TahoeChamber Endorses Seven Candidates for California Elections

TahoeChamber has endorsed seven candidates for the upcoming election that best portray the values and abilities necessary to serve the South Shore business community. As directed by the TahoeChamber Board of Directors, the TahoeChamber Candidate Endorsement Committee (TC-CEC) used the pillars of the Chamber’s adopted Tahoe Future A South Shore Community Vision 2020 as the foundational criteria for evaluating candidates. The pillars include Economic Vitality, Quality of Life, Sustainability, Infrastructure and Intellectual Capital. The endorsements were developed through an extensive process including a review of candidate answers to the Chamber’s written questionnaire, personal interviews, a review of all available candidate statements and published materials, performance at candidate forums, campaign websites and a review of voting records, as applicable. The TC-CEC members independently completed a score sheet on each candidate and shared those during their final meeting. The scores were listed with the highest and lowest eliminated. An average percentage score was then calculated for each candidate with the highest scoring candidate(s) receiving a recommendation for an endorsement. The TC-CEC recommendations for endorsements were brought to the TahoeChamber Board of Directors meeting on September 18 and the Board voted to endorse the recommended candidates as follows.

Endorsement for El Dorado County Supervisor District 5 - Sue Novasel
Sue showed depth in understanding that relationships in Placerville are necessary in order to advocate for and fund growth policies and plans in El Dorado County. Sue understands that funding for our recreation and tourist services, police, fire and transportation are critical and will require assistance from her fellow supervisors. She supports a slowed down approach to the Meyers Area Plan and will carefully evaluate changes to the County charter, which may negatively affect growth in the Basin. Sue fully supports the college’s expansion to a 4-year institution and Measure F. As a long term resident, she is focused on recreation and will strive to keep county services at a high level. She is committed to improving and maintaining our roads and other physical infrastructure such as equipment, schools and facilities. Sue plans to attract new public/private endeavors to expand our infrastructure. As a former member of the LTUSD School Board, Sue believes in the power of education to improve our community.

Endorsement for Lake Tahoe Community College Board of Trustees - Michelle Sweeney
Michelle understands the importance of and opportunities for integrating K through 16 education towards the development of intellectual capital in our community. She understands policy development and community-wide implications for enrichment. Michelle has demonstrated a clear understanding of the role of the college in our community impacts and influences Economic Vitality, Quality of Life, Infrastructure and Sustainability. Michelle strongly supports Measure F. Through her 501(c)(3) non-profit, Tahoe Project, Inc., her communications design and consulting company (Allegro Communication Consulting), and other activities, Michelle has developed relationships with a variety of community leaders and people throughout various levels in the California educational system, including the U.C. system. One of Michelle’s primary areas of focus is on “facilitating critical thinking about people and nature in the 21st century.”

Endorsements for South Tahoe Public Utility District Board of Directors

Shane Romsos (District 2)
Shane understands the important role the District plays in helping to protect Lake Tahoe by properly maintaining the infrastructure necessary to protect against sewer spills and other hazards involved in the collection, processing and exporting of sewage effluent. He clearly conveyed his belief that the Board should represent the will and desires of STPUD customers and constituents, including businesses and other ratepayers, visitors, government agencies and community non-profits. Shane believes the District can do more to explore and engage alternative energy sources and achieve savings and environmental benefits through improved energy conservation. Shane also expressed the role STPUD can and should play in the partnerships necessary to facilitate community revitalization and affordable housing, “consistent with the Chamber’s Vision 2020 document.”

Andy Chapman (District 5)
In his written responses to the Chamber questionnaire and personal interview, Andy demonstrated his understanding and commitment to representing ratepayers in the decision-making process at STPUD. He clearly communicated his interest in financial matters, indicating his interest in serving on the Board Finance Committee. He has prior experience serving on special district boards at Tahoe, including Skyland General Improvement District and Tahoe Douglas Sewer District. Andy also demonstrated an understanding of the impact STPUD has on Tahoe’s business climate, supporting “a more flexible fee structure as it relates to new business,” which connects directly with the pillars of Economic Vitality and Sustainability. Andy understands the role of STPUD in protecting the environment.

Endorsements for South Lake Tahoe City Council

Wendy David
Wendy has served the community as a member of the Lake Tahoe Unified School District Board for 17 years, elected by her colleagues as Board Chair for 13 of those years, underscoring her skills as a consensus builder and leader. She supports a greater partnership between the City and educational community, as well as with the City, its citizens, tourism and business community. She wants to bring greater civility to the discourse at Council meetings. Her support for infrastructure investments is clear: Wendy co-chaired the School District’s Measure G grant of $64.5 million, which significantly improved the infrastructure and educational quality of South Tahoe High and other district schools. She is currently co-chairing the campaign in support of Lake Tahoe Community College’s Measure F. Wendy gave one of the best definitions for Quality of Life, saying, in part, “Quality is the ability to feed, clothe, educate and recreate with our friends and families in a clean, cared for community … It includes opportunities for growth, both personal and professional … It is where each person is accepted and celebrated and proud of where they live.”

Matt Palacio
Although a newcomer to community-wide leadership positions, Matt clearly articulated a full and comprehensive understanding of how the five pillars of the Chamber’s Vision 2020 fit together. He was equally clear in his desire to model leadership and collaboration. Matt expressed an enthusiastic commitment to expanding the City’s community engagement, reaching out to constituencies that do not always feel welcomed or heard. He has fresh perspectives on how to grow the South Shore’s recreation economy in a way that benefits both residents and visitors. He understands that a greater level of commitment and investment is required to do so. He strongly supports transportation and community mobility improvements and creating a more sustainable community, one that leads in the area of environmental and economic stewardship. He believes the City can foster Economic Vitality by speeding up the permitting processes to support entrepreneurs and infrastructure improvements. Matt’s willingness to learn and step up to the role of a community leader on the City Council is refreshing.

Angela Swanson
Throughout the evaluation process, Angela consistently demonstrated a working knowledge of the position of City Council member. Her voting record over the past four years has supported the pillars of Infrastructure, Economic Vitality and Intellectual Capital. She has been a council leader in support of revitalization and vocal in her support of bike and multi-use trails. Angela understands the importance of improving the supply of quality affordable housing and is an active supporter of efforts to streamline the City Code. She has served as the Council representative on a number of boards, including the California Tahoe Conservancy (previous) and the Tahoe Transportation District (current). Angela has demonstrated a keen interest in legislative and policy matters as the City’s representative to the California League of Cities and other statewide groups. She communicated her interest in continuing to seek best practices she can bring to the City of South Lake Tahoe. She has prior LTUSD School Board experience and was a chair of the Measure G School Bond (2009) and the District’s Measure L parcel tax (2006).

TahoeChamber will post a sample score sheet, as well as scores for all candidates on www.tahoechamber.org. For additional questions please contact Chamber CEO B Gorman or TC-CEC Chairman Craig Woodward.