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KEEP the Valley Green! |
       
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Questions and Answers 1) Would you support the stream setbacks that were originally advocated for by the environmental community for the County General Plan? Why? 2) What is your position on gravel mining adjacent to the Russian River? Do you support dredging of the River or the Laguna? Please explain. 3) Do you support the SMART rail and trail proposal slated for the November 2008 ballot? If so, what can you do to support this effort? I have never supported SMART rail. A truly viable mass-transit system must have connectivity and the SMART rail fails in this capacity. I do strongly support the extension of BART to Sonoma County. I believe that the currently underutilized branch of the BART system from Oakland to Richmond should be extended to Vallejo, American Canyon, south of the City of Napa, south of the City of Sonoma, east of the City of Petaluma, then north to Rohnert Park and Santa Rosa. If we decide to develop a system before connecting to the current BART system, then it should be BART constructed and managed. 4) Please explain your position on the low flow proposal for the Russian River. What are any alternatives that you would support? I support a balance in the use of the Russian River water. The absents of a working plan is our greatest problem with water If the current level of Coyote dam on Lake Mendocino were at its design height of an additional forty feet, then the lake would have had sufficient capacity to maintain traditional flows. By raising the height of Scotts Dam on Lake Pillsbury we could maintain the flows through the Potter By-pass as well as increased flows to the Eel River and Humboldt County. I believe that the Water Agency needs to account for the lack of planning in development of water resources. 5) What is your position on mandatory Green Building requirements for the County? Do you support grey water systems for the private residences? Please add any other ideas that you may have about this topic. I would rather substitute mandates for Green Building with rewards for Green Building. Much more creative environmental design in building would be supported by rewards, for the benefits would be ongoing. For example, we could reduce the costs of permits for initial construction based upon the incorporation of green design and after construction we could charge a “green rate” for water and sewer, etc. 6) What should we do to deal with our wastewater, both for East County wastewater and for sub regional discharges? Would you work to influence sub regional wastewater disposal options? What about agricultural reuse? What about reverse osmosis? I support the construction of a catch basin reservoir for wastewater along the upper reaches of Toley Creek in the south county. This wastewater could then be used to irrigate agricultural crops in an area of the county which has a scarce water supply. It is my understanding that the Healdsburg treatment plant is very environment friendly and could be used by other communities particularly those in West County. 7) Do you support the current operation of shipping our garbage out of County? What would you advocate for? What should we do about the County landfill? Yes, I would rather have us recycle more of the refuse we generate as a society. All of the effort and cost to transport our garbage could be better utilized to develop more creative means of disposal. I do realize that landfills are a necessary component to disposal, but I would keep that utilization to a minimum. 8) What are your positions on the proposed casinos here in Sonoma County? What would you do to influence this process? I would do all within my power to stop any additions to current casinos or the creation of new casinos. 9) Do you support de-salinization plants as a method of getting potable water? Why? Yes, where necessary but I do not believe we are in need of them in Sonoma County. 10) Do you support the continued exportation of water from the county for use in Marin? Do you support additional exportation of water from the county for use in Marin? I can only support continued or increased exportation of water to Marin, if we have ample resources available to Sonoma County residents. I find it appalling that we have chosen to fine water users for its use while exporting water to Marin. Those who have done such a poor job of planning should be the ones being fined. 11) What is you position on the Hospital siting in Sonoma? The site of the hospital should be determined by the community it serves. The failure of Measure C in the District should have been evidence of that. My personal preference would be to continue to utilize the current location. 12) Do you feel that any of the areas in East County, such as Boyes Hot Springs or Kenwood, should ever incorporate? My campaign motto is: “Keep the Valley Green”. I believe that Sonoma Valley is as precious to Sonoma County as Napa Valley is to Napa County and we should do all within our capacity to maintain its beauty. Incorporating either of these towns would encourage development and thereby degrade the appearance of the valley. 13) Are you planning to run negative campaigns against your opponents? No, my message to the voters will be on issues. I have a problem with what has and has not been done in county administration and I will focus on those issues. 14) Do you support strengthening the County’s Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance? How so? Affordable housing can best be achieved through the use of manufactured housing in appropriate settings. I do believe that the county is in need of more development in this area. 15) What is your position on the proposed North Bay Water Reuse Authority Program (S1472) carried in the House by Congresswoman Woolsey and now in the Senate by Senator Feinstein? I would support as I have stated in my answer to question 6. 16) What is your position on the proposed Ferry Terminal at Port Sonoma? I do not support it, I would prefer the use of BART as stipulated in my answer to question 3. 17) How are you a viable candidate? Do you have a consultant? How are you going to win your election bid?
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This site was last updated 04/30/08