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County General Plan
A general plan should be a positive vision for the future. We need to focus on long-term planning that builds healthy communities and protect the needs of youth, families, and seniors. A good general plan encourages business and supports economic development, while protecting our resources.
I will work toward and support a plan that maintains our resource lands for the jobs they produce as well as for the rural character and way of life that we treasure. The plan must also protect the timber and agricultural jobs have been the backbone of our county and while not as numerous as they once were, they still underpin our economy. I also believe we should focus development in and around our cities to create healthy, walkable, mixed-use communities.
I fully support the process of updating the General Plan, as it educates both the citizens and civic leaders to make the best decisions for all. As a good example, Fortuna’s recent General Plan Update Workshops have attracted over 100 citizens to several different meetings. This process can be government at its best, in action.
Economic Development
I will support Main Street, not Wall Street. Let’s encourage our local businesses and merchants. These folks have supported our communities for years. The ripple effect of local employment, civic participation, and local purchasing cannot be overstated. Locally owned businesses, keep money in Humboldt County, while out of the area businesses, export money out of the county. It is paramount that we keep our dollars locally invested and strive to stop economic leakage.
As our county evolves, we need to support our existing resource and restoration industries as well as position ourselves to take advantage of the future economy. The county has identified sectors of the economy that show promise in job growth and higher wages like specialty agriculture and health care, so I will target our planning and workforce training to capitalize on these areas.
For continued prosperity and long-term planning, we must consider world trends in climate change, future energy availability and its costs, look to incorporate newer alternative energy types. In the meanwhile I support expanding the use of hybrid powered public transportation. With foresight, we can position ourselves and our children to have a thriving sustainable future for Humboldt County.
Government Efficiency
I’m the third generation to run our 100-year-old family business, Clendenen’s Cider Works. The first apples from our farm were moved in wooden boxes by horse-and-wagon to Eureka and by steamship to San Francisco. Things have evolved since then, although we still use wooden boxes. As a business owner, I’m very familiar with change, and used to meeting a payroll, planning, and budgeting. I’m well aware that there’s not ever enough money for everything you’d like to do. The shortfall in the state budget will demand that first and foremost we make our existing operations more efficient; then I’ll look forward to taking a business-oriented view, looking for public and private partnerships and looking past the year-to-year near future to develop changes that will meet the long-term needs of the 2nd District. I believe in being fiscally responsible, and with my long-term approach, I plan to to establish reserves in the strong years to support the lean years. I believe this will help to create the Humboldt County that we want for ourselves and our children.
About Seniors
I want to support our seniors who have contributed for so many years to our county and way of life. I want to insure that affordable and appropriate housing is available to help our seniors live independently without being isolated. Access to quality healthcare, transportation to get there and a range of activities to keep seniors fit and engaged will further their quality of life and benefit us all. This is one of the many reasons that I support planning for walkable communities and an integrated trails program in and around Fortuna. A variety of transportation must be available to get seniors to medical appointments, shopping, and out in the world. I will make it one of my first priorities to examine the transportation structure, and look forward to your input.
Our senior population is growing and I will plan ahead so that this group can thrive with health and dignity.
Responsible stewardship of natural resources/Grow our economy
Agriculture and forestry have traditionally been the economic backbone of the 2nd District. In addition to supporting a sustainable resource economy, we need to avail ourselves of opportunities to diversify. We need new, living-wage jobs now and for the future. We want our kids to come home and work here. We need to support farming and sustainable timber production, as well as seizing smart opportunities to expand our economy.
Sensible growth
Supporting smart land use policies will maintain our agricultural and timber lands. I will make sure that needed growth is concentrated in and around areas that have the existing infrastructure to support expansion. I will work to develop well-planned, healthy, walkable communities. Furthermore, I will fight hard to see that our existing timber and agricultural lands remain productive.
Preserving our rural character
Hard-working families, traditions of pride and self-reliance and our heritage of art and music make us who we are. My vision for the future maintains and builds upon our rural character while revitalizing the economy with innovative, sustainable business practices. The quality of life we have in the 2nd District makes our area unique. Let's work together to retain our sense of place and community pride.
Restoration of the Eel River
I will support efforts to see that the Eel River, which geographically defines the 2nd District, is restored. The river is our area's life's blood, and I want to see salmon and steelhead habitat revitalized and restoration of our traditional water flows. My vision for the Eel is to have clean industry, recreation and tourism flourish and prosper.
Open government and the 2nd District's fair share
As a Fortuna business owner for nearly three decades, I will bring a private sector approach to the job of supervisor. I will work for lean and efficient county government by embracing innovation and technology to extend scant county resources. I promise you that I will always invite and listen to your concerns. As your Supervisor, I will make sure that the 2nd District, which contributes a large portion of revenue to the county, receives its fair share of county resources.
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