I must say Tom Lynch, that is quite impressive; knowing every single person in Sonoma County (over 500,000 people) to make a claim like that. Even though I am quite flattered you think I am Lisa Maldonado, I am not. I lived in Santa Rosa most of my life and just moved to Rio Nido last year. I would give you my exact address, but I certainly don’t want Efren Carrillo showing up in his underwear and peeping in my window :wink:

And lastly, as far as Lynda Hopkins accusing ME of a “dirty campaign,” I do associate that directly towards me and any other Noreen Evans supporter who calls Lynda Hopkins out on her lies and deceptions. I personally felt attacked at the forum when she accused “community members” of spreading false rumors about her.

There is nothing false about pointing out the FACT that Lynda Hopkins’ campaign is being funded by big ag, the wine industry, big business, and a bunch of Efren Carrillo supporters. There is nothing false about the FACT that Lynda Hopkins’ campaign is being run by Susan Upchurch (Efren Carrillo's District Rep and now Lynda Hopkins' campaign Treasurer), Herman Hernandez (huge Efren Carrillo supporter and now Lynda Hopkins' campaign manager), Eric Koengshofer (Efren Carrillo puppet master and now Lynda Hopkins' fixer), and now come to realize that you too, Tom Lynch (Efren Carrillo's appointee to the planning commission and now 5th District Supervisor shill) are a Lynda Hopkins supporter in disguise. You have no intention of running a REAL campaign, and are more in this race for show and support of Lynda Hopkins. So if anyone is to be accused of being someone other than who they say they are, it is YOU, Tom Lynch!

You were outed on the old PD forums and when challenged, denied and got nastier. I don't know if you are ep, but the recent account and Google are suspicious. Do you know him?

I think Tom's remarks about boomers are thoughtful. My remarks about pensions I stand by. I checked out your link, old and not according to the new accounting rules. New reports by the seiu seem.......delayed?

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Posted in reply to the post by Lisa Maldonado:

I am not Eric Perez. ...

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There are substantive differences, evans is actually an outlier. I appreciate info about endorsements, but other stuff put out by evans and some of her supporters is stinky mud. Let sweet 02 turn it into soil we can delight in!

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Posted in reply to the post by Richard Nichols:

The 5 candidates all have the same positions more or less, ...

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Posted in reply to the post by rossmen:

You were outed on the old PD forums and when challenged, denied and got nastier...

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Again- I post under my own name. I was never 'outed' anywhere (if you have actual factual evidence please post it) There seem to be a lot of people like yourself and Tom Lynch who think that any latino who can string two words together has to be me. Sorry- unlike many here I don't need to hide behind an anonymous handle
I don't know Erik Perez- but he just friended me on fb and thought it quite flattering to be accused of being me.

Tom's remarks are just talking points. He is so obviously carrying the dirt for Efren and Lynda et al.
At the debates he quoted Lynda's name more than his own. His job is to attack unions and pensions and distract people from the facts that Lynda have over 100K in real estate, winery and business and construction money. Lynda's campaign consultant (who was also Efren's campaign consultant, Rob Muelrath) thinks 5th district voters will overlook the fact that Lynda is heavily supported (70% of her donors) by big business.

It's pretty clear when Syar gravel mining and Marlene Soiland and the Bodean Asphalt are your donors- you are NOT the environmental candidate.

The Sierra Club and Sonoma County Conservation Action obviously see through the greenwashing- they have endorsed Noreen Evans. Read it for yourself. The facts are here: https://campaigndocs.sonoma-county.o...0160428F12.pdf

The old PD forums are gone, it's just a who said situation. Ep can prove he is real by a reputable reference. If you want to debate on the issues answer my question; are the county pension reports delayed? As far as gravel mining the current supply was the environmental choice! Just ask ernie. The question is where to go from here. Tom can write for himself, his record is he is no one's tool.

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Posted in reply to the post by Lisa Maldonado:

Again- I post under my own name. I was never 'outed' anywhere (if you have actual factual evidence please post it)...

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I just looked up Erik on Facebook and found we have 50 mutual friends. That makes him pretty real to me. Is that what you are looking for?

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Posted in reply to the post by rossmen:

...Ep can prove he is real by a reputable reference. ...

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I was hoping for someone like you who actually knows him. I am not on facebook. It actually does not matter to me whether someone writes under their own name or several names, though knowing who someone is does help in understanding what they write.

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Posted in reply to the post by scamperwillow:

I just looked up Erik on Facebook and found we have 50 mutual friends. That makes him pretty real to me. Is that what you are looking for?

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Posted in reply to the post by scamperwillow:

I just looked up Erik on Facebook and found we have 50 mutual friends. That makes him pretty real to me. Is that what you are looking for?

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Notice that Erik's FB profile contains no photos and there's nothing there that would say it isn't somebody's sockpuppet.

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Posted in reply to the post by Barry:

Notice that Erik's FB profile contains no photos and there's nothing there that would say it isn't somebody's sockpuppet.

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How do you get that many Facebook friends with no one knowing who you are?

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Posted in reply to the post by Barry:

Notice that Erik's FB profile contains no photos and there's nothing there that would say it isn't somebody's sockpuppet.

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Sorry to disappoint you Barry with my lack of photos on FB. In all honesty I really only use FB to keep up with events and to read interesting articles. Not much of a poster even though I've had my account for several years.

I'd also like to point out, the real question we should be asking is 'Who's the real Lynda Hopkins?'

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Posted in reply to the post by scamperwillow:

How do you get that many Facebook friends with no one knowing who you are?

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ok, way OT. But it's a subject I'm pretty interested in as an old guy who's got to keep up as best as possible.

On the internet no-one knows you're a dog, right? A lot of people accept friend requests all the time. They're not necessarily friends who would help you move or loan you money. Those of us (and I'm including me) whose intincts were formed by having real friends and who kept personal phone-books where you had tabbed sections for each letter of the alphabet will often infer an implied context that no longer exists.
That being said - if you have a lot of 'shared FB friends' and you're very restrictive about who your FB friends are, AND they're equally disinclined to accept random friend requests, that does serve as an indication that we don't have a sock puppet here.

Also, this is a small pond. I don't expect a major effort to insinuate a puppet into your circle of friends happened, I can't see it being worth someone's time. But a cunning phisher could pretty easily sweet-talk a group of people into accepting FB friendship without any F2F contact.

Sorry to use you as an example, Erik - I don't think you're a puppet. Or an internet-savvy dog.

I don't think Erik is a sock puppy...

So who do you know who is real on wacco? Fb is not the way to go. All your life in soco, politically active we all know. Rio Nido is cool and so, linda hopkins is a no go. This thread is a blow. It's fun to faux.

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Posted in reply to the post by rossmen:

So who do you know who is real on wacco? Fb is not the way to go. All your life in soco, politically active we all know. Rio Nido is cool and so, linda hopkins is a no go. This thread is a blow. It's fun to faux.

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Ross if you put as much energy into digging into the greenwashing by business and developers in the Hopkins Campaign as you do into investigating me and Eric Perez, you might see how she has brought in over 100k from the same real estate interests and wineries that brought us Efren Carrillo. Some of those same wineries that donated to Hopkins are currently known for having events and not complying with codes.

I find the disingenuosness of this campaign and the attempts at greenwashing very distasteful. It's especially galling to see people who have no problem questioning the public relations lies of the food and consumer industry being so willing to abandon their critical thinking when it comes to politics.

Look at the evidence: Since when has Sonoma Business Alliance or North Coast Builders Exhange been an advocate for organic farming or our environment? Linda's donor list is here. Look through all the donations- don't take my word-
https://campaigndocs.sonoma-county.o...0160428F12.pdf

Lisa, I have a question: Are you in the county employees union? Is Scamperwillow? Is Erik? If so I know why you support Noreen. Pension deals in the past were really just too good of a deal and it is choking the county's budget and taking dollars away from essential services. Who else gets pensions like that? The police and firefighters are retiring after 30 years in their early 50's with 3% per year, 90% of the highest salary for the rest of their life, and their spouse's life.

Noreen likes this deal, voted for it and has the support of those employees who, sadly, vote with their pocketbook. Most people don't have a big pension, we have to plan for retirement, save, invest. Is this why you support Noreen? Then don't try to distract from your motives by smearing the other candidates with who supports them. Noreen has taken $$$ from all these folks too.

i might have thought Tom Lynch, you were genuine, and you really cared about 5th District, until i heard your nagging, ongoing endorsement of Lynda Hopkins at the forum in Sebastopol!
you musta had some thought that we are smarta than that?...but, you could not help yourself, and you let it all hang out...you were not there for yourself, because you knew you weren't electable, SO, you musta thought i better push Lynda Hopkins. Unfortunately, you did not do your homework and Would YOU really support someone who had a driving force behind them that reeked of Big Business and Wine Absolution?
i might have thought you really cared till you got on Lynda Hopkins bandwagon- without allowing fifth district constituents to watch the fireworks for themselves.

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Posted in reply to the post by riverosprey:

Erik Perez...Welcome to Wacco! Who are you really? Lisa Maldonado? Marty? Ernie (no Ernie would post under his real name)... So Lynda is accusing YOU of a "dirty campaign"? It's funny...Doesn't appear to be anyone named Erik Perez in Sonoma County, but whoever you are, welcome aboard :).

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Chris,

I think you missed my previous comments to your comments...I will re-post them below. Sorry you don't feel I'm genuine, and that my 35 years fighting for the environment and ALL the people of the 5th District. Let's see if the rest of the voters share you and Lisa's opinions.

kind regards,

Tom Lynch

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Chris thank you for your public service, my goal is to make the system sustainable, and be able to continue to fund your retirement. I like Lynda Hopkins more than Noreen (mind you I like Noreen as a person, just not as our Supervisor), and we share some similar ideas.

But I actually think I have a shot at being in the top two... Last time I was on the ballot in the Fifth against my friend Wes Chesbro in 2012, I got 5500 votes. The top two vote getters will probably be in the 7000-9000 range. Beings that two of the top candidates have never voted in the District, I think I have a shot (kind of like Jim Carrey in Dumb and Dumber asking the pretty girl if there's a chance she'll go out with him :).

respect and kind regards Chris!

Tom Lynch - www.tomlynchforsupervisor.com
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i attended the forum in Sebastopol. It was evident that Tom you were there more for Lynda Hopkins than for yourself. i mean for a moment, some of us wanted to get up and ASK, whaddya doin'??, seemed like many of your responses, HAD to include, "what me and Lynda want"...and i have to say this approach did nothing but backfire on you. Sorry, but i think people can make up their own minds without you being a cheering section on the forums!

let everyone stand on their own ok. Is it because you Know you are not going to be a real option when it comes to vote that you have to put in a plug for Hopkins. I actually liked some of the stuff you had to say. Though, you seem to harp an awful lot on pensions. You know, those folks who already put their blood sweat and tears into their jobs, but there is not enough left for them. (hey, while you are at it, could you ask the BOS to take a pay-cut? it's killing uS!)

i actually enjoyed listening to everyone and frankly, though she probably doesn't have a remote chance, Marion was quite refreshing. Obvious, she isn't beholden to anyone and she can say what she wishes, she does and her forthright, non-manipulative approach put me at ease.

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Posted in reply to the post by beshiva:

i might have thought Tom Lynch, you were genuine, and you really cared about 5th District, until i heard your nagging, ongoing endorsement of Lynda Hopkins at the forum in Sebastopol!
you musta had some thought that we are smarta than that?...but, you could not help yourself, and you let it all hang out...you were not there for yourself, because you knew you weren't electable, SO, you musta thought i better push Lynda Hopkins. Unfortunately, you did not do your homework and Would YOU really support someone who had a driving force behind them that reeked of Big Business and Wine Absolution?
i might have thought you really cared till you got on Lynda Hopkins bandwagon- without allowing fifth district constituents to watch the fireworks for themselves.

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Lisa I am a curious person with a good memory. I get what you are writing, over and over and over... your choice to not answer serious questions asked of you, to not debate topics you clearly care and know a lot about, I support. I am here for my own education and entertainment, and you delight me. No offense intended : )

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Posted in reply to the post by Lisa Maldonado:

Ross if you put as much energy into digging into the greenwashing by business and developers in the Hopkins Campaign as you do ...

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Posted in reply to the post by jbox:

Lisa, I have a question: Are you in the county employees union? Is Scamperwillow? Is Erik? If so I know why you support Noreen. Pension deals in the past were really just too good of a deal and it is choking the county's budget and taking dollars away from essential services. ...

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OK, Lisa, since you and the others have declined to answer my question, I'll answer it. You are head of SEIU, the union for county workers. You care deeply for your pension and that is why you support Noreen Evans. I may have a problem with the pension deal and what it means to the financial solvency of the county but I have no problem with you doing your job and advocating for your union members. But rather than come clean about your motives you want to smear Hopkins who might not look as favorably on the pension deal as Noreen. So you accuse Hopkins of being the puppet of powerful ag and industry folks, which you care very little about. Sounds like you have the makings of a politician.

I replied to your questions a few pages back. I said I was proud to work for SEIU and the working class. And I told you the average pension for our rank and file workers.

I'm very proud and fortunate to get to work in social justice. If you are trying to shame me with anti pension posts it won't work. I believe that all workers deserve a pension and a dignified old age and I fight for that every day.

thank you for sending the link to the contributor list...Mark

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Posted in reply to the post by Lisa Maldonado:

...
https://campaigndocs.sonoma-county.o...0160428F12.pdf

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Posted in reply to the post by jbox:

Lisa, I have a question: Are you in the county employees union? Is Scamperwillow? ...

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I am in no union. I have no pension. Wish I did. I support Noreen because I have watched her committed brave fight for the causes I believe in for 20 years. She is the real deal and has the very clear record to prove it.

Somehow this thread zinged off into County retirement. Here is the link to the County retirement financials and actuarials. Good luck as lots of information. I get $400 per month retirement from Sonoma County.

https://scretire.org/Financial/Investment-Performance/

The County retirement fund is in good shape and 93% funded due to steps taken by the Board of Supervisors, like increasing employee contributions. The County is not PERS which is still troubled.The collapse of Wall Street affected all retirement systems in the Country. You might say Wall Street collapsed Main Street including retirement plans. Sonoma County due to good management survived the catastrophe.

I am happy to discuss politics but pension funds, not. I will leave that to the folks who take exception to the notion that someone who works for years and gets retirement actually earned and deserves that retirement pay. Splashy to talk about a few Department Heads who have earned top dollar and occasionally make headlines but the ordinary civil servant rank and file worker cannot exist solely on County retirement. And, thank heavens for SEIU, unions are the backbone of the working class. I have seen what "management" can do without union protection.

Which candidate has the most level approach to County employees and retirement? The most knowledge, experience and ability to understand an actuarial? You are dealing with people's lives twenty or thirty years into the future. Balance, consistency, good Retirement Board and lots of financial reports over many years are needed to keep the system solvent. I applaud the Retirement Board and Board of Supervisors for getting control of our retirement system after Wall Street nearly took us down.

Blame wall Street all you want. I don't trust this link cause its a vested interest. Are independent account reports delayed, perhaps because of the new accounting rules? Evans is the most responsible and least accountable of 5 choices. Her choice of not to address the pension question calls into question her ability to deliver on the environmental progressive agenda, she said in your back yard that she would say yes to development, because she is smart enough to know the county will need lots more money to cover your $400, I assume you will be OK without it.

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Posted in reply to the post by Ernieman:

...https://scretire.org/Financial/Investment-Performance/...

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Posted in reply to the post by rossmen:

Blame wall Street all you want. I don't trust this link cause its a vested interest. Are independent account reports delayed, perhaps because of the new accounting rules? Evans is the most responsible and least accountable of 5 choices. Her choice of not to address the pension question calls into question her ability to deliver on the environmental progressive agenda, she said in your back yard that she would say yes to development, because she is smart enough to know the county will need lots more money to cover your $400, I assume you will be OK without it.

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Wall street at the national level but our local realtors and no doc. lenders deserve some responsibility for putting people into loans and homes they could not afford. Up and up went the values. Up and up went the commissions. Then it all crashed. The local real estate and lending professionals must have spent some sleepless nights considering all those clients who lost their savings in this fiasco.
Ken Sund.

Boy Ernie (or Earnie as Tom likes to call you) - you must be getting rich on that! =;D

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Posted in reply to the post by Ernieman:

...I get $400 per month retirement from Sonoma County. ...

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Wonderfully said....definitely folks who have worked for years deserve a decent pension...
it's often sensationalist headlines that make people think otherwise...
as well as the propaganda of the right wing greed machine's attack on public employees...
which it looks like the person who complained about the pensions, may have bought into..

Mark

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Posted in reply to the post by Ernieman:

...https://scretire.org/Financial/Investment-Performance/

The County retirement fund is in good shape and 93% funded due to steps taken by the Board of Supervisors, like increasing employee contributions. ...

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In the 5th district property values are approaching precrash levels despite how much more difficult it is to get a loan. County property tax revenue has largely recovered, but 100+mill more go's into retirement funding. The story of this fiasco is part of evans story. She is supposed to be a budget expert, but she doesn't want to talk about it. I don't get the pot for potholes thing. Is she counting on increased local sales tax with legalized marijuana?

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Posted in reply to the post by Ken Sund:

Wall street at the national level but our local realtors and no doc. lenders deserve some responsibility for putting people into loans and homes they could not afford. ...

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Pension plans are politics, and you are discussing them, I assume not for evans, who won't. I don't assume evans has the most knowledge and ability to understand actuarials because she has proven through action that she was an idiot and other politicians have worked hard and spent their political capital to begin to fix the mistakes she and her cohort made.

Who knows if the county retirement system is in good shape? 93% is self interested reporting. The real numbers reveal the county is paying big time for early 21st century idiocy (after you retired), and it's sucking the juice out of the general fund.

You were fine with the pension plan in your day. Are you really OK with etard getting 3k? At least evans voted that new hires won't get her give away.

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Posted in reply to the post by Ernieman:

...The County retirement fund is in good shape and 93% funded due to steps taken by the Board of Supervisors, like increasing employee contributions. ...I am happy to discuss politics but pension funds, not. ...Which candidate has the most level approach to County employees and retirement? The most knowledge, experience and ability to understand an actuarial?

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I ran into some old friends, really intelligent West County progressive types at Aromas last night... who told me they really like Lynda. I was shocked. They know that she's backed by bad people like developers & corporate wineries, but it didn't make any difference. They think that Noreen benefited from her vote to increase County pensions, & is now being paid back by SEIU supporting her. They don't trust her, because she is not addressing the pension issue, although it has some big consequences in what the County can and cannot pay for.

Thank you Tommy for your insightful comments on this thread.

Around 2003 the Sonoma Board of Supervisors and the City of Santa Rosa voted for 50% unfunded, retroactive increases in pensions, from who I refer to as the "first wave of retiring baby boomers". (nothing for the 1000's of retirees prior to 2003) Noreen not only voted for this on SR city council, but went on to the State Legislature receiving $Millions in campaign contributions from unions, pushing and rubberstamping every piece of legislation the unions wrote (100% labor approval rating). "She's for us!" :wink:

She also received huge contributions from Indian tribes, agriculture interests including many local wineries (Balletto), attorneys and numerous PACS that she now tries to taint others with. By the way the Realtor Pac and others have given similar donations to my friends Susan Gorin and Shirlee Zane.

Guilt by association? Is this the best Noreen and Lisa Maldonado can do? (I believe the hit pieces are already printed and will be mailed out soon) Throughout the candidate forums I hear all the candidates talk about the pension problem with the exception of Noreen. I also hear Noreen say too much of what she has done, and not enough of what she will do. I hear from Noreen too many old ideas, that she has been part of the last twenty years, that created the mess we are in, with massive cuts to mental health services, social programs, housing, roads and infrastructure.

I like Noreen as a person, but if I am not in the top two after the primary, it would be very difficult for me to support Noreen if she is.

Tom Lynch - www.tomlynchforsupervisor.com

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Posted in reply to the post by tommy:

... They think that Noreen benefited from her vote to increase County pensions, & is now being paid back by SEIU supporting her. They don't trust her, because she is not addressing the pension issue, although it has some big consequences in what the County can and cannot pay for.

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Posted in reply to the post by riverosprey:

... I also hear Noreen say too much of what she has done, and not enough of what she will do. ...

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I'm sure you've stated this before, Tom, but what would you do at this point to fix/ameliorate the pension situation at this point?

Good question Barry...sorry for the long response but this is a complicated issue.

State law requires prior to any retirement benefit, the County does an Actuarial Study to determine the cost of this benefit. Prior to voting for this increase the Board of Supervisors is required by law to publicly notice the increase, and to vote on the increase. The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors did none of the above. We need an investigation and if these increases were done illegally, they need to be rescinded to what they are for the 1000's of Sonoma County retirees who did not get the increase, and the next generation of new hires who have their retirements now set by state law even less than those retiring before 2003.

Meanwhile, since 2008 the average salary/benefit of the top 500 County workforce, the upper tier, saw their average salary/benefit go from $177,000/year to $220,000/year (go to www.transparentcalifornia.com and download all of the Sonoma County salary/benefit in an Excel format). We can no longer afford the services Sonoma County once provided, and must reinvent how we do things, with local government becoming a convener leveraging our resources to optimal effect, enlisting and involving volunteers, non-profits, faith based groups and private business; to restore essential services local government once was able to provide for generations.

That is the essence of my campaign...along with a dramatic increase of "Junior Second Dwelling Units" in the 35,000 vacant bedrooms throughout Sonoma County, with zero impact fees, no hook-up charges and no affordability covenants for owner occupies homes that want to create a small second unit (or live in the second unit and rent the remainder of their house.

The problem Barry, is we are giving all of our public servants, including special districts, schools, colleges, even PG&E, a salary and retirement benefit for one years service, without fully funding the benefit. Any private industry that had similar unfunded debts to Sonoma Countys', would be bankrupt.

Last year SCERA (Sonoma County Employee Retirement System) missed their guaranteed rate of return of 7.5%, by 6 %---in lay terms on a $336 Million payroll for 3700 employees, we incurred a $200 Million increase in "unfunded liability" that will be paid back at 7.5% interest over the next 20 years ($400 Million). Why is my daughter (12 years old), responsible for paying Rod Dole's $260,000/year retirement?

Note below some of Ken Churchill with New Sonoma's observations from last week's latest SCERA Actuarial:
==================================================================

Hi Everyone:

Yesterday the SCERA actuarial report for 2015 was posted. Here is a link to the page: https://scretire.org/Financial/Actuarial-Reports/

Here is a summary of the damage:

1. On page ii – The employer contribution increased from 18.76% to 20.38% of payroll while the employee contribution, as usual, hardly changed.
   
2. On page iv – The employer contribution increased from $64 million in 2014 to $69 million in 2015.
   
3. On page vii – The funded ratio dropped from 91.4% in 2014 to 84.7% in 2015. However, the assets include a total of $600 million worth of pension obligation bond funds which were added to the assets in 1994, 2003 and 2010. Without these funds and the $600 million in investment income they earned, the pension fund today would be only 40% funded.
   
4. On page vii – the unfunded liability using the market value of assets increased from $217 million in 2014 to $413 million in 2015, for an increase of almost 100% or $200 million. This is enough money to repave 800 miles or 60% of our roads.
   
5. On page ix - the average annual employee compensation increased from $82,718 in 2014 to $83,399 in 2015.
   
6. On page 4 - the chart shows that benefits paid per year have tripled from $52 million in 2006 to $150 million in 2015.
   
7. On page 6 – the expected return at 7.5% was $161 million and the actual return was $34.5 million.
   
8. On page 9 - the return on investments for the year was 1.37% and over the last 10 years has averaged 5.2% per year, 2.3% below the assumed rate. On $2.3 billion dollars that created an average shortfall of $53 million per year, enough to repave 200 miles of roads per year.
   
9. On page 73 - the POB debt service is 14% of payroll. Adding that to the 20% employer contribution the total cost for pensions have reached 34% of payroll. This is 10 times what the average private sector worker receives as an employer contribution for his or her retirement.
   
10. On page 77 and 78 - the annual payment on the unfunded liability for General and Safety employees is $35.5 million. Adding on the pension bond debt service of $44 million in 2015, the total debt service on the pension fund is $79.5 million per year or $217,000 per day.

Your comments and suggestions are always welcome.

Ken Churchill
1574 Olivet Road, Santa Rosa
Phone: 707-578-3403
[email protected]
www.newsonoma.org
===========================================================

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Posted in reply to the post by Barry:

I'm sure you've stated this before, Tom, but what would you do at this point to fix/ameliorate the pension situation at this point?

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P.S. Check out the retirement difference before 2003 and after, look what Ernie is getting compared to Mike (Ernie are you mistaken saying you're getting $400/month? You do know your retirement is public information?). Former Sheriff Mark Ihde once was quoted in the Press Democrat saying these benefits are obscene. Every department in Sonoma County has seen their staffing level gutted as senior employees retire and we can't afford to rehire.

Great sources of information are :

www.transparentcalifornia.com
www.pensiontsunami.com
www.newsonoma.com

Keep in mind some of the Supes added "service credit" to their retirement...and conservative budget hawk Paul Kelley started getting his retirement at 50 (2%@50 x #years worked), as opposed to Mike Reilly (3%@60 x #years worked). I believe all the retiree's below also receive an add'l $6000/year toward retiree medical. AND Social Security (I don't think Sebastopol or Santa Rosa provide retiree medical nor Social Security).

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Posted in reply to the post by riverosprey:

Good question Barry...sorry for the long response but this is a complicated issue....

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Thanks for the response, Tom, but that's all about where we are now and how we got here. Are you saying all there is to do now regarding pensions, is to figure out how to run the county government on less money while paying the pensions?

-If Government were bound by the same Actuarial requirements of private industry ERISA (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Employ...e_Security_Act), requiring a 7 year pay back of unfunded liability (maybe we could require that), we would have to declare bankruptcy. We could then do as Stockton and San Bernardino did and rescind retiree medical and cut Rod Doles $500 Million of Pension Obligation Bonds to pennies on the dollar. Do what United Airlines did with Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation and cap the retirements to $43,000? Thus far pension reform in California is losing the court battles (as the judges also have skin in the game). Presently we have $400 Million Unfunded Liability, $500 Million in Pension Obligation Bonds and $300 Million in unfunded retiree medical---this supposedly will be paid back at 7.5% interest over the next 20-30 years (ain't gonna happen).

In lieu of the above, we are on the hook, and have to reduce the payroll and benefits of Sonoma County as best we can:

-$17,000,000 overtime for the Sheriff's Department...reduce this by helping our Deputy Sheriff's (and jail staff) spend more time with their families with Project Safe Zone (combination of private security, volunteers, technology, working together to protect our communities), "observe and report but do not engage." similar to other areas of the country and Sea Ranch. Restorative justice as alternatives to incarceration, homeless camps and more affordable housing, with services to reduce the 30% in the jail mentally ill and all the ambulance calls. Decriminalize drugs treating them less as a crime and more as an illness. Home incarceration and monitoring in lieu of jail with ankle bracelets and technology. Some have suggested as they do in Germany and England cameras to catch speeder's (I'm not there yet.)

-More and more groups like Stewards of the Coast and Slavianka, taking over all the multi-jurisdictional responsibilities taking care of the Coast--- State Parks have a huge budget for the Coast and they can't even maintain a port-a-let with closed trails and people going to the restroom outside. Non-profits including Surfriders working to help lifeguards, shared maintenance of public facilities, volunteers staffing campgrounds (as Stewards do now with $50/day stipend for Bull Frog pond to volunteers), internet access at the Coast to compete with private campgrounds/RV parks.

-Senior centers with Uber type transit service where we increase their funding overseeing better rural mass transit and rideshares. Technology...more resource and volunteers to libraries.

-Workfare similar to what COTS (Committee on The Shelterless) are doing in Petaluma (love to see them take over county-wide efforts. Camps for the homeless with supervision and services to give them a hand up. $150,000/winter at Guerneville vets with a room with 20 1/2" foam pads and no pillows-let them in at 5:00pm and kick-em out at 7:00am, then their shuffling around the community like Zombieland, is inhumane and doesn't work for me...Housing First...give people a place to stay 24 hrs a day and help them get back on their feet. Utilize Chanate campus and Sonoma Development Center, again with volunteers and nonprofits as we can no longer afford the County to staff these endeavors.

-Roads, let people fix their own roads with licensed contractors without charging them $1000's of dollars for encroachment permits, free permits and tell them we're grateful you're fixing our roads (like they do in Napa). Allow business to sponsor road repairs... there are a couple hundred miles of little used and dead end roads out there we should allow homeowners to create an association and put a gate on.

Look at the top 500 salaries with benefits of Sonoma County on www.transparentcalifornia.com ... if we can't reduce the pension debacle (I've tried without success, with many others for eight years, and the costs keep going up and up while we reduce all the services), we need to reinvent government with using the resources a lot more with volunteers, non-profits, faith based groups and private business.

There are a lot of ways we can do this...and most of the Supervisorial candidates are providing some great ideas...with the exception of one...who I believe is partially responsible for a lot of the mess we're in right now.

OK...that's it for now...

Quote:

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Posted in reply to the post by Barry:

Thanks for the response, Tom, but that's all about where we are now and how we got here. Are you saying all there is to do now regarding pensions, is to figure out how to run the county government on less money while paying the pensions?

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I used to be a member of SEIU, in the 70s when I worked for the state govt of PA. I support unions. Workers have been totally screwed since the 60s - that's one of the issues that Trump has based his candidacy on - not that he would do anything about it. The right wing has reduced the size of govt, reduced employment, in many states, and the federal govt. Look at Gov Walker in Wisconsin - he took away collective bargaining - one of the essential tools of workers aligning together and supporting each other, to improve their salaries & benefits. So much manufacturing has gone away in the US, leaving the govt sector one of the only places left for unions.

I'd appreciate it if someone can post the summary numbers on pensions in Sonoma County govt. I know the Grand Jury issued a report on it a year or two ago. While I agree w Lisa that everyone should have a pension, the reality is that fewer & fewer have pensions, as the employment economy has changed.

It would not be fair to not support Noreen because she voted to increase pensions. She has excelled in protecting our environment. For transparency sake, I wish she'd say something about pensions... because it could be spoken of in a positive light, of supporting workers, and she could take a leadership role in the pension debate... that no other candidate has taken, to my knowledge.

Noreen did not vote to increase county pension. Where does that idea come from?
Tom posted the rare high end pensions. Lisa, could you post what the average county pension is again?

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Posted in reply to the post by tommy:

... They think that Noreen benefited from her vote to increase County pensions, & is now being paid back by SEIU supporting her. ...

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Wow those are some scary numbers! Didn't Churchill or another fiscal watchdog petition the county auditor/controller to examine the early 2000 increases for their legality? And he declined with almost no explaination? And he was a bos hire to fill the vacancy of his retired predecessor (who got a really big pension and held the job when the increases occured), and then he went on to beat wysocky in a contentions election with full endorsement by county staff, management, and bos, and then retired last year (after only a few years on the job), with a big pension? Something is rotten in the county of Sonoma : (

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Posted in reply to the post by riverosprey:

Good question Barry...sorry for the long response but this is a complicated issue....

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Posted in reply to the post by riverosprey:

P.S. Check out the retirement difference before 2003 and after,...

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Wow. It always amazes me when those who hurl accusations at others about 'attacks and unfair campaigning' let loose with a hailstrom of lies and propaganda. I'm not surpised to find Ken Churchill behind these "facts" as he has been called out for his made up numbers many times. His union hating and labor hating continues. All I ask is a little critical thinking. When I cited Lynda Hopkins' big business donations, I linked directly to the County's FPPC site and her own 460 form that was filled out by her campaign.

The 'transparent' website that Ken and Tom posted is from a conservative Koch Brothers think tank:
https://npri.org/
Check it out yourself. They truly stoop to conquer.

Here's the truth: If voters wish to side with Big Business, and Big Wine and Construction and Real Estate- then vote for Lynda Hopkins. If you wish to side with ther Sierra CLub, Sonoma County Conservation Action and SEIU 1021 and the hard working people who make this county run, then your choice is Noreen Evans. But don't let stooges for the right wing Good Old Boys and Wineries in this county pull the wool over your eyes with phony statistics from Right Wing Websites. Critical Thinking counts!

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Posted in reply to the post by Lisa Maldonado:

Wow. It always amazes me when those who hurl accusations at others about 'attacks and unfair campaigning' let loose with a hailstorm of lies and propaganda....

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are you saying the chart isn't accurate? or just the websites they linked to? unfortunately, the "discussion" here on wacco about these two candidates has been very low on data except for guilt-by-association naming of donors. Which is legit, but limited, and has been reiterated and reiterated and reiterated.

I'm not saying the chart of pension benefits are especially relevant to the choice between these candidates either, since I haven't yet heard that either is proposing to roll them back. But I'm still curious - so, are you saying these are made-up numbers?

Agreed, Noreen never voted for the 50% unfunded retroactive for Sonoma County, she voted for it as a Santa Rosa City Councilmember. What Tommy's friends may be referring to is the subsequent $Millions Noreen received from unions as a legislator, rubberstamping and carrying the union bills attempting to get them passed.

What I've said in forums when Noreen plays the "guilt by association" card, is that Noreen is one of the last of a generation of politicians who voted for these massive unfunded pension increases, putting at risk the retirements of ALL retirees and actives, especially the 1000's who retired before the increases (like Ernie, Jim Harberson, etc.), as well as the next generation of new union employees who get even less/later retirement than the before 2003 retirees, if there is a retirement program left for them when they retire.

Sorry for the confusion Marty.

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Posted in reply to the post by scamperwillow:

Noreen did not vote to increase county pension. Where does that idea come from?...

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Quote:

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Posted in reply to the post by riverosprey:

-If Government were bound by the same Actuarial requirements of private industry ERISA....

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The Manure Man moniker sure fits! Again- you continue to post charges and attack Noreen Evans for votes which YOU ADMIT, she never made. She did not vote to increase county pensions- how could she, she has never served on the county. As for city pensions you continue to make wild and unsubstaniated claims while hoping voters won't understand what you are taking about by burying them with made up facts and figures from a Right Wing Koch Brothers website.

I posted direct facts from the registrar of voters. Your propaganda is FULL of made up numbers. I know that you and Ken Churchill are doing the dirty work for Lynda's Republican Campaign Consultant Rob Muelrath (Efren's former campaign consultant who is also now working for the Cloverdale Casino- gotta love politics in a small town) but this is a new low-even for Republicans.

Yuck- you have really debased yourself. As I said. Check the candidates 460's . This is the form that they legally must fill out. Educate yourselves about who is backing each candidate and why. Noreen has never hidden her support from the Sierra Club, Conservation Action or SEIU1021. She is proud to be supported by environmentalists and working people.

It is the spokepeople for Lynda Hopkins (Tom Lynch has finally given up all pretense and outed himself as a shill for Lynda) who are trying to throw a bunch of anti union dirt at Noreen by yelling "pensions" in the hope that this scares voters. I don't think this will work in this county but they seem determined to try. I will not argue with phoney made up numbers from a right wing web site. Those tactics don't deserve a response.

Perhaps it's an oversight on the Press Democrat's part :):, but among the biggest donors to Noreen Evans' campaign is the wife of Darius Anderson, aka The owner of the Press Democrat.

I looked at your link and didn't see any tie to new sonoma. Where is the info you are referring to?

Quote:

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Posted in reply to the post by Lisa Maldonado:

...
The 'transparent' website that Ken and Tom posted is from a conservative Koch Brothers think tank:
https://npri.org/
Check it out yourself. ...

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Quote:

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Posted in reply to the post by rossmen:

I looked at your link and didn't see any tie to new sonoma. Where is the info you are referring to?

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When you click on the "ABOUT" link for the "Transparent" website you will see it is produced by a NEVADA Conservative Right Wing Think Tank. Try it .

Owe! Sticks and stones may break my bones, but whips and chains... well, let's not even go there :).

Lisa, sorry you missed the below response of mine to Marty, of course Noreen has never voted as a County Supervisor (and we'll see in June how many would like to change that :wink: ).

Sorry you missed this and for the confusion, hope this clears things up... Kind regards...

----------------------------------------------
Marty

Agreed, Noreen never voted for the 50% unfunded retroactive for Sonoma County, she voted for it as a Santa Rosa City Councilmember. What Tommy's friends may be referring to is the subsequent $Millions Noreen received from unions as a legislator, rubberstamping and carrying the union bills attempting to get them passed.

What I've said in forums when Noreen plays the "guilt by association" card, is that Noreen is one of the last of a generation of politicians who voted for these massive unfunded pension increases, putting at risk the retirements of ALL retirees and actives, especially the 1000's who retired before the increases (like Ernie, Jim Harberson, etc.), as well as the next generation of new union employees who get even less/later retirement than the before 2003 retirees, if there is a retirement program left for them when they retire.

Sorry for the confusion Marty.

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Posted in reply to the post by Lisa Maldonado:

The Manure Man moniker sure fits! ...

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Dear Ms. Maldonado,

With all due respect for you and your job with SEIU Local 1021, I have one question [stated at the end].

Since you are posting to Wacco during what appears to be your employment hours with SEIU Local 1021 and because the SEIU Mission Statement reads in part;

• Through our collective voice, we achieve justice, empowerment, and respect in every workplace.
• Working people engage in the democratic process and exercise their collective voice at a local, state and national level.

are your posts here on Wacco representative of the collective voice of the SEIU or your own personal beliefs?

Thank you, Michael A Carnacchi

Hi Lisa,

The link is to Transparent Nevada, which it appears is related to Transparent California...so you're saying they're funded by Koch Brothers? I donate to Transparent California, can you show me the tie-in to Koch? And that's beside the point...are you saying the information provided to Transparent California from Sonoma County is false? Do you realize all this is payroll/pension data is public information, part of the open government/transparency struggle, available to anyone for the asking.

Do you notice a difference in retirements between our public servants retiring before 2003 and after? Look carefully :).. This is why we're seeing massive cuts in all the traditional Democrat supported social programs, education and infrastructure. I am a Democrat who wants social services Lisa, I want fair pensions...but I want them to be fair to everybody, including the older and younger retirees.

Quote:

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Posted in reply to the post by Lisa Maldonado:

When you click on the "ABOUT" link for the "Transparent" website you will see it is produced by a NEVADA Conservative Right Wing Think Tank. Try it .

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So for you the link between these two websites is the word transparent? After looking at both websites I could cite far more concrete details which show they are not linked. If you want to dispute the county budget evaluation of new sonoma you need to way up your game. Wacco is not Facebook comments on PD articles or the slash and burn of the old PD forums. There are consistent readers who are here to learn and question, and there are no echo chamber algorithms like Facebook discussion. It's a tough crowd : )...

Quote:

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Posted in reply to the post by Lisa Maldonado:

When you click on the "ABOUT" link for the "Transparent" website you will see it is produced by a NEVADA Conservative Right Wing Think Tank. Try it .

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Posted in reply to the post by rossmen:

So for you the link between these two websites is the word transparent? ...

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I think you are a little unclear. The 'about' link is part of the Transparent page. (it tells you "ABOUT" the page and who is sponsoring it. That is the link. The page itself is propaganda produced by an anti labor website. Yes. I dispute those phony numbers. I am truly done trying to argue politics with people who play so fast and loose with the truth that they are willing to use data from a Koch Brothers Think Tank.

Quote:

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Posted in reply to the post by Lisa Maldonado:

I think you are a little unclear. The 'about' link is part of the Transparent page. (it tells you "ABOUT" the page and who is sponsoring it. That is the link. The page itself is propaganda produced by an anti labor website. Yes. I dispute those phony numbers. I am truly done trying to argue politics with people who play so fast and loose with the truth that they are willing to use data from a Koch Brothers Think Tank.

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Who is playing fast and loose, Lisa? You dispute the numbers but won't give us any information except to smear the source. Show us something true if you can......

OMG...Lisa are you serious? I have been parsing this data for years with Freedom of Information Act requests and can have SCERA (Sonoma County Employee Retirement System) send me all of the data that is on this website. Do you honestly expect anyone that reads this thread on WaccoBB to believe this data is fabricated by Koch Brothers? DOES ANYBODY ON WACCO THINK THE DATA I POSTED WAS FABRICATED BY KOCH BROTHERS???

The information on www.transparentcalifornia.com is accurate public data provided by law from Calpers, and retirement plans throughout California. You have to represent your union better than some lame excuse saying this data is from the Koch Brothers for crying out loud. Or to play the "guilt by association" card that SEIU did in 2008 that cost Rue the election. The Fifth District voters are not stupid...we want to listen to everyone's positions on the issues, see their backgrounds, and vote...my hope for someone that has voted in the District before (i.e. ME ! :thumbsup:).

:Clap::Clap::vote1::Clap::Clap::vote1::Clap::Clap:
:dowave::dowave:

As the leader of SEIU, and in order to represent the interests of your members more adequately, by being aware of what is really going on in the real world with the retirement issue, my suggestion is you familiarize yourself much more thoroughly with these massive unfunded retirement obligations, responsible for the loss of tens of thousands of jobs for new union workers, as local and state government can no longer to afford to hire the next generation, people retire and we can't rehire.

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Posted in reply to the post by Lisa Maldonado:

I think you are a little unclear. The 'about' link is part of the Transparent page. (it tells you "ABOUT" the page and who is sponsoring it. That is the link. The page itself is propaganda produced by an anti labor website. Yes. I dispute those phony numbers. I am truly done trying to argue politics with people who play so fast and loose with the truth that they are willing to use data from a Koch Brothers Think Tank.

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OK yes, transparent California is provided by the Nevada site, and all it is is public data of public employee compensation. What a great resource. Also has nothing to do with new sonoma, which is what I think you are disputing?

Understanding the county money flow and listening to what supervisor candidates say about it is top notch info for wise voting, unlike endorsements and donations. Mostly organizations and businesses just want to pick a winner so they have access after that person is in power. I love numbers, they are so much harder to lie with than words.

Quote:

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Posted in reply to the post by Lisa Maldonado:

I think you are a little unclear. The 'about' link is part of the Transparent page. (it tells you "ABOUT" the page and who is sponsoring it. That is the link. The page itself is propaganda produced by an anti labor website. Yes. I dispute those phony numbers. I am truly done trying to argue politics with people who play so fast and loose with the truth that they are willing to use data from a Koch Brothers Think Tank.

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OMG! I am shocked, shocked to find the unions just spent $17,196.11 on a mailer supporting Noreen Evans!!!! *

A Union PAC just divulged they have sent out a mailer in support of Noreen Evans! Gee, I wonder if they are paying back Noreen Evans for all the things she did for the first wave of retiring baby boomers, lauding her achievements over the last twenty years she's held political office??? D'ya think?

Oh no, or maybe they're concerned at the momentum of my campaign for Supervisor, and an angry Lisa Maldonado told them to send out hit pieces against Tom Lynch?

I'm so excited to see what's about to hit our mailboxes (Fat cat on a stump of a clear cut forest? Oil wells on the coast? Global warming?); we boomers can be so creative losing elections for our candidates. As Voldemort would say, "They never learn. Such a pity."

*To paraphrase one of the greatest lines in cinematic history:

Captain Renault: I'm shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on in here!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjbPi00k_ME