Supervisor Candidate Angela Swanson: " We need to address the county’s dysfunctional culture"

South Tahoe Now sent a questionnaire out to all of the candidates for El Dorado County Supervisor and Douglas County Sheriff. This is the last of the submitted responses. Candidates Sue Novasel, Kenny Curtzwiler and Angela Swanson were the only County Supervisor candidates to respond, and Douglas County Sheriff candidates Ron Pierini and Dave Brady were the only Sheriff candidates to respond. We thank those that took the time to reply.

1) What do you see as the Number 1 issue facing residents of District 5?
Months ago I would have said jobs and the economy are the most pressing issue. And they are, but I’ve learned that there is limited opportunity to make headway on those issues until the county’s dysfunctional culture is addressed. Another area of focus will be to restore the quality and level of baseline services to families and children.

2) What will you do to address this problem?
Although the culture has improved dramatically in the past four years, there is tremendous opportunity for the Board of Supervisors to “up their game” and improve their decision-making and analytical functions. I am running for the District V seat, in part, because I have a demonstrated ability to bring thoughtful, careful, gutsy deliberation and action to the Councils/Boards on which I serve.

As for jobs and the economy, I propose a three-pronged approach. First, support and expand existing businesses through the County’s economic development division and through partnerships with the chambers and private sector. It’s easiest to grow what’s already here. Second, address the infrastructure limitations that prevent new business from locating here. This includes broadband, cellular, roads and burdensome regulations. Third, recruit businesses that align with recreational tourism, health and well-being and green technology business incubation.
My commitment is to return our fair share of the county’s budget and resources to locals. The County is the primary provider of all human services from seniors to CPS to public health to corrections to bus service. Our community deserves more dollars for its tax dollars. For example, we talk about restoring bus service to Meyers. That can be done through social service program funding intended to support transporting those in need. A second example, the recently re-formed recreation department only recently catalogued the recreation facilities on the East Slope. We’ve lost thousands of dollars in maintenance and equipment funding because they didn’t know what’s here. It’s time for parity in spending.

Our probation, child protective and mental health service programs need attention. The child support and protective services units are suffering from low morale and high turnover rates that diminish effectiveness. This is symptomatic of the culture issues exemplified most startlingly in the Human Resource Director position which has turned over 11 times in 9 years. El Dorado County needs to work on it culture broadly.

3) There seems to be a divide between west slope and east slope residents. Do you agree? If so, how will you address this?
There is a very real granite wall dividing the Basin from the West Slope. Many locals focus on the Board of Supervisors’ infrequent meetings in the Basin as the problem that needs resolution. That misses the point, the real divide is having CPS calls go to Placerville instead of a local branch. It is when clientele in the Basin must go to Placerville, a journey for which there is no public transit, for basic services such as dental and mental health care. These inequities must be addressed through Board policy, administrative and budget changes.

4) Tell me about yourself and why you are qualified for this elected position? Please list your background in the community, education, committees, etc.

My primary qualifications for Supervisor are 1) a track record of achievements over 20 years in community service on boards, commissions and volunteerism. I also was elected to the Lake Tahoe USD board of education and presently serve on South Lake Tahoe’s City Council. 2) a depth of knowledge – whether on Tahoe-centric issues such as Tourist Accommodation Units or the broader canvas issues like improving broadband access, infrastructure and emergency services-- that is unsurpassed by another other candidate in this race.

Highlights of my record of achievement
Elected Service:
Councilmember, City of South Lake Tahoe
• Vice Chair & Board member, Tahoe Transportation District
• Board member, California Tahoe Conservancy
• Board member, CalTahoe Emergency Service Operations Authority
• Board member, South Lake Tahoe Basin Waste Management Authority
• Board member, Tahoe Prosperity Center
• Local Government Officials Broadband Roundtable
• League of California Cities delegate, Employee Relations Committee
• League of California Cities, delegate, Transportation Communications & Public Works Comm
• League of California Cities, delegate, water bond task force

Board Member Lake Tahoe Unified School District
• Approved $64.5M school bond initiative
• Approved Bijou Elementary School Two Way Immersion Program
• Preserved Class Size Reduction

Community Boards & Service Clubs:
Lake Tahoe Educational Foundation, Board Member
Boys & Girls Club of Lake Tahoe, Board Member
Rotary Club of South Lake Tahoe, Member
Zawadisha (non-profit bettering the lives of families in Kenya), Member
Ladies Auxiliary, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Lifetime Member

Civic Service:
56-Acre Project (LakeView Commons), Steering Committee
Measure G Campaign, Co-Chair, $64.5M school bond
Measure G Bond Oversight Committee, Advisor
Lake Tahoe Collaborative, Member
Sierra House Elementary School PTA President, VP, Secretary, Comm. Chair
South Tahoe Middle School, PTA President, VP, Secretary, Committee Chair
South Tahoe Middle School, Site Council

5) What can you bring to the table to make sure District 5 gets representation at the Board of Supervisors when there are other strong voices?
I already have effective relationships among the other Supervisors, staff and my fellow elected in the City of Placerville. These relationships have grown through my work with the League of California Cities and on the State’s Broadband Initiative.

6) Do you consider yourself a team player? Why?
Very much so. Most people don’t realize it but politics is a team sport. Team play is not a 5-0 proposition, either. It’s normal for there to be disagreement among policymakers. The good team player understands that you have to count to three on an issue. Getting to three comes through understanding how your fellow electeds think and where values and priorities align (and don’t) then finding the compromise.

Most importantly, when on the losing side of a vote, the true team player understands that they must get on board with the majority decision. To do otherwise undermines the staff’s ability to implement the board or council’s actions.

7) How will you reach out to your constituents if elected?
I am glad you asked this question! No one on the Board of Supervisors has ever conducted regular town hall meetings, listening sessions, op-ed pieces, or newsletters to constituents. In this electronic age it is easier and more important than ever for our Supervisor to reach out to constituents in multiple ways from Facebook to face-to-face.

Missteps like the Meyers Community Area Plan could have been avoided if there’d been more effective outreach and communication between the county and residents. The Meyers controversy points up, too, that the Supervisor can’t do outreach alone. Staff must also work to be accessible and involved in the community.

8) What do you want voters to know about you?
I am committed to protecting this beautiful place, from Tahoma to Pollock Pines, and appreciate the diversity of the district. My priorities are to improve the infrastructure, develop new jobs and provide the services that hard-working families pay for with their tax dollars. I believe that El Dorado County is ready to become an effective partner to Tahoe and beyond.

9) If you could ask your fellow candidates a question, what would it be and what is your answer?
I would ask my fellow candidates how they will effectively implement the RPU and what issues remain to be addressed. Living in the basin doesn’t qualify one for handling the complex land issues still on the table; issues such as the transfer and conversion of TAUs, hydrological boundaries, etc. The optimism of the updated Regional Plan has yet to be tested with a real project coming from within one of the new area plans. It will take skill, experience and knowledge for the local government agencies to maintain the accord with the Governing Board and environmental groups through that first project.