Supervisor Candidates Field Questions in South Lake Tahoe Forum

The first El Dorado Supervisor Candidate's Forum held in the Tahoe basin this election season was held Tuesday night.

With the June 3rd election just a few weeks away, this was a great opportunity for voters to become informed on the candidate's views on a myriad of topics from teamwork and cooperation to economic vitality and mental health issues.

Not quite 100 people filled the California Conservation Corps meeting room. The forum, jointly hosted by the Tahoe Chamber and Tahoe Regional Young Professionals, displayed the knowledge and views each candidate has. What was also very knowledgeable was the forum moderating team of Rabbi Evon Yakar and Jenn Boyd. Yakar is part of the Chamber's political team who will be releasing the Chamber's supported candidates. Boyd is a founding member of TRYP and works in the marketing field for Weidinger Public Relations.

After the prepared questions were asked the public was able to have their questions presented to the panel. Time ran out before all questions were heard so TRYP will be posting the responses they receive from the candidates on their website within a week.

Gerri Grego comments:
- Healthy businesses can hire more staff, and pay that staff more.
- We need less government regulations on businesses
- We need to diversify the types of businesses in area and create jobs that will attract an aging population.
- I've reached out to Pollock Pines to see if their concerns were the same as ours, and for the most part they are.
- We're not representing the people to the government, we're representing the government to the people
- Mental health is a huge issues and one of the largest problems is the inability of those working in the field to share and discuss the patients

Angela Swanson comments:
- Restoring economic vitality is connected to a healthy environment
- Build Green to Keep Tahoe Blue - the economy and environment are together. We are in it together and need to use good science with clear projects and coming to the table without prejudice.
- Geography doesn't determine a good candidate, skill, talent, work ethic and knowledge do
- I'd prioritize energy needed for the job by being present and keeping in touch with all of the people and neighborhoods
- There are a lack of Mental Health services on the basin side of the county.This is where the granite wall is evident. There is a huge turnover in staff so we need to have adequate pay and services back in Tahoe.
- We need to keep rights as homeowners and that didn't happen when the TRPA came into existence. We need to protect the environment but need to address clearly and thoughtfully with transparency.

Teresa Piper comments:
- The county has been concentrated westbound for too long and we need to give the region east of Placerville more voice. We have everything in District 5 that the other Districts want but don't have.
- The county needs to bring in stronger internet and fiber optics so the dot com community will be attracted to the region
- Bring in jobs that bring in a living wage
- I have a home in Pollock Pines and South Lake Tahoe, the areas have similar issues
- I'd have a dedication to bringing jobs to Tahoe and bringing back the mill to Camino
- The front line employees need more education and empowerment to deal with mental issues & clients

Kevin Brown comments:
- I am an advocate for regional partnerships (all counties, cities, chambers, tourism agencies) to make a team for the common goal of economic vitality
- The basin generates more TOT than the rest of the county so the basin needs to get that money coming back here.
- We need a better relationship between city and county
- I believe more public input is needed on the Meyers Area Plan
- Should be a better balance with property owner rights and the environment. we spend a lot on the environment and may forget people and quality of life. We need the environmental protection but we don't need to over regulate.
- I wouldn't serve on the TRPA or other Tahoe basin boards or committees, instead I'd appoint a local

Sue Novasel comments:
- It is critical to involve your entire community with town hall meetings, coffees, good on line information so everyone is kept informed
- An economic revitalization strategy: we need to have a Tahoe community member in office
- We need to recognize and understand our differences. I'd go out and meet everyone
- We need our fair share of the budget
- With the different area plans we need to understand what the residents and businesses in each plan area want and need
- Mental Health is a crisis in America, not just in our come county.
- There is a lack of coordination between those that work with mental issues.
- We learned a lot about the thresholds of property rights vs. the environment. We've learned why we came to Tahoe, the blue lake and skies,

Kenny Curtwiler comments:
- It's no secret that I'm opinionated. I speak from the community voice.
- Agencies come in and get everyone excited, get a project started. We need to then take over what they started and get it finished
- You need to take more responsibility when you're responsible for people
- I do my homework, read budgets and documents and will find out all the information needed, this is my responsibility to the community
- You pick your battles
- I will concentrate on the unincorporated areas and still work with the City.
- #1 priority is dealing with mental health issues and loss of facilities. We need to be proactive instead of reactive.
- The TRPA is essential but they've gone beyond what they were meant to do. They should get out of the construction business and get back into the environmental business.

There is one more opportunity in Lake Tahoe for the public to hear the candidates. They will be at the Soroptimist's meeting at Harrah's on Wednesday, May 15 at 11:30 am. The cost is $10 for lunch.