Humboldt County politics: Second District election

In the post below, I wrote that I didn't think I had anything new to add to the passionate discussion about Humboldt County's Second District election. However, upon one individual's request, I am posting this week's Indie article about Clif and Estelle, because a small portion of it got hidden behind an ad (those pesky technical difficulties).

Being that it's Saturday, I'm fairly certain everyone knows for whom they're voting on Tuesday. But for the half-dozen of you who still haven't made up your minds... here's just a little more food for thought.

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Supervisor Candidates Outline Their Positions
Clendenen and Fennell Discuss Priorities for Second District

In a year during which a number of hot-button topics have dominated public discussion in Southern Humboldt – challenges related to the homeless, Code Enforcement Unit activities, “diesel dope,” the state budget crisis – the 2008 election season has been marked by both excitement and unexpected tragedy. Excitement, because two strongly-supported candidates have decided, both on a platform of change, to run for the Supervisor’s seat long held by Roger Rodoni; tragedy, because Rodoni perished in a highway accident on April 24.

Last week, Johanna Rodoni was seated on the Board of Supervisors, having been appointed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to complete her husband’s term. Roger Rodoni’s supporters continue to wage an aggressive campaign to re-elect him, with the fervent hope that Johanna – his twin half in politics as well as in life – will be appointed to the fourth term for which he was running.

Meanwhile, after a one-week suspension of activities following Rodoni’s death, the Clif Clendenen and Estelle Fennell campaigns hit the ground running again, with both candidates participating in several debates, attending numerous fundraisers and social events, participating in phone banking, and walking door-to-door all over the district. As the June 3 election looms, both of them spoke with The Independent about the greatest challenges facing the Second District, their proposed solutions to them, and why they’re seeking elected office.

Pressing issues in the Second District. For Clendenen, dealing with the shortfall in the state budget will be the county’s greatest challenge in the year ahead, one he believes can be met by cooperation between the county and private enterprise: “We need to use a small-business mindset to prioritize and do more with less,” he said, “looking at patchwork funding for grants, and being creative – say, for transportation, when scant funds are cut back, look to the McLean Foundation to keep a crucial program going.”

Clendenen is also looking to spur economic development, encouraging “appropriately zoned land for businesses that might move here, and supporting local businesses – the county can work on land-use planning, and assist the private sector when it can. Training kids is really important; a lot of the kids I graduated with from Fortuna High School, in 1971, did better if they went straight to work in Scotia at the mill than if they went to college. Now, computer training, technical training appropriate to certain fields, and vocational training are really important.” To that end, he would like to do much more work on the county level with the Workforce Investment Board.

The much-disputed General Plan Update was another area of concern to Clendenen, but he saw the opportunity for a new paradigm to be forged from the ashes of the timber wars. “It seems to me this would be a great time to start on the same page,” he said, emphasizing sustainability, the dictates of global warming, and the state Attorney General’s demand that General Plans prevent sprawl.

“We have to diversify the economy,” Fennell said, when asked what the three most important issues facing the district are. “We’re already at a place where we’re starting to feel the impact of loss of resource-based jobs. I propose that we encourage and incentivize innovative entrepreneurs, especially in the high-tech and clean-energy fields. The way to go about that is by providing the infrastructure that they need in order to remain in the Second District.”

Fennell also believes there’s “a crisis of trust between citizens and the county government, as evidenced by the uproar around the Code Enforcement policies and the Supervisors’ ill-advised moratorium on building on TPZ lands. We need a Board of Supervisors that works hard to include and acknowledge input from people their decisions will affect the most – property owners, resource managers, planners and builders alike.”

Her third area of serious concern was health and safety: “We need to find ways to ensure better response time from law enforcement when it comes to emergency situations, especially in the outlying areas. We need to recognize the hard work and dedication of volunteer firefighters by ensuring that they get their fair share of available public safety funds. ...Another aspect of safety is roads, [and] access to healthcare. That includes transportation and help for healthcare facilities, especially in outlying areas.”

Issues of concern to voters. “There are a few concerns that rise to the top [when speaking with constituents],” Fennell said in response to a question about whether there are certain grievances she hears about repeatedly. “Lack of jobs and representation at the county level. A lot of citizens of the Second District feel they have not been heard, and their issues are not addressed. Over and over again, I hear people say they want someone they can count on at the Board of Supervisors. ...Roads are a high priority for rural residents, and transportation is key for many.”

Clendenen’s reply to the question was succinct and to the point: “I think people want accessibility and good leadership.”

Perceived cultural divide between Fortuna and Southern Humboldt. “I have not found it to be true,” Clendenen said when asked if there is, indeed, an ideological chasm separating the northern part of the Second District from the southern. “There’s more that unites us than divides us. People want their kids to be able to work here, they want safe neighborhoods, and they want good roads.”

“There are differences in the demographics of the Second District,” Fennell said, “but I wouldn’t go so far as to say there’s a divide. Getting to know people one-on-one in their homes, it’s clear that we all share very similar concerns. ...You’ll definitely find people making broad-based statements, like ‘those lawless people in Southern Humboldt’ or ‘those rednecks in Fortuna,’ but those are over-broad generalizations, and surprisingly few voice them.”

Funding for infrastructure in Southern Humboldt. “The roads need to be repaired,” Fennell said of what is perhaps Southern Humboldt’s oldest grievance. “Too many years of deferred maintenance only adds to the eventual cost of bringing them up to par. My election will serve as a mandate to address this concern of rural residents, and I will make that a part of my argument when budget and funding decisions are made. There are various funding streams, both state and county, and we have to prioritize safety for rural residents.”

“All the counties in California want to get as much as they can,” Clendenen said, “and with road funding, part of it gets pulled out for transportation, so repairs and transportation actually compete. That’s going to be an ongoing challenge.” Clendenen said grant funding is often available for specific projects, but acknowledged that in rural areas, it’s often difficult to secure state funding; additionally, the lack of well-maintained roads often results in negative impacts to property values.

Garbage in the Eel River. Clendenen has spoken with John Casali, who has been engaged for nearly two years in a concerted effort to collect garbage from the Eel River and surrounding creeks. He has not spoken with officials at either the county or state levels, but said that, if elected, he would “try to get as many people together,” such as county agencies, off-road recreational groups, and Eel River Disposal, to create a joint-power authority. Noting that there is a semi-permanent homeless encampment north of Fortuna, he emphasized the need for environmental education, and praised the efforts of the Fortuna Creeks Project – a high-school club that works on river and creek cleanup, conducts water testing, and places markers on storm drains that drain into the Eel River.

“I’ve spoken with the Department of Environmental Health, along with Syd Lehman and John Casali,” Fennell said. “I’ve spoken with Code Enforcement and with law enforcement. The bottom line is that this kind of egregious situation can be addressed with existing funds, and it takes the political will be drive the agencies to address them.”

On the topic of existing funds, Fennell excoriated the county for “spending taxpayer dollars when it can least afford it, on ill-advised lawsuits such as the Tooby lawsuit. We’re wasting money on this kind of thing. We have to be more pragmatic with county funds – we’ve wasted six years of staff time and millions of dollars.”

Advocating for healthcare dollars. Fennell believes that when it comes to rural healthcare, mental healthcare, and senior services, “we need to explore the successes and tap into existing programs, as well as strategize for better solutions. That can include the county working with various clinics to address their needs, [and] it can include such things as facilitating telemedicine, improving transportation and in-home healthcare, and working to strengthen mental-health services.”

For his part, Clendenen also sees an inextricable link between quality healthcare and transportation, saying, “We have to deal with healthcare at the front end.” And, while he believes “it’s true that the further you get away from the county seat, the harder it is to get funding,” he asserted that he would “be as strong a candidate as possible for the Second District,” meeting with healthcare professionals and helping hospitals and clinics qualify for as much funding as possible.

Top priorities if elected. “Economic development would be my top priority,” Clendenen said in response to a question about what he would do upon first taking office. “But it’s going to be a slow process, with a lot of people involved.” The state-budget shortfall and the arduous General Plan Update process have been stumbling blocks to the county, Clendenen said, but he believes much opportunity can be found in the Second District: sustainable forestry; a rapid rise in the number of healthcare jobs, concomitant with the growing population of seniors; high-tech, alternative-energy, and green-building jobs; and specialty foods and agriculture.

Citing the success of Arcata’s Cypress Grove cheese company, Clendenen added, “Humboldt County has always been an agriculture pioneer... The Second District is where most of the grass-fed beef is grown, and the county should try to partner with the private sector to provide good jobs with living wages.”

“My top priority is to ensure that the Second District has strong representation at the Board of Supervisors,” Fennell said, “that the county begins to restore the trust for people that live in the rural areas, and when it comes to discussion of issues that impact people and their families – such as land-use planning and Code Enforcement – that the county will do a better job of opening up the process and empowering people to take an active role in the future of the community.”

General Plan Update. “I don’t think we can point to only one option at this point,” Fennell said in reply to a question about which proposal in the draft GPU she most favors. “The way the process works is that as the plan is hammered out, segments of each option – from A to D – will eventually wind up in the preferred option. That being said, I think it’s extremely important that, while we work to protect the environment, we honor and respect rural values and protect property rights. ...Interfacing with the general public, the Planning Department must find ways to clarify their presentations, and make it easier for property owners to understand the impact of proposed options, and make informed choices when it comes to their input.”

As he has stated in several debates, Clendenen favors a plan that would be “in the A-minus/B-plus range,” having a watershed-wide view of development that would protect the land while protecting property owners’ rights as well. He would also like to see more emphasis on restoration and land-use solutions, such as the installation of catchment tanks to mitigate water use and minimize the impacts humans have on the land. Clendenen showed special concern about lands that were poorly logged and then subdivided, while praising the efforts of individuals and groups that have done extensive forest and stream restoration – “which should be further encouraged.”

Clendenen also praised the plans laid forth by the Redwood Forest Foundation for the 50,635-acre tract that it purchased in northern Mendocino County: “It looks great,” he said. “It’s a huge investment, with not a lot of return right now, but a good plan for the long-term future. I think something like it would be the ultimate thing for the Pacific Lumber lands.”

Personal strengths. “I was born and raised here, I have a small-business mindset, and I have a strong interest in the long-term health of Humboldt County,” Clendenen said when asked why he believes he is the strongest candidate for Second District Supervisor. “I think my campaign has blended people who have never blended before, which is something I’ve done in my life and in my business. I feel like I can make a positive contribution to the health of Humboldt County.”

“I think I’m the strongest candidate based on my experience,” Fennell concluded. “I’m extremely proud of the recognition I’ve received from the community, and the numerous awards I’ve received. After 17 and a half years as News Director [at KMUD], I know the issues facing the county, I have a proven track record serving my community, a proven ability to keep a clear head in times of stress, and a proven desire to give everyone a voice.”

For more information about Clif Clendenen, go to www.clendenen4supervisor.com. For more information about Estelle Fennell, go to www.estellefennell.org.

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Photos: Clif Clendenen shares a laugh with Nonae Sears during a meet & greet at the home of Jim and Barbara Truitt; Estelle Fennell speaks during an afternoon fundraising event at Whitethorn Construction.