5th District Supervisor Race 2016: Noreen Evans vs Lynda Hopkins

if you truly believe Lynda Hopkins is mainstream compared to Evans, you have been stuck in West Sonoma County for a very long time. :wink:

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Posted in reply to the post by sealwatcher:

"...just as Hopkins is doing by not going mainstream and using her considerable creative and skillful mind..."

But, Roberta, going mainstream is exactly what Lynda Hopkins has done....

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Roberta,
I've been appreciating your thoughtful posts with their sincere resonance. Clearly you choose to think things through without distraction by the occasional howls of partisanship on this thread. The most strident of the Evans supporters typically are on her payroll, directly or indirectly, yet you patiently state your case in the face of pushback to your acknowledgements of Lynda Hopkins assets and strengths.

Much has been made of Hopkins' lack of experience, the louder voices among us insisting she needs to begin her political career on a less challenging field than the BOS. It kind of reminds me of eight years ago, when a first term Congressman with a background in community organizing was similarly taken to task for having the temerity to challenge an iconic aspirant with a long political biography. A lot of people believed his ambitions were out-sized, yet today Barack Obama has proven himself to arguably be among the most effective and successful of a very elite group. I believe it to be because he is an extremely gifted and inspirational figure. In this instance those attributes prevailed over the status quo of long political tenure. My point being that it can, and sometimes does, happen to work out the way we expected.

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Posted in reply to the post by Roberta Llewellyn:

I attended on this hot day in Bodega Bay at the "Secret Garden" a fundraiser for Noreen Evans and listened to a talk she gave ...

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https://www.facebook.com/TheOmarMedina?fref=ts

Great dialogue on SEIU rep Omar Medina's site:

TomLynch And that is Bull Omar :)... never try to BS a BS'er...I cansee Noreen ain't gonna make it in the Fifth...you should have seen Lynda outperform Noreen at the Monte Rio debate, issue after issue. Omar I like you,maybe for the good of the union, with Lynda Hopkins as soon to be FifthDistrict Supervisor y'all should start hedging your bets and drop the BS attackads?


OmarMedina What's the "bull" Tom? Are you saying anything in this video is notfactual? If so, be specific, don't just BS. I'm connecting the dots and peoplecan judge for themselves.

Tom, what are the issues that you agree with Lyndamore so than Noreen? And, what do you disagree with in the video?

TomLynch Alison welcome, congratulations and thank you (and Omar) foryour public service! Mark my word the pension benefits you and Omar arepromised will not be there when your generation retires, because my generation,the first wave of retiring baby boomers, have gamed the system for their ownadvantage, at the expense of you and your children. We are destined for aMalthusian meltdown, an inevitable collapse of the retirement system, becausepoliticians like Noreen Evans, beholden to the boomers for massive campaigncontributions, gave huge unfunded increases to the boomers retirement withoutfunding them. Now we're seeing huge decreases in funding to the least of theeamong us, while you and Omar, on the tip of the spear with Human Services, arewitness to more and more cuts in order to fund Rod "Bernie Madoff"Dole's $260,000 retirement. I like you and Omar, I fight for your generation,and ask you both to learn more about "Intergenerational Equity".Don't be the goats leading the sheep to slaughter, be critical of your olderpeers in the Unions. The reason we're seeing huge increases in tuition, and lossof services government once provided for generations, is because politicianslike Noreen Evans betrayed your generation, with massive unfunded obligationsthat you and Omar and my 13 year old daughter are paying for. Go to www.pensiontsunami.com andGoogle "Intergenerational Equity".

Pension Tsunami
The oncoming wave of public pensiondebt is even bigger than it seems. The purpose of this…
pensiontsunami.com

TomLynch p.s. I agree with Lynda with fixes for Ag-reform, affordablehousing, humane homeless housing, and reinventing government to create moreeffective solutions. I also hope my peers fighting for Inter-generationalEquity, can find an ally in Lynda, but alas it's difficult for your generationto fight the Boomers controlling the unions, the management and by and large most elected officials. Go to www.tomlynchforsupervisor.comto understand more of what I believe, having lived in Sonoma County for thelast 37 years, and been very active in making the world better for my daughter and the next generations.

Tom Lynch for Sonoma County FifthDIstrict Supervisor - Tom Lynch for…
tomlynchforsupervisor.com

TomLynch p.s.s. I suppose the SEIU attack ads are a good thing, theycost Rue Furch the election in 2008 and are helping Lynda Hopkins become ournext supervisor. Bye for now---respect and kind regards to you and Omar!

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Posted in reply to the post by photolite:

R... It kind of reminds me of eight years ago, when a first term Congressman with a background in community organizing was similarly taken to task for having the temerity to challenge an iconic aspirant with a long political biography. ...

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Tell me you did not just compare Hopkins to Obama. The audacity of Hopkins.

Even Mr. Obama took an entry level job in his time and had congressional experience. I guess she will be substituting wealth and white privilege for that in her campaign? :thumbsup:

(Roberta's "case" seems to be that she too worked on a farm back in the day and that Hopkins reminds her of a younger version of herself, and maybe one of her kids? I guess that's a reason to vote for somebody. Not a good one, in my opinion, but a reason nonetheless.)

In reply to Mouse and the comment she made regarding my defense of Lynda Hopkins...my using my life background has nothing to do with a similar reality only had to do with illustrating how life choices for many of us are reflective of our great diversity and do not mean we are without skillful means, intelligence, and a mindset to empower ourselves, and representing people from different and diverse backgrounds. I will bow out of further posts due to the tone of this discourse having become outside of respectful commenting.

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Posted in reply to the post by mouse:

...(Roberta's "case" seems to be that she too worked on a farm back in the day and that Hopkins reminds her of a younger version of herself, and maybe one of her kids? I guess that's a reason to vote for somebody. Not a good one, in my opinion, but a reason nonetheless.)

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I apologize in advance for the length of this message. :wink:

I have been reading this thread and need to make a few of my own observations. I originally entered the race for 5th District BOS, in response to Noreen Evans moving to Sebastopol (West County), and entering the race. I tell you this, so you understand where my mindset originally was. I then spent 3 months getting to know all of the candidates. My conversion to Noreen came slowly, but it did arrive. Why, you may ask, do I now wholeheartedly endorse, and support Noreen Evans for the 5th District BOS?

The first time I met Noreen, I stood up after the forum, got in her face and told her she was absolutely wrong about one of her positions and why. She looked surprised, but not flustered by my statements. Instead, she listened respectfully. Over the next 3 months I discovered her innate sense of humor and her ability to understand that this race was NOT about her. I discovered she genuinely, and passionately, cares about West County. Did you know she moved to Sonoma County in 1982? I learned her kid went to school in Sebastopol, and she has always felt at home there. I also listened to her ideas - she represents those ideas I hold dear 1) Developing affordable housing 2) Finding more permanent answers to homelessness and 3) Maintaining our agricultural heritage through balanced growth. She wants to keep West County clean from GMOs, glyphosates and strip mining. She wants to maintain our green belts and mitigate the impact wineries have on their neighbors.

I have faith that Noreen Evans will stand up for what is best for the 5th District. She will NOT be bullied or peer pressured into doing something. Her years in the California Legislature showed us this. During the recession, she held fast to her ideals against a wave of opposition.

I want my Supervisor to be mature and calm in the eye of the storm. I observed Noreen's behavior and demeanor during the primary campaign. It was consistent and steady, whether there was an audience or not. She did not have multiple emotional breakdowns. She did not respond in a defensive or immature fashion to those who disagree with her or those she felt had slighted her. I cannot say the same about her opponent.

For those who believe maturity and age go hand in hand, I point out Trump, one of the most immature people I have listened to and Jack Tibbetts, who, while in his 20s, is one of the MOST mature people I have had the good fortune of meeting.

For those living in the Past about Pension Reform, I say, it is time to move forward. The state Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act that took affect 1/01/2013, was during Noreen's watch in the Legislature. Some have hinted she was "pressured" to support it. I ask "Where is your proof?" She did not vote for the increased/retro Pensions for SCERA. She was there, however, for part of the solution. I am just as concerned as anyone else about the Fiscal Health of our County. Let us find the solutions together, building on PEPRA.

Kind Regards, Marion Chase

PS: I will not be responding to, or engaging in, any comments to this post. I have said my piece. PEACE OUT!

A couple of things about her "resume". She was at Farm Trails for less than a year and let go, I have no idea why. I believe she held that position some years ago. "Leadership Circle" for Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF) is an unelected position, they have officers that are elected. Hardly qualifications for one of the most powerful positions in our county.

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Posted in reply to the post by Barry:

You can see Lynda's professional background here, ...

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Oh, Shepherd, thanks! Me, too.....

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Posted in reply to the post by Shepherd:

... I prefer shorter paragraphs, ...

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Posted in reply to the post by Shepherd:

...As a 72-year-old English teacher, I prefer shorter paragraphs...

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I agree!

In addition, please include a blank line between paragraphs.

If you make your post easier to read, more people will read them! :waccosun:

On the topic of campaign contributions, I believe Lynda Hopkins and her supporters are missing (or obscuring) the point. They do not deny that she receives a substantial degree of support from commercial interests, but they downplay the significance of this fact. They say there is "no proof" that she will be influenced by her backers if she is elected. How could there be proof of such a thing before the fact anyway? Additionally, proof is a courtroom standard, and has no application to electoral matters. We have to make up our minds according to what we see as being most likely, and by that standard both reason and experience tell us that politicians tend to act in the interests of those that back them financially.

Ms Hopkins, with an air of injured innocence, is outraged that anyone should accuse her of being in the pockets of her backers, or imply that she is open to some kind of bribery. While I cannot with knowledge state that nobody has used such terms, it is not outright bribery or overt control that is at issue here. The plain fact is that business people do not give money to candidates unless they think the candidate will support their interests. These are the people who know her best, who encouraged her to run, who gave her that essential early money that enables a new unknown candidate to make a splash and position herself as a serious contender. All of this indicates that they think she will be "on their side" where it counts.

Does this mean that she will always spout their line, and vote in lockstep with what they want? Of course not. In a political climate like Sonoma County's that would be political suicide. They would rather have her continue to be elected than win every point. Large money interests play for the long term, and they do whatever they can to gain some kind of edge. They also know that often what is important is not votes on issues that generate widespread public opposition, what one might term "show" votes, but rather on enforcement and staff decisions that may never come up for an actual vote on the BOS, but can nonetheless be strongly affected by a supervisor pulling strings behind the scenes. It is about what subjects are even brought up for discussion, and whose interests they serve.

Ms Hopkins presents herself as a struggling organic farmer, but she did not attain that status by working for it; her husband inherited their first farm, and they had sufficient resources to purchase a second one. I am not clear whether they sold the first farm to buy the second or still own both, but either way the did not fight their way up from the bottom by their own hard work and resources. This is not intended as a slur, but as a plain statement of fact. The reason it is relevant is that peoples' attitudes and assumptions are strongly influenced by their life experiences. It is very difficult to have a true gut level appreciation for the plight of those at the bottom of our societal heap if you have not experienced that plight.

Here in west Sonoma County we tend to pride ourselves on being progressives. This means we believe that government actions can and should improve the lives of the least advantaged among us, and that one of the primary purposes of government is to protect the powerless from the powerful. If this is really how we feel, we might consider electing the candidate who, from her own experience, is likely to be the more familiar with the needs of the powerless, who is herself a renter (and no, she does not own a house in Santa Rosa to retreat to if she loses as some have suggested.)

Patrick Brinton

Does anyone know when and where their debate is?

All of our campaign events including public forums are listed on our web site: https://www.noreenforsupervisor.com/calendar

There aren't any "debates" per se - they are forums where one answers then the other.

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Posted in reply to the post by Goat Rock Ukulele:

Does anyone know when and where their debate is?

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Posted in reply to the post by Goat Rock Ukulele:

Does anyone know when and where their debate is?

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Candidates Forum Sponsored by Sunrise Rotary Sebastopol
Monday, October 03, 2016 at 06:00 PM
Community Church of Sebastopol in Sebastopol

Roseland Debate, hosted by the Sonoma County Gazette
Thursday, October 6th
Location TBD
6:00PM to 8:00PM

Candidate Forum, hosted by the League of Women Voters
Monday, October 10, 2016 at 06:30 PM
Sebastopol Community Center

Here's some real nice video from the 5th District Supervisor Candidate Forum held in Monte Rio on September 21 sponsored by the Sonoma County Gazette. Sam Euston did the video.

Clicking on the image below will take you to a youtube playlist where the forum video is broken up into 9 small pieces:

https://www.waccobb.net/forums/wacco...5_16-04-38.png

Barry

I am requesting that you ask Tom Lynch to moderate the tone of his posts on this thread. I, for one, find them overheated, rude, hostile appeals to emotion rather than reason. He makes countless unsupported assertions and opinions with almost no factual material to back them up. If this is indeed a forum for real political discussion then in my opinion this style of writing does nothing to elevate the conversation or genuinely attempt to persuade, and has no place here.

Patrick Brinton

I watched all those videos. It seemed like they pretty much agree on everything. Can someone point to differences in their pollicies or positions? I got that Hopkins favored forming a few new citizens boards and Evans did not but that seems pretty minor. They both come off as intelligent and capable.

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Posted in reply to the post by pbrinton:

I am requesting that you ask Tom Lynch to moderate the tone of his posts on this thread.

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I don't think Tom's posts are out of place here, but some of them overstate his case and I think do not serve his cause or reflect well on him. For instance:

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Posted in reply to the post by riverosprey:

..Majority at Monte Rio Forum Wednesday night, saw Lynda Hopkins as an exciting, visionary, courageous new leader, that Sonoma County needs, to overcome the twenty years of Noreen Evans failed politics, that has created the worst fiscal disaster in the history of Santa Rosa and Sonoma County. Noreen did not do well against Lynda Hopkins, who took her to task over and over, saying her solutions will not work, period...

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I do have a problem with his (and other's) redundancy, though. I suppressed a recent post from him from the digest for that reason.

The difference is that Noreen has a 20 year track record where you can actually SEE what she has done. Lynda, with no experience at all in government, can say whatever she wants with no evidence that she has or will do any of it. You can also look at where the money and support comes from - in other words who will be putting pressure on the candidate to vote their way.

When I am unfamiliar with an issue or candidate, I always look at where the money is coming from - it is a pretty good indicator.

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Posted in reply to the post by Goat Rock Ukulele:

I watched all those videos. It seemed like they pretty much agree on everything. Can someone point to differences in their pollicies or positions? I got that Hopkins favored forming a few new citizens boards and Evans did not but that seems pretty minor. They both come off as intelligent and capable.

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I can't get the Gazette Forum videos to load. Anyone else having this problem?

Thank you Barry, Patrick, Lisa et al,

I will endeavor toward brief comments...thank you Barry for removing the digest.

L, Tom

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Posted in reply to the post by Barry:

I don't think Tom's posts are out of place here, but some of them overstate his case and I think do not serve his cause or reflect well on him.

I do have a problem with his (and other's) redundancy, though. I suppressed a recent post from him from the digest for that reason.

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Hi- I viewed this videos in full
I appreciated the tone of the candidates. Yes if only our national candidates
Could be so civil right.

Each candidate gave an intro of themselves, unfortunately, Lynda did not actually
Tell us her bio, went right on into something else- but i know her bio.

I heard many good questions put to the candidates. And both answered pretty succinctly
And along the same lines.
I heard questions regarding road maintenance- many roads will actually never be roads again because they’ve been allowed to turn back into gravel (BOS eliminated a lot of road maintenance back during the recession)
I heard them talk of pot revenue to help solve some of our problems up here, and roads being one of them

Questions about signage problems as in “hey where did my sign go”, etc..etc. ok folks, Personally, i really don't care!

A TPP question, though this is out of the hands of BOS (yeah, really) they weighed in on it just the same

Traffic safety, lane safety, etc was important to people. I mean, after all, too many people on bikes alone have been wiped out on our roads- no excuse- fix it dammit.

Question on Septic systems- huge problem which both candidates pretty much agree is Not just the individual homeowner problem but a community problem
Composting toilets and their pilot programs- hardly any programs but would be an answer -so much red-tape
in my opinion County has stonewalled people on this forever-what is ever gonna change that-

Then they asked about runoff from AG, Roundup and Caltrans involvement in solutions as well.

So, as always not one person comes before these candidates and asks about the impact of
The cost of law enforcement on our communities. Or how LE serves, and does not serve
Our communities. How people of color regard LE and what is, specifically the Sherrif Department doing to restore trust in them? Freitas would site a bunch of bull but nothing really translates to boots on the ground! -Jail Beatings are making news, latest being a man's leg amputated because the jail refused him medical care-these are issues that MUST be important to the people of our community- if Both these candidates care anything about the poorest of the poor, they must hold law enforcement accountable!! And, if their answer is, "i'm glad we have oversight now"- i think i'm gonna throw up because that tells me they haven't researched law enforcement whatsoever....

no one seems to realize or care or understand that just like there is no $$ for many of the things they are asking these candidates to help solve or asking them where the $$$ will come from to fund much needed improvements for 5^th District needs, no one asks them why Law Enforcement gets such a big chunk out of the budget when so many other areas are in dire need ?

I did not hear any great visionary stuff from Lynda Hopkins, Tom, but I did not hear it from Noreen either.
They are just people and they are just candidates and they have some preferred approaches to how they would like to come into their position as a Board member if they make it. I just don’t see any miracle maker but I do believe, Noreen has a huge edge, she has been a constant in working towards important environmental change. I love pot for potholes and both candidates strongly support TOT $$$'s from our district STAYs in our district-i believe, when the
BOS, basically steals money from some districts and puts it into general fund that sucks- but, i'm a simple person- seems like stealing to me. will either of these candidates change this?

i want to reiterate, however, i believe neither Lynda or Noreen want to take on law enforcement and talk about it much- and from my perspective, this is the elephant in the room- or maybe, ONE, of the (important) elephants in the room huh.

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Posted in reply to the post by Goat Rock Ukulele:

I watched all those videos. It seemed like they pretty much agree on everything. Can someone point to differences in their policies or positions? ....

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Yeah, law enforcement policy is the hot potato, these women won't touch it unless forced. Now is the time they are least able to avoid the elephant. Once elected, the electoral structure gives them a pass, by design. But the bos does have the power by funding, is either of them willing to challenge the state? Plenty of money to finance jail construction straight jackets while cutting county mental health, happening now. I would think noreen would be better at this, with all her experience.

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Posted in reply to the post by beshiva:

...i want to reiterate, however, i believe neither Lynda or Noreen want to take on law enforcement and talk about it much- and from my perspective, this is the elephant in the room- or maybe, ONE, of the (important) elephants in the room huh.

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Tom's posts are the grounded reality of waccobb. This guy has laid it down for the rosa aristocracy. Shit is the basis for fertility. Suppress it and you just show how out of touch you be.

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Posted in reply to the post by Barry:

...I do have a problem with his (and other's) redundancy, though. I suppressed a recent post from him from the digest for that reason.

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Posted in reply to the post by Goat Rock Ukulele:

I watched all those videos. It seemed like they pretty much agree on everything. Can someone point to differences in their policies or positions? I got that Hopkins favored forming a few new citizens boards and Evans did not but that seems pretty minor. They both come off as intelligent and capable.

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For those very reasons, the best way to judge is by who is backing each candidate. these groups have done interviews and asked more detailed questions that don't get answered on the campaign trail.

Noreen Evans is endorsed by the Sierra Club, Sonoma County Conservation Action, the Sonoma Green Party and Working People and their unions. Lynda Hopkins is endorsed by the Chamber of Commerce, Sonoma Business Alliance, North Bay Real Estate PAC, California Apartment Association (all currently running a repeal of rent control) and Bodean Asphalt, Syar Gravel Mining, Big Wineries and Event Centers and Mike Martini, Doug Bosco and Valerie Brown, Susan Upchurch and Efren Carrillo.

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Posted in reply to the post by Glia:

...Connie is one of the founders of "Friends of the Graton Rancheria" formed to help push that awful Graton Casino (the one located in, um, Rohnert Park) -- which Noreen Evans did precious little to prevent.

You can tell much about people, especially politicians, by the company they keep and who throws fundraising parties for them.

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You are wrong. Noreen Evans was one of a very few in the legislature who OPPOSED the Graton Casino. I know this because I SUPPORTED it and lobbied her as did many of her labor supporters. She disagreed with us and VOTED NO. Noreen has demonstrated (unlike Lynda Hopkins) that she can say "NO" to those who have supported her.

So the Hopkins camp claims Evans supporters are spreading dishonest rumors. Maybe the Hopkins campaign manager should put a lid on the Hopkins supporters rumor mill before he accuses others.

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Posted in reply to the post by Glia:

Connie is indeed Hugh's widow, and *rumor* has it that....

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Barry receives a request from Noreen's camp "to moderate the tone of his (Tom Lynch) posts on this thread".

Barry obliges and further states: "I do have a problem with his (and other's) redundancy, though. I suppressed a recent post from him from the digest for that reason."

Tom apologizes and agrees to oblige, but not before one of Noreen's paid operatives posts:"You can also look at where the money and support comes from - in other words who will be putting pressure on the candidate to vote their way."

After which the people plowing the most outside money to Noreen post:"Noreen Evans is endorsed by the Sierra Club, Sonoma County Conservation Action, the Sonoma Green Party and Working People and their unions. Lynda Hopkins is endorsed by the Chamber of Commerce, Sonoma Business Alliance, North Bay Real Estate PAC, California Apartment Association (all currently running a repeal of rent control) and Bodean Asphalt, Syar Gravel Mining, Big Wineries and Event Centers and Mike Martini, Doug Bosco and Valerie Brown, Susan Upchurch and Efren Carrillo. "

How is all this not redundant? How does this advance the dialogue? How many times does this bare repeating? It just baits Lynda Hopkins' supporters to dispute certain statements, which has also been done ad nauseam.

Barry has stepped up to moderate. Let's respect his role here please and not beat each other over the head with that which has been stated and restated .

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Posted in reply to the post by Barry:

...I do have a problem with his (and other's) redundancy, though. ...

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Posted in reply to the post by photolite:

...How is all this not redundant? How does this advance the dialogue? How many times does this bare repeating?... .

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sorry but I posted in a response to a question about how to decide in a race where two candidates don't seem that far apart on the issues. A major way to differentiate in politics is looking at supporters. That's why when it comes to reproductive rights- i want to know who Planned Parenthood supports. When it comes to environmental issues I want to know who the Sierra club supports. And conversely when it comes to development and workplace issues I want to know who the Chamber of Commerce and the Press Democrat supports(so i can vote the OPPOSITE):wink:

I do find it interesting that you keep trying to hide Lynda's supporters (as does she by the way) and are now insisting that just by letting voters KNOW who supports which candidates we are doing something wrong. Noreen has no problem identifying her endorsers and is rightfully proud of them. I don't see Lynda trumpeting the fact that the Sonoma Business Alliance, Sonoma Chamber of Commerce and Syar and Bodean Gravel as well as Efren Carrillo and Mike Martini (Taft Street Winery) are big supporters.

I appreciate Lisa's post.
It's not an accusation or tit for tat, or trying to smear one candidate or the other.

She just lists the major donors for each candidate, which is public information in the filings that each of the candidates has reported to the County.

I was very appreciative of the poster who spelled out who is backing who. Some of us are just starting to tune into national and local politics, so that was new and good information to me. Yes lets be civil but lets also realize politics can be rough. Speak truth to someone elses bad opinion but ask that they be censored ilooses me.

What did she vote no on? Was she in the assembly or senate? Noreen and her supporters don't share enough of her record. Yeah its all public record, so we could look it up, but if you want to make a case share the details! (I appreciate this one : )

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Posted in reply to the post by Lisa Maldonado:

You are wrong. Noreen Evans was one of a very few in the legislature who OPPOSED the Graton Casino. ...

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Ross...you are a man after my own heart :)...

BS is like money, it only works if you spread it around...

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Posted in reply to the post by rossmen:

Tom's posts are the grounded reality of waccobb. This guy has laid it down for the rosa aristocracy. Shit is the basis for fertility. Suppress it and you just show how out of touch you be.

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Posted in reply to the post by Goat Rock Ukulele:

I watched all those videos. It seemed like they pretty much agree on everything. Can someone point to differences in their pollicies or positions? I got that Hopkins favored forming a few new citizens boards and Evans did not but that seems pretty minor. They both come off as intelligent and capable.

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Hopkins wants to form two new Citizens oversight commissions so that the River Corridor and the Coast Communities can have more participation and local oversight and receive more of the funding they generate go back into their communities. Evans says there are too many committees and is opposed to this step toward self determination. You find this a MINOR distinction? This is a MAJOR distinction and shows up the differences in the thinking of the two candidates. Lynda has original innovative thinking. Noreen is the tired establishment candidate who is content with the status quo.

What is TPP and what is BOS? Humor those of us who are not up to speed on all the acronyms.

TIA.

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TPP refers to the Trans-Pacific Partnership as far as I know, it's a trade agreement. Not sure how the BOS would impact it though.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...c-partnership/

BOS is just an acronym for the Board of Supervisors.:waccosmile:

oh dear, if only this were true- We need one more task force, or one more committee like we need one more ineffective Supervisor or like we need a tsunami Today... the cost of setting up such committees, which always turn out to be people appointed by the BOS, each with their OWN special interests, and what do you wind up with? - diluted results...committees are put in place to make people feel like they are doing something while wasting time and not having to deal with the problem, as in right now! committees enable the BOS to push off their responsibility to someone else and make the public feel like they are being listened to.
Noreen is soooo right on this.
just look at the latest committee we got- the Task Force, which cost us many thousands of dollars to come up with pretty lukewarm recommendations, and an auditor that has no power.
Also, we not only wasted our time on them, but the Civil Rights Commission that came here back over a decade ago, made numerous recommendations, including the major one- ALL departments within the Sheriff Department should have oversight. NOT only did we not get oversight, not even ONE, but of the 21 recommendations they made to the BOS, virtually every one was ignored. there were different Supervisors back then-nothing has changed.
i know i got a little discursive- but i will continue to bring the debate back to LE because it IS part of the debate!

So, One more committee to fix one more problem and my vote is a definite NO---
committees, task forces are not innovative- and i might agree that sometimes they work. But often, they are a waste of time, and money....oh yes, They will cost money. Funny how they always have money to study problems but not to fix the problem.
DEMAND that the BOS do their jobs! that IS what they are paid a 200K a year for you know.
And, as one of the public pointed out at the debate, who are they asking participation from? So many people already participate in their communities on so many levels, how much ya gonna bleed people??

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Posted in reply to the post by jbox:

Hopkins wants to form two new Citizens oversight commissions so that the River Corridor and the Coast Communities can have more participation and local oversight and receive more of the funding they generate go back into their communities. Evans says there are too many committees and is opposed to this step toward self determination...

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Posted in reply to the post by JayS:

What is TPP and what is BOS? Humor those of us who are not up to speed on all the acronyms.

TIA.

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TPP refers to the Trans-Pacific Partnership as far as I know, it's a trade agreement. Not sure how the BOS would impact it though.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...c-partnership/

BOS is just an acronym for the Board of Supervisors.:waccosmile:

TPP- Trans-Pacific-Partnership (if you google -lots of information) it is only the latest bad idea on Trade...it makes NAFTA look good--ouch
BOS- Board of Supervisors
sorry- since this is Wacco, i assume certain acronyms most folks know, but i won't take that for granted..thanks
i will write stuff out more often.

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Posted in reply to the post by JayS:

What is TPP and what is BOS? Humor those of us who are not up to speed on all the acronyms.

TIA.

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they can't-

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Posted in reply to the post by mouse:

TPP refers to the Trans-Pacific Partnership as far as I know, it's a trade agreement. Not sure how the BOS would impact it though....

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Will the commissioners be elected?

If not I don't particularly want an unelected member of said comission to have more political weight than my one vote.

If it is an elected office it's a whole other layer of government that needs to be paid for and policed by the voters.

There is nothing that stops voters and even non voters from forming political actions groups around their issues.

Will every district in the county have equal commissions? It sounds like a good idea at fist blush but the devil may be in the details.

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Posted in reply to the post by jbox:

Hopkins wants to form two new Citizens oversight commissions .....

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Posted in reply to the post by Goat Rock Ukulele:

Will the commissioners be elected? ....

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Yes the Commissions will have an elected body representative of its district. At this time there is talk of only the River Corridor and the Coastal communities to have districts. This is a response to their long standing complaint of being underserved by the County. The thought is to fill the void left when the State pulled Redevelopment money away from local communities. Hence the Russian River Redevelopment and Oversight Committee (RRROC) ceased to function. That body gave the River Corridor at least some autonomy, funding,and oversight for district projects. If Lynda's idea of redirecting TOT tax income back to the district from which it is derived and there was an elected body that can weigh in on what is needed we can become more self sufficient and less dependent on the dictates of the BOS.

Noreen belittled the idea and likened it to other districts like fire or parks and recreation and said we don't need this. In other words: Trust me, I'll take care of you. Well, I would rather trust local people who live here.

There are something like 41 districts already in the fifth district. Fire districts, school districts, water districts etc. These are all places people can gather and be heard. To create still more elected districts does not make sense. Noreen will make sure these people are heard by visiting their communities and hearing from them directly.

This could be quite the political payback for all those wineries, gravel mining and real estate interests if this commision is appointed by the supervisor. This might be where all those donations pay off, if Lynda gets to appoint an employee or associate who lives in the district under the guise of being a "citizen' who lives in the district.

Citizen committees are a way to calm down the public. These citizen advisory committees never have any teeth and the supervisors can make decisions not based on the conclusion without any reasons why. The hope is that whatever issue is controversial by the time the recommendations come in from the citizen group, that the public will have forgotten and/or not be so involved. We do not need more layers in government to slow down what is best as a very incremental process.

Noreen knows this as she has been in a leadership position. Lynda thinks it is a good idea because all she has is "book learning", no actual experience.

In an earlier post I mentioned the GSA panels being formed and how crucial it is to make sure the water decisions are based on science and NOT politics and those panels should have some clout. The supervisors would have to explain why they would not accept the recommendations. Lisa is correct that the supervisors (or staff suggestions) would appoint committee members and if the past is any indication of these appointments, they are never diversified and usually stacked in favor of the outcome they want.

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Posted in reply to the post by Lisa Maldonado:

This could be quite the political payback for all those wineries, gravel mining and real estate interests if this commision is appointed by the supervisor. This might be where all those donations pay off, if Lynda gets to appoint an employee or associate who lives in the district under the guise of being a "citizen' who lives in the district.

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Uh, it's gonna be "elected" Lisa. Don't be so quick to jump to conclusions that fit your (twisted) point of view.

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Posted in reply to the post by scamperwillow:

There are something like 41 districts already in the fifth district. Fire districts, school districts, water districts etc. These are all places people can gather and be heard. To create still more elected districts does not make sense. Noreen will make sure these people are heard by visiting their communities and hearing from them directly.

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I didn't know parrots could type.:wink:

AND- you don't know politics

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Posted in reply to the post by jbox:

Uh, it's gonna be "elected" Lisa. Don't be so quick to jump to conclusions that fit your (twisted) point of view.

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Uh, it's not "going to be" anything. It is one person's idea - that's all.

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Posted in reply to the post by jbox:

Uh, it's gonna be "elected" Lisa. Don't be so quick to jump to conclusions that fit your (twisted) point of view.

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Or the elected supervisor could just do her job and represent us using her own good judgement. Seriously, do the people who keep reminding us of how out-of-control spending is on county employees, really want to create more bureaucrats in the form of citizen oversight committees?

Shouldn't our thoughtful votes result in the election of competent and confident representation? I mean if the supervisor wants to invent/employ a whole new crop of citizens to make decisions for her, maybe we should just elect one of those citizens to be supervisor instead.

She has NO experience, so it's understandable that Hopkins would want to assemble a team of advisors to inform her of how things work and to blame when she makes mistakes and her inevitable pro-development decisions. It will be convenient to blame that citizens committee when she does the bidding of her deep-pocket supporters. Shrewd, obvious, and eminently shady. (Sorry jbox, but you're missing out on the old school politics that define the Hopkins campaign.)

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Posted in reply to the post by jbox:

Uh, it's gonna be "elected" Lisa. Don't be so quick to jump to conclusions that fit your (twisted) point of view.

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Again, it never ceases to amaze me how Hopkins supporters are rude and call names (no need to call me 'twisted') but tar everyone else as 'negative'. Really first rate republican tactics- not surprising given that Hopkins' Campaign Consultant Rob Muelrath is a republican.

As far as the commission- no one knows WHAT it will be since it is hypothetical and we are all surmising here.

this is a teeny bit off subject- but i think applicable.
i will share a note my Son text me last night after the debate- he wrote
"imagine a world with leaders not politicians".
i thought it sums all this stuff up even here quite nicely too lol

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Posted in reply to the post by beshiva:

- he wrote
"imagine a world with leaders not politicians".

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yeah, it's cute. But it's kinda why the politics are screwed up. Imagining a heroic pure-of-heart savior doesn't help. We're the polity and in many ways earn what we get. What has any of us done that would create the conditions for such a paragon to appear? There is violent disagreement about goals, vastly different views of reality and quick readiness to demonize opponents. We compare 'politicians', especially those who arn't 'ours', to your imaginary friend you propose and justify yet more cynicism and less cooperation

hey, he has youth on his side- though that's fading quickly..lol..you remember those idealistic days of activism when we thought we had to see change, and we had to see it NOW? And, we were gonna make it happen!
i wouldn't tell him different, like "wait till you become jaded like me". i know that change only comes with a whole lot of pain
and suffering and fighting (literally) and sometimes it comes non-violently but i can't think of Any movement that didn't have both to succeed.

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Posted in reply to the post by podfish:

yeah, it's cute. But it's kinda why the politics are screwed up. ...

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So Barry, are you going to let this lame excuse for dialogue continue?????

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Posted in reply to the post by jbox:

I didn't know parrots could type.:wink:

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We expect the tactics to get more and more nasty. After all, Lynda's run is being orchestrated by repubs and dinos.

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Posted in reply to the post by Lisa Maldonado:

Again, it never ceases to amaze me how Hopkins supporters are rude and call names (no need to call me 'twisted') but tar everyone else as 'negative'. Really first rate republican tactics- not surprising given that Hopkins' Campaign Consultant Rob Muelrath is a republican.

As far as the commission- no one knows WHAT it will be since it is hypothetical and we are all surmising here.

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One has to look no further than 3 years ago, when, Regional Parks endeavored to sneak through an ambitious plan to turn a string of West County communities between Bohemian Hwy. and the coast into a Yosmiteesque redwoodstyled Disneyland with the Occidental YMCA as its central "Adventure Day Lodge" and shuttle buses running from there up Coleman Valley Rd. and over to the coast, down Joy Rd and Willow Creek Rd. Other routes would head north and south to Freestone, Bodega, Monte Rio and others, threatening these bucolic communities with an inundation of unwanted traffic and degradation. A group of local citizens, unaffiliated with any of your stated districts, took it upon themselves to research and expose this travesty with a "town Hall" info meeting that drew 400 people to Salmon Creek School. The outrage of the communities was so great that the project was dropped.
That is an example of how such elected bodies may effectively function.

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Posted in reply to the post by scamperwillow:

There are something like 41 districts already in the fifth district. Fire districts, school districts, water districts etc. These are all places people can gather and be heard. To create still more elected districts does not make sense. Noreen will make sure these people are heard by visiting their communities and hearing from them directly.

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Actually, if this is accurate, then it seems like a great example how a group of local concerned citizens can affect change, without an official citizens committee or sanctioned affiliation:

"A group of local citizens, unaffiliated with any of your stated districts, took it upon themselves to research and expose this travesty with a "town Hall" info meeting that drew 400 people to Salmon Creek School. The outrage of the communities was so great that the project was dropped."

Am I missing something? Those 400 people weren't elected, were they?

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Posted in reply to the post by photolite:

One has to look no further than 3 years ago, ....

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Posted in reply to the post by photolite:

Barry receives a request from Noreen's camp "to moderate the tone of his (Tom Lynch) posts on this thread". ...

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Hey, how do we know photolite isn't a "paid operative"? Also, does anyone know where I should submit my "paid operative" invoice for wacco posting? Thanks so much. :wink:

This just in!!

Vesta Copestakes, editor of the "Sonoma County Gazette" has endorsed Lynda Hopkins for 5th district Supervisor. :thumbsup:

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Posted in reply to the post by jbox:

Vesta Copestakes, editor of the "Sonoma County Gazette" has endorsed Lynda Hopkins for 5th district Supervisor. :thumbsup:

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that was quite expected. after all Vesta absolutely LOVES Efren-right or wrong
i wouldn't expect anything less of her.
how Efren goes so goes Vesta

Noreen has not promised this that i am aware of. Instead she has talked about themed town halls as the way to hear directly from citizens. The agenda would be fixed. Effen has been busy and careful about district, noticed, and independant citizen group meetings. Less busy and more careful after his personal legal problems, and more likely to growl.

I wish the two candidates would lay out their vision and policy for constituent access and public meeting attendance. I have not heard great things about noreens history on this, though regulars in progressive democrat circles seem to talk to her regularly and both women are showing up to campaign.

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Posted in reply to the post by scamperwillow:

There are something like 41 districts already in the fifth district. Fire districts, school districts, water districts etc. These are all places people can gather and be heard. To create still more elected districts does not make sense. Noreen will make sure these people are heard by visiting their communities and hearing from them directly.

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Actually, Lynda has made a point publicly to give out her cell phone currently and does respond personally to email.

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Posted in reply to the post by rossmen:

Noreen has not promised this that i am aware of. Instead she has talked about themed town halls as the way to hear directly from citizens. The agenda would be fixed. Effen has been busy and careful about district, noticed, and independant citizen group meetings. Less busy and more careful after his personal legal problems, and more likely to growl.

I wish the two candidates would lay out their vision and policy for constituent access and public meeting attendance. I have not heard great things about noreens history on this, though regulars in progressive democrat circles seem to talk to her regularly and both women are showing up to campaign.

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I just wish I was getting paid. Should anyone be interested, they can contact me here and we'll arrange a meeting. :thumbsup:

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Posted in reply to the post by mouse:

Hey, how do we know photolite isn't a "paid operative"?...

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What a surprise...not.....

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Posted in reply to the post by jbox:

This just in!!

Vesta Copestakes, editor of the "Sonoma County Gazette" has endorsed Lynda Hopkins for 5th district Supervisor. :thumbsup:

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You do twist words lisa. The groups lynda proposes are modeled after the river redevelopment board which was elected with a lively democratic process. So your surmises are nasty claws shredding the truth drawing us all back to your ubiquitous talking point, that lynda hopkins has been bought and paid for by the evil empire of gravelwinestate.

Whereas a perfectly polite question about new info you share like my last post in response to you, you ignore : ( please, up your game, your contribution to wacco could be much more valuable.

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Posted in reply to the post by Lisa Maldonado:

Again, it never ceases to amaze me how Hopkins supporters are rude and call names (no need to call me 'twisted') ...

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Posted in reply to the post by photolite:

Barry receives a request from Noreen's camp "to moderate the tone of his (Tom Lynch[I]) posts on this thread"....

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I was the person who made this request to Barry, and I am in nobody's camp. I have listened to and met both candidates, and have followed their campaigns both in the primary and since. I have also tried to educate myself about the prominent issues. As a result of this process I have formed the strong opinion that Noreen Evans is much the better candidate, which I have stated in this forum giving my reasons. Other than asking questions in the process of my research I have had no contact with Noreen's campaign, and nobody requested that I write what I did. I reserve the right to change my mind should I discover new information that warrants my doing so.

Patrick Brinton

oh goody---can i call her at 3am
i'm busy till then

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Posted in reply to the post by Roberta Llewellyn:

Actually, Lynda has made a point publicly to give out her cell phone currently and does respond personally to email.

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What beshiva makes you think it would be alright to call someone at 3:00AM? Anyone, not just Lynda - would likely consider this over-the-top and possible harassment? It is curious to me how much displaced resentment, anger, and possibly, I feel, rage, is being expressed in this thread? Oh yeah, of course, you are just kidding about making a call in the middle of the night, right?.

I am truly disheartened by the tone of the thread here and no question about it the lack of respect is frightening in it's own particular way. I 'm so glad that Vesta has given Lynda Hopkins her endorsement because she has looked at both candidates with measured appreciation over a period of time for what it takes to perform in the position of supervisor for Sonoma County.

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Posted in reply to the post by beshiva:

oh goody---can i call her at 3am
i'm busy till then

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i respectfully disagree with your comments. it WAS a tongue and cheek- sorry you took it so personal.
And, personally, i don't think anyone on this thread has shown anything even close to rage. So, i'm just not reading what you are i guess.
of course, i wouldn't call Lynda at 3am-hellloooo
in fact, i'm never going to call Lynda

And, to finish up my comments....i do believe Vesta wouldn't EVER give an endorsement to anyone Efren did not approve of! What it takes to perform in the position of Supervisor certainly is Not any sort of behavior Efren has exhibited over his tenure. he's outrageous and more so if he had even a little bit of respect for the community he was supposed to be representing, and even more to the point...If he had any self-respect, he would have apologized and stepped down! Instead, arrogantly, he dug his heels in deeper and accomplished very little. Actually, Trust is important for people, at least it is for me. And Efren sabotaged that Trust. Politicians often do.

i'm sorry Lynda Hopkins glommed onto Efren - it did not serve her well.

Hope i'm not sounding angry- Just Very Very Clear.

What i'm disheartened about is that we have to constantly do this ridiculous dance on this thread, instead of just allowing one another to express our real heartfelt thoughts about these candidates and their qualifications.

i don't give a hoot what people think something sounds like- and i don't get frightened that someone's tone might be a bit abrasive. i think a hearty debate is NOT threatening, unless, someone is being "Threatening" and i have not heard that whatsoever on this thread.
just my opinion.
ps. in a couple of days i am moving- so i'll not be commenting on Wacco for a long time, if ever.
good luck everyone, it has been a blast!

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Posted in reply to the post by Roberta Llewellyn:

...I am truly disheartened by the tone of the thread here ...

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Oh No! I hope you can vote before you go! =:D

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Posted in reply to the post by beshiva:

...ps. in a couple of days i am moving- so i'll not be commenting on Wacco for a long time, if ever.

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The fact that you appear to be unfamiliar with this illustrates a concern I have about Noreen. She likely also would be unfamiliar with it as I suspect most Sebastopol residents are as well, yet it had every community west of there in a state of high agitation for most of a year. Both the PD and the Gazette provided broad coverage of this controversy.

These communities, with small populations, really require representation by someone able to perceive the impacts of certain actions that are not readily apparent to someone who doesn't actually live there. Lynda Hopkins does understand these things and can serve as a hedge against the tyranny of the majority who may be unable to see when there is more than meets the eye.

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Posted in reply to the post by mouse:

Actually, if this is accurate, ...

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Posted in reply to the post by photolite:

The fact that you appear to be unfamiliar with this illustrates a concern I have about Noreen. ...

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That's just a ridiculous and massive stretch there.

You provide a meandering description of an event three years ago, without any citation, I ask for details and this somehow reflects poorly on a candidate? Thanks, you're providing great insight into the mind of your candidate's supporters.

A capacity for supremely twisted logic has to be in place if you're a 5th district voter (who doesn't own a winery or a quarry or expect to profit from big development somehow) in favor of allowing the 4th district's interests to buy the 5th district's supervisor vote.

Wow . Thats quite a bit of organic compost. No wonder you and Tom and Lynda are such buddies. Speaking of bullSH&^% an independent expenditure has just been filed for Lynda Hopkins and Against Noreen Evans- Erick Koenigshafer is the treasurer of the committee.

Now we will see some serious negative campaigning. I imagine that the wineries and gravel miners are pissed that folks in the district have caught on to Lynda's #fauxfolksy #astroturf campaign and are starting to look behind the #greenwashing.

In case anyone wants to see who is paying for the slick mailers you are going to start getting soon attacking Noreen. Here is a list compiled of all the big business donors from Syar gravel mining to Quaker Hill developers who are funding Lynda's Campaign. A lot of us are probably surprised to see Bodean Asphalt and Syar gravel mining are so interested in compost toilets, tiny houses and organic veggies....#followthemoney

https://www.dropbox.com/s/3cpy0yvqfl...Date.xlsx?dl=0

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Posted in reply to the post by photolite:

The fact that you appear to be unfamiliar with this illustrates a concern I have about Noreen. She likely also would be unfamiliar with it as I suspect most Sebastopol residents are as well, ....

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Wow, that is an impressive list. Are you sure Lisa, that that is for Lynda and not some unknown republican stealth candidate.

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Posted in reply to the post by Lisa Maldonado:

...Here is a list compiled of all the big business donors from Syar gravel mining to Quaker Hill developers who are funding Lynda's Campaign. A lot of us are probably surprised to see Bodean Asphalt and Syar gravel mining are so interested in compost toilets, tiny houses and organic veggies....#followthemoney

https://www.dropbox.com/s/3cpy0yvqfl...Date.xlsx?dl=0

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It's so sad when people who self describe as progressive trash the other candidate for proposing that locals have more opportunity to democratically participate in community concerns. If noreen named lynda's proposal first, and lynda had the same dismissive response, costs money and to much already! I am sure many noreen supporters would parrot outrage at this antidemocratic response!veness.

It really happened. And the responsiveness of the county parks director was key in push back against the county marketing of west county as a tourist mecca.

That was no surprise- Vesta had donated 100 bucks to Lynda Hopkins a couple of months ago- while she was still pretending to be 'neutral' . You can see her donation listed with all the other business owners, Gravel Miners and Efren Carrillo backers in the spreadsheet I just posted .

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Posted in reply to the post by jbox:

This just in!!

Vesta Copestakes, editor of the "Sonoma County Gazette" has endorsed Lynda Hopkins for 5th district Supervisor. :thumbsup:

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Nope. That list is straight from Lynda Hopkins own Campaign Finance Forms. I just put in order so you can see the cumulative effect of so much wine and gravel money and real estate money in one place. Looks like she has raised over 100k in the last month from big business so you can expect to see some slick and glossy anti- Noreen evans mailers in your box (or in the Press Democrat- that way the Chamber of Commerce makes money on both sides of their investments!)

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Posted in reply to the post by Richard Nichols:

Wow, that is an impressive list. Are you sure Lisa, that that is for Lynda and not some unknown republican stealth candidate.

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I am a newbie to this wacco thread,

I don't hear rage..but people that are anxious and trying to be awake..I watched post of video last night of debates,and have seen Noreen at a local Q and A.. Noreen comes with so much to offer, we should be in gratitude that she is willing to keep fighting for our home and not caving into getting funding from the "big guys"
I believe Lynda's heart is in the right place..but being an organic farmer does not mean you are ready to tackle the developers,winery's,event centers and realtor and other pro-development politicians. It's too bad she isn't helping Noreen, should could use someone with her knowledge of farming. Why is there a battle raging..could it be the vested interest groups see that with Noreen business will not be as usual? Ie regulated water, and solutions to affordable housing?

You seem to overlook the fact that Noreen is completely beholden to the Public Employee Unions, and they are a very big guy on this block.

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Posted in reply to the post by natural home:

.. Noreen comes with so much to offer, we should be in gratitude that she is willing to keep fighting for our home and not caving into getting funding from the "big guys"...

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photolite, cite your sources. Don't just claim a lie based on a rumor, from that time you were in Sacramento, and put it in ALL CAPS, and expect anyone to take you seriously, or for a person with any cognitive ability (then again that does explain so much).

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Posted in reply to the post by photolite:

I think you may have just substantiated the rumor I heard that, while in Sacramento, NOREEN TOOK SOME HEFTY CAMPAIGN SUPPORT FROM MONSANTO!!!...

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The description I provided was as concise as I could manage, given the broad scope of what was proposed. I assume a certain familiarity with recent west county issues and events (in my book, 3 years is not that long ago) from someone who argues so passionately about the direction of our future, so I didn't believe I needed to cite my remarks. But here you go:

https://www.pressdemocrat.com/csp/me...id=555&fid=181

It strikes me as relevant that our next Supervisor understand the unique complexities of life on the coast and in the hills. The promoters of the West County Gateway Project lacked that sensibility. My inference was that if you, who I assume are a 5th district resident, had no clue about that very big local brouhaha, then it seems likely that Noreen, who hasn't even lived her for years until very recently, also wouldn't have a clue about it, not because there is anything wrong her. She just hasn't been around here enough to understand. Unfortunate things can happen by people with the very best intentions.
None of this strikes me as a massive stretch.

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Posted in reply to the post by mouse:

That's just a ridiculous and massive stretch there.

You provide a meandering description of an event three years ago, without any citation,...

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Beholden to people in unions you mean, like teachers, firefighters, police, public works employees, and social workers? People who work at jobs and deserve a decent wage? It should really give you pause when you find yourself stumping for the wealthy and attack unions in America. Do your homework and know your history.

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Posted in reply to the post by photolite:

You seem to overlook the fact that Noreen is completely beholden to the Public Employee Unions, and they are a very big guy on this block.

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Organic Farmer isn't the only skills Lynda Hopkins brings to the table by any stretch of the ruler. She has terrific vitality, and remarkable knowledge of Sonoma County government issues and will use her fine mind to come up with some great ideas and strategies for working with different agencies.

Lynda is running for Supervisor of the Fifth District to bring change to how things are done here and as a newbie myself to Sonoma County politics but not a newbie to politics in general, I have a different sense of what is needed to energize various agencies for getting more things accomplished in partnership with various players in Sonoma County. She has prioritized affordable housing, the infrastructure, as well as environmental issues, including the protection of the Coastline. She respects Noreen and the work she has done in the county, but, Lynda wants to create her own path with integrity and innovation.

Please check out her backers on the county link for candidates filing for office and note the great majority of them are individual contributors and she doesn't have any big business backers only small, local businesses. The opposing side has made a claim of big business moneyed backers which is actually is not the case and is a distortion of facts. Noreen Evans is qualified candidate and one I respect and have considered voting for too, however, I am excited by Lynda's taking a run at this race because of her ability to see both the details and the bigger picture. She will be able to hold these varied points of knowledge in her grasp for creating success in the position.

She has tremendous energy toward fulfilling the many faceted aspects of the job. She is a gifted person and may I add, as pointed out by journalist/reporter Vesta Copestakes who recently has endorsed her in the Sonoma county Gazette, Lynda is a kind person and willing to engage. I am not being paid by anyone to say what I have just written. I am an independent thinker with a great sense of seeing a larger picture for change. I have spoken with Lynda Hopkins and find she resonant from a place of participatory engagement and doing the work!

aaaahhhh- this isn't at all how it works. locals will not have an opportunity to do anything of the sort. Task Forces come from the BOS, and they and they alone, Pick someone from the community to study a problem or a solution.
People in the community don't just willy nilly get to meander on up to the BOS and tell them they are gonna be on a committee or task force- of course, that's a great idea but the BOS wouldn't have the control they want if that were the case.
the special interest of each individual BOS member "always" will come into play for any such studies.
Lynda's idea may be a good idea and it's not a new idea- just might be too much $$$ to implement.
And, as for Progressives- as much as we like to think we have Progressive ideas in this County, very few actually
ARE Progressive. We are a pretty conservative county once you get on out there and talk to people. And, when you are up against a Board of Supervisors like we have-not a one of them is Progressive...i don't believe Hopkins or Evans fall into that category either though you may not agree.

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Posted in reply to the post by rossmen:

It's so sad when people who self describe as progressive trash the other candidate for proposing that locals have more opportunity to democratically participate in community concerns....

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I said "unions" not "people in unions", which is a world of difference. Unless you agree with Citizens United. I guess if corporations can be people then unions can also be people.
I'm stumping for my neighbors, not some bloated special interest who has little regard for milking the rest of us dry.
Try thinking a bit more critically. Political correctness rarely pays the bills.

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Posted in reply to the post by mouse:

Beholden to people in unions you mean, like teachers, firefighters, police, public works employees, and social workers? People who work at jobs and deserve a decent wage? ...

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Beshiva i hope in your move you find a place to be happier in who you are, a passionate, intelligent advocate for justice and fairness. While i might disagree with you about the possibilities of elected and appointed citizen groups in representative democracy, i appreciate your point of view. I agree with you that wacco, soco, and west soco are conservative places, for most of the people who civically participate, the world works for them and they fear change...

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Posted in reply to the post by beshiva:

...And, as for Progressives- as much as we like to think we have Progressive ideas in this County, very few actually ARE Progressive. We are a pretty conservative county once you get on out there and talk to people. ....

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Federal law grants workers the right to form labor unions and collectively bargain for better wages and working conditions. Labor unions are not corporations or businesses.

"Corporations and unions face very different rules and requirements for their political spending. Labor unions must publicly disclose their political spending and, in some instances, face restrictions about seeking consent from their stakeholders before using political funds. Corporations do not face the same requirements. After Citizens United, there are many avenues through which corporations can spend money in politics without disclosing their financial support for particular candidates or causes. And corporations are not required to seek approval from their stakeholders—in fact, shareholders don’t even have the right under federal law to know if and how a company is spending money in politics."

You've got strong opinions for somebody who doesn't understand the difference. (You seem not to understand Citizens United either, btw.) Do some research.

You're stumping for your 4th district developer and landed wealthy neighbors--super. You're currently stumping for a bloated special interest that provides no service to the community, and seeks only to profit. So, what happens when "the rest of us" need police assistance in this expensive town without unions?

Thanks for exposing the truth behind many of the "fresh-faced candidate's" supporters. Just as we have suspected, they are corporate profiteers looking to greenwash their businesses and avoid paying taxes for services. How refreshing!

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Posted in reply to the post by photolite:

I said "unions" not "people in unions", which is a world of difference. ...

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To use your own words...

"That's just a ridiculous and massive stretch there."

As with other Noreen supporters on this thread, you seem deeply invested in demonizing "the other".
Whatever floats your boat.

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Posted in reply to the post by mouse:

... Labor unions are not corporations or businesses....

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from The Press Democrat, 9/29:

Land-use battles continue
EDITOR: Some individuals are attempting to fool people into believing that environmental/land-use battles are vestiges of the past. One merely needs to conduct a perfunctory perusal of recent events to discover a radically different scenario. Those who espouse such inanity may not have the best interests of 5th District voters in mind.

Consider these: Dairyman Winery; Best Family Winery; coastal waters leases; Occidental gateway plan; Spud Point Marina plan; Gualala River logging plan; development of coastal lands.

From a cursory review, it becomes clear that this is no time to place a novice at the helm who is long on platitudinal catch phrases but short on specifics. We need a strong advocate with a proven track record who is unafraid to confront powerful interests.

Leadership sometimes involves taking stances on issues long before public and legislative sentiment aligns with one’s own. Noreen Evans’ 2011 vote favoring overtime for farmworkers presents but one example of her political courage.

On Nov. 8, I will be proudly casting my vote for Noreen Evans to become our next 5th District supervisor. I strongly urge others who share concerns about the preservation and future well-being of our beloved 5th District to join me.

THOMAS DAVID BONFIGLI
Sebastopol

From : Vesta Copestakes (Publisher of Sonoma County Gazette - via FB)


People want to know the details of why I endorsed Lynda Hopkins instead of Noreen Evans. As I come up with replies - if it seems applicable - I will post them here.

I normally don't weigh in on political endorsements or even ballot measures since I want people to learn for themselves, then decide. But on several ballot measures I feel very strongly, and I came to the conclusion that I also feel strongly about the 5th District race.

I have been very discouraged and disappointed by the political campaign attacks on the integrity of Lynda Hopkins. Nothing in her career indicates that she is anything less than a strong independent thinker, intelligent, well-researched on a broad range of topics, knowledgeable about the nuances of policy, an avid environmentalist, and committed to a high moral standard. She has refused both money and endorsements from entities that insist on loyalty once she gets into office. She cannot be bought.

These attacks on her personal integrity are insulting - and worse - they are what give politics a bad name. I am very tired of “this is the way political campaigns are run” as an excuse. I have spoken with enough of Lynda's supporters to know that there are good reasons for their support.

One is based upon the fact that she is an organic farmer with all the environmental protections to which she commits to keep Sonoma County a clean environment and therefore our agricultural products secure on the world market. She is a small business person who understands that Sonoma County is small business strong, and that these businesses are what provide the vast majority of jobs in this county. We need someone who understands our need to pay our employees well so that they can live close to their jobs in affordable housing. Lynda's perspective on both issues delve into the details on how both can be accomplished in our district - which is different from the cities. We need rural solutions because we come under a different set of laws and rules than incorporated areas.

I also appreciate how she is available - on a personal level - to everyone...not just people who support her. She puts herself out there for conversations. The Coffee Chats and Town Halls are so different from Meet and Greets in private homes of supporters. She does not fear confrontation, nor opposition. I want that in my supervisor. Someone with an intelligent and open mind. Someone who does not attack, but who opens her mind to different perspectives while being firmly committed to a high moral and ethical standard.

I thought this through very carefully - attended meetings, have 10 questions to each candidate in the Sonoma County Gazette and learned from their answers. I am holding forums where people get to ask their own questions, and paid attention to each candidate's Facebook pages and websites to see how the candidate conducts herself. All this brought me to the conclusion that Lynda Hopkins will serve us in the way I wish to be served.

Syar........that's a deal breaker for me.

The other thing is Eric Koenigshofer. If he is with Evans that's good enough for me If someone can confirm that me and mine will vote for Evans..

Do you mean if he is with Hopkins? Koenigshofer has been advising Hopkins since the very beginning. Now he has formed a PAC that will funnel TONS of development money into a campaign against Noreen Evans. There are no limits on donations to these "independent expenditure' committees. So watch the cash fly. There is supposed to be no communication between an IE and a candidates campaign...but wait, Eric has been involved with the Hopkins campaign since the beginning, so what gives? What gives is the builders and developers and real estate groups are desperate to keep Noreen out of office.

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Posted in reply to the post by Goat Rock Ukulele:

...The other thing is Eric Koenigshofer. If he is with Evans that's good enough for me If someone can confirm that me and mine will vote for Evans..

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yep, there is a whole lot more that smells in this County than the manure. Koenigshofer who served as a Supervisor, (80') watched and approved the growth of the Wine Industry without questioning them whatsoever, never met a winery he did not support.
Efren Carrillo appointed Eric to the Task Force and he was specifically on the subcommittee that watered down any real oversight of law enforcement..he himself a lawyer...pounded home to the Task Force it just wasn't feasible to make an oversight person have much responsibility..without an awful lot of work-work he and a couple of others did not wish to do like Mark Essick one of Sheriff Freitas' right hand men. The oversight of LE was dead in the water before it began.
and Efren picked Lynda to fill his little shoes, i'm sure with the direct advise of Koenigshofer. he seemed to be gleaming at the possibility of running himself for Supervisor, changed his mind-obviously, he doesn't have to be Supervisor to wield his power and influence any longer, supervisors do His bidding.
so it particularly irks me when i read that Hopkins is gonna be a Progressive on the Board- and has some great ideas...yeah, and i'm gonna win the lottery today!

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Posted in reply to the post by scamperwillow:

Do you mean if he is with Hopkins? Koenigshofer has been advising Hopkins since the very beginning. ...

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For those who feel that judging Lynda Hopkins by her supporters and donors is unfair, an article in today's Press Democrat, reports the conclusions of an academic study on how various potential Supreme Court appointees would be likely to vote: center with Kennedy; left with Kagan and Ginsburg; or right or left of Alito (nobody is as far right as Clarence Thomas).

The studies' methodology is to evaluate political positions of the potential appointees' supporters—exactly what Hopkins and her surrogates protest: they say it's unfair to base conclusions about how she would vote as Supervisor on who her supporters are, and particularly her large donors. But the academic study seems to validate the position of Noreen Evans and supporters: Hopkins' big-money donors are not people who just toss big checks at politically untested candidates because they like fresh faces!

I have to add that in some elections I have decided to vote for or against State ballot initiatives by looking at the identities and associations of people who have authored the pro and con position statements. It does seem to work.

Who are Lynda Hopkins Backers with Big Bucks? The ones I'm aware of are individual donors, many, and small businesses in the community???

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Posted in reply to the post by jenielson:

...Hopkins' big-money donors are not people who just toss big checks at politically untested candidates because they like fresh faces! ...

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Are you serious? It is all here - but not up to date because the new reports just go in today and she has been getting max-out donations ($2894) every day.
https://www.noreenforsupervisor.com/followthemoney

And here is her official campaign finance report - hot off the press - Total raised by her campaign this year: $385,120. That is not coming from small carrot farmers.
https://campaigndocs.sonoma-county.org/CFD_Web_Images/2016/203/00120320160929F12.pdf

Add to that the soon to come in huge donations to the new PAC formed by Eric Koenigshofer against Noreen that can take contributions of any amount - no limits. So everyone that has maxed out to Lynda, can now donate to that PAC.

Also, out of the $150,000 plus donations she received this period, only $1648 came in small donations less than $100. Think about that for a minute.......

This is serious stuff.

I do have to add that I don't believe Lynda started out intending to go this route. But the big money power brokers that hand-picked Carrillo and Gore decided she was their best chance to defeat Noreen - who they are scared of because they know she will stand up to them as she has for 20 years.

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Posted in reply to the post by Roberta Llewellyn:

Who are Lynda Hopkins Backers with Big Bucks? The ones I'm aware of are individual donors, many, and small businesses in the community???

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So your theory is that Lynda gets big bucks cause those who play are scared of noreen. One problem with that is noreen has received the same bucks in past elections. How about a simpler theory, scientifically this is what not to ignore; lynda is getting the big bucks cause those who play are sure she will win and they want to be in the game. A difficult message for a paid political partisan to read, step out of those boots for a sec and into those of a business with a political budget, what would you do?

Yet the most interesting supreme court choices are judges who decide their own why, like kennedy, or scalia. Obama's nominee garland, it's unclear what role he would play, he could go either way, we would only know if he got a say ; )

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Posted in reply to the post by jenielson:

... study on how various potential Supreme Court appointees would be likely to vote: center with Kennedy; left with Kagan and Ginsburg; or right or left of Alito (nobody is as far right as Clarence Thomas). ..

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You say that Evans has received the same bucks in the past. So now she isn't getting these same bucks. Isn't that really a point in her favor if you are generally apposed to what many of those big donors have done and may want to do in the future in the west county. As far as they being sure she will win. I don't buy that. Companies and organizations make donations because either they believe a certain candidate is more inline with their interests or can be persuaded to become so.

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Posted in reply to the post by rossmen:

So your theory is that Lynda gets big bucks cause those who play are scared of noreen. One problem with that is noreen has received the same bucks in past elections. How about a simpler theory, ...

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmF1...ature=youtu.be

Wow...Monte Rio Forum...Difference of Night and Day between Lynda Hopkins and Noreen Evans.

Sorry, but Noreen doesn't have a clue how to create affordable housing in our rural communities. We need realistic solutions to house the people who work in our villages, who's kids go to our schools, and for the retiree's who are part of our community. Junior second dwelling units are the solution. Not Noreen's "inclusionary zoning" in new subdivisions (and the pension fund is not going to loan money at less than 7.25% interest.)

This is borderline demagoguery...

From the PD: "In the most recent filing period [end September], Hopkins received maximum donations from the Sonoma County Alliance, the county’s largest business organization, as well as the political arm of the Associated Builders and Contractors of Northern California, a trade group. She also received campaign donations from winery executives, including Gary Heck, owner of F. Korbel & Bros., Inc., which produces Korbel sparkling wine and John Dyson, proprietor of Williams Selyem Winery in Healdsburg."

To that add the Sonoma County Farm Bureau and Syar Industries (gravel mining company). The new super PAC organized to oppose Noreen Evans is headed by former County Supervisor Eric Koenigshofer.