Letter to the Editor:

Our community is filled with “nice” people who we have known for many years. This should NOT be the basis for selecting county leadership. I am supporting Estelle Fennell because I know that she will be a strong leader and voice for the 2nd District.

Estelle has been following the general plan update and sees the issues and additional regulations that are being proposed that will make it more difficult for businesses to operate in Humboldt County. The county staff has sent the housing element to the state of California for certification six times. Six times their plan has been rejected. Estelle realizes that there is a problem with paying staff to submit an inferior plan again and again. The county has practiced “shading parcels” for many years. This also must be stopped. Property owners must be notified promptly if staff discovers a problem or has questions on a parcel.

I want my supervisor to have the interests of the 2nd District as a priority. I want my supervisor to stand up for the property rights of myself and others while protecting the environment. I want my supervisor to welcome new businesses to Humboldt County, and pave the way for them to get established and be successful. I want my supervisor to hold the county staff accountable for their work. I want my supervisor to ask questions, do her homework, and return phone calls. Therefore, I am voting for Estelle Fennell on June 5.

Sue Long
Fortuna

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Letter to the Editor:

Sixteen years ago I ran for a seat on the board of supervisors. During my campaign I focused on the qualities that were really important for this job. There were certainly some qualities, qualifications, and experience I lacked, and that was also true in my opponents, Roy and Roger.

In the course of my campaign I met only a few people who I felt had the experience and the abilities to be a really good Humboldt County Supervisor, one whom I could gladly support should they ever run for the board in the future.

One of these people was Estelle Fennell. It was clear that Estelle Fennell was an expert in communication. She listened carefully, made sure she understood what I was saying, and then asked me thought provoking questions. It was clear Estelle had many years of experience doing this, on top of a world of experience from before.

In recent years, Estelle has shown that she is passionate about the rural 2nd District Humboldt life and her desire to serve all of the people living in Humboldt County.

Every person in Humboldt County will benefit when Estelle is elected to represent us on the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors. Please vote for Estelle June 5.

Timothy Carter
Fortuna

Letter to the Editor:

I have been walking precincts with Estelle Fennell for the past month, and I am so impressed with how well she connects with people from all walks of life. She listens, asks good questions, and is genuinely interested in what people have to say. Her positions on issues are based upon what is best for our district and county as we move forward to face the enormous challenges of our times. There is no question in my mind that she will be an accessible and responsive representative for the people of the 2nd District, and I urge you to join me and give her your vote.

Alan Brainerd
Carlotta

To the Editor:

During a challenge with the county, which began a few months ago, I phoned our current supervisor for help. My phone call was never returned. I had been informed that I would have to vacate my property.

A friend suggested that I call Estelle. I did so and, when she returned my call, I received over 30 minutes of her valuable time and helpful advice. She calmed my panic, helped me determine who to call and suggested ways that I might deal with a complaint that was mistakenly filed with my address on it.

The challenge is now in the process of being resolved, in large measure thanks to Estelle’s helpful advice. I realize that our current supervisor is quite busy, but returning a phone call is basic common courtesy. Our Second District Supervisor is paid well to be an advocate for his constituents. Not even returning a phone call is totally unacceptable. I believe that, if we wish to be truly represented and have help when we need it, we need to vote for Estelle Fennell for Second District Supervisor.

Mary Whitmore
Myers Flat

To The Editor:
In reply to a number of letters I’ve read that favor Clif Clendenen for supervisor I feel obliged to put forward the reasons why I’m voting for Estelle Fennell.

Since the last election I have been watching both Clif and Estelle fairly closely with respect to three important areas in which I’ve been active; code enforcement, the Housing Element, and Section 1500 of the General Plan. The County has had serious deficiencies in their treatment of each of these matters, and I have been among the people who have been trying to point out these problems and to help with providing solutions. During that time I have become steadily more disappointed with Clif (for whom I voted last time) and more impressed with Estelle.

Space does not permit an adequate review of the facts here, but let me try to make the point: Clif is a thoroughly decent person and I like him very much. But he seems unable to realize, no matter how hard some of us try to show him, that there are real problems with the behavior of County staff. He (and he was not alone on this one) saw no problem worth investigating in the Code Enforcement Unit debacle at Yee Haw (guns pointed at a four-year-old because a graywater line ran into a berry patch), and when the citizenry
rose up in outrage and got the Board to form the Code Enforcement Task Force, he was perfectly willing to basically ignore all but one of the CETF’s seventeen unanimous recommendations. The fact that the Housing Element has been rejected by the State SIX TIMES (or that the General Plan Update has taken four times as long as it should) doesn’t seem to indicate to Clif that there’s any significant problem with the way staff has done the job; he seems to feel that it just shows how hard staff has worked. And with regard to section 1500, he just can’t seem to understand it at all. He insists that
it was followed very well in the General Plan Update in spite of the fact that staff admits outright that they didn’t follow it; they tried to throw out the entire section! Clif seems to feel that staff can say and do no wrong, and he is very seriously incorrect in that
view.

Estelle, on the other hand, has been paying attention to each of these issues and has put forth a good deal of effort to help the County deal with them. She attended virtually all of the CETF meetings, understood the facts, and tried hard to get the Board to see them.

She has also studied the Housing Element, realized that there are very significant problems with it and again, tried repeatedly to get the Planning Commission and the Board to admit to and deal with those problems. And Estelle is thoroughly up to speed on Sec. 1500, which is of extreme importance; it deals with whether we practice democracy or plutocracy in Humboldt County. In her work with HumCPR she has broadened her appreciation of the validity of views on both the left and the right sides of the political spectrum; sides that too often refuse to listen to each other. HumCPR, by the way, gets a bum rap from far too many people who haven’t really checked them out, in my opinion. Their basic concern is for property rights; of course they represent real estate and developer interests! These interests are as legitimate as anyone else’s. But they also represent the property rights of small landowners; they’ve been right there in the trenches fighting for fairness across the board. They’ve done a lot more for small rural landowners than many folks realize.

These are very important matters. We desperately need supervisors who will supervise; who will take hold of the reins of government and not just hand them over to staff, who have taken such advantage of the Board’s willingness to do just that. I feel that Estelle
has the experience, the intelligence, and the courage to be that kind of supervisor.

Peter Childs

Miranda

~ from http://www.times-standard.com/letters/ci_20496572/fennell-will-be-able-deliver-results

Bob McKee's 1929 Studebaker Commander - Sita McKee - Lela McKee Photo curtesy of Lutello Photography

In addition, the McKee family will auction off their 1929 Studebaker Commander which will benefit both the Estelle campaign and the following non- profits: Heart of the Redwoods Community Hospice, Whitethorn School, K-MUD, Healy Senior Center and Sanctuary Forest. The Studebaker is in fair condition just waiting for the right classic car buff to come along. When Bob Mckee was asked what he most liked about the Studebaker, he wryly replied ” we’re the same age…it needs some work! ” For more questions about the Studebaker, please call Bob McKee @ 707-986-7412

There will also be music by the Lost Coast Marimba Band starting at 1:PM, tasting of selected wines from Whitethorn Winery and Elk Prairie Vineyards, delicious foods from Barbecue to You and other community members.

Seize the opportunity to bring up your questions and concerns with Estelle and join your friends and neighbors in a day of fun and political empowerment in the 2nd district.

Estelle Fennell will do a speech @ 2:30 along with a few other speakers followed by the live auctions.
The silent auction will close at 4:30PM.
For more info. call Sita Formosa @ 707 986-7761 or Lela McKee Friel @ 707-986-9939

· Related post

KEET TV Debate Coming UP

The League of Women Voters is sponsoring a televised forum on KEET-TV Channel 13 on Wednesday, May 2nd from 7 to 8 pm. The viewing audience will have an opportunity to phone in questions, which will be screened by LWV members to eliminate questions of a personal nature and to prevent duplication.

There will be more local debates to follow:

Shelter Cove Pioneers will host a debate Friday evening, May 4th starting at 7 p.m. in the meeting room at the Resort Improvement District offices, behind the Fire Station.

The Civil Liberties Monitoring Project (CLMP) has organized a Humboldt
County District #2 Supervisor Candidates’ Night, for Monday, May 7, 2012, starting at 7 pm at the Veterans Memorial Building on the corner of Conger & Locust Streets in Garberville. This public event is co-sponsored by CLMP, the Garberville Veterans Association, and KMUD Redwood Community Radio.

Doors open at 6:30 pm, and the debate will start promptly at 7 pm, and will be aired live on KMUD Redwood Community Radio from 7 – 9 pm.

The Lost Coast Marimba Band will be making the first stop of its Y Not Tour 2012 at the picnic. “We’re more than happy to play for Estelle, soon to be elected Supervisor Estelle, and her friends on Cinco de Mayo,” says Archie Umina, band member and long time Estelle supporter. “Estelle has been a huge part of our lives for years with radio news and continued public service,” he continues, inviting all of us to come enjoy their “liquid organic jazz”. Other local musicians will also be weaving their magic into the picnic festivities.

Moses Danzer, the popular chef of BARBECUE to YOU, will be serving chicken, local wild salmon and tofu dinners, including a side of garlic bread. (If there isn’t a good catch in the Cove, barbecued beef will replace the fish.) Estelle supporters will round out Danzer’s offerings with green, potato and pasta salads. And, get ready for oysters barbecued by the Glantz-Davis clan and champagne or beer offered by picnic organizers. The profit from all these tasty delights will go to the Estelle for Supervisor 2012 campaign.

Friends of Whitethorn School, known for their delicious homemade baked goods, are keen to add to the day’s culinary pleasure with a fundraiser of their own for the school featuring desserts and non-alcoholic hot and cold beverages.

Whitethorn Winery and Elk Prairie Vineyard will be offering a tasting of their fine wines with 20% of their profits going to Estelle for Supervisor 2012. Live and silent auctions and an opportunity for extended political dialog with Estelle will round out the day’s event. So, bring your questions and concerns and ask the candidate herself. For more information call Sita Formosa 986-7761 or Lela McKee Friel 986-9939.

The Auction will feature a variety of auction items including Bob McKee’s 1929 Studebaker Commander. The car is in fair condition just waiting for the right classic car buff who has time and energy for its restoration. Asked what he likes about the Studebaker, McKee wryly responded, “We’re the same age…it needs some work!” The McKee family will take bids on the Studebaker at the May 5th Estelle Picnic and Barbecue and donate half of the winning bid to Estelle’s campaign for Supervisor. The family will donate the remaining proceeds from the car’s auction to Whitethorn School, Heart of the Redwoods Community Hospice, K-MUD, Healy Senior Center and Sanctuary Forest. For more information about the Studebaker, please call Bob McKee at 986-7412. Other live and silent auction offerings will include garden tools, supplies and statuary, plants and trees, wine and local foods, all of these donated by our ever-generous community to benefit Estelle for Supervisor.