Who?

That's the question asked when this topic comes up.

◼ Sharon Latour Launches Campaign to Unseat Sundberg - Ryan Burns/Lost Coast Outpost

McKinleyville pastor and CR assistant professor ◼ Sharon Latour today launched her campaign to unseat Humboldt County 5th District Supervisor Ryan Sundberg. Speaking to a crowd of roughly two dozen spectators from the steps of the county courthouse, Latour focused largely on the ongoing update of the county’s general plan, saying the current board has disregarded years of public input....

Your LoCO correspondent pointed out that the general plan update could theoretically be complete by next January, when new supervisors (should there be any) get seated, and asked Latour what other priorities she has for the county. She again returned to the importance of the general plan, calling it a “living document,” before lauding the county’s natural beauty and its niche business endeavors, including Humboldt Made.

◼ With GPU as focus, Sharon LaTour announces candidacy for the 5th district in front of the courthouse - John Chiv/Words Worth

About 30 supporters which included Eureka Councilmember Linda Atkins, 4th District Supervisorial candidate Chris Kerrigan, HDCC member Pam Service, and former State Assembly candidate Hezekiah Allen gathered in front of the Humboldt County Courthouse to hear Sharon LaTour announce her candidacy.

◼ Ryan Burns and John Chiv have a temporary body switch - John Chiv/Words Worth
◼ Sharon LaTour, fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me - John Chiv/Words Worth
__________________
Based on her remarks, reported at these two links, I'm going to assume she is against going through the General Plan to make sure all the Easter Eggs are found. You know, things like govt. discouraging women from bearing children. Because. Developers!

Meh.
__________________
I think it is worth noting the contrast between this and ◼ Ryan Sundberg's KickOff. His was held at Azalea Hall in McKinleyville. Like all of his events, it is kid-friendly, with a bouncy house and face-painters extraordinaire. It was packed with families, friends, and supporters from all across the spectrum. Parking lots were filled, and people parked, and walked from blocks away (a rare occurrence in this town.) It wasn't about money. It was about a tone, and a very real commitment to the community.

Note: 'liberaljon' has taken to opining about this post on Lost Coast Outpost. His extrapolations are entirely the figments of his imagination, and represent his fundamental lack of respect for property owners, and his own rigid ideologue persona.

About 300 brave rain for Sundberg kickoff

◼ Very impressive turnout. Law enforcement, tribal representation, government, business and community. What I liked was the family friendly atmosphere and as supporter Patty Clary summed it: Ryan does not always vote the way I want but the other side would say the same but that is good. - John Chiv/Words Worth

Journal election coverage

◼ Notes from the Hustings April 22
Dem Votes, Dem Votes

Last Wednesday evening, the Humboldt Democratic Central Committee held an unorthodox meeting flooded with curious onlookers and eager candidates seeking endorsements in the June 8 primary election. Fourth District Supervisor incumbent Bonnie Neely got the nod, but the committee failed to reach the two-thirds threshold required to officially support candidates in the key contests for Fourth District Supervisor and district attorney.

"We're a victim of our own success," joked HCDCC Chair Milt Boyd, referencing the unusually large number of Democratic candidates vying for endorsements. All four DA contenders were present, as were the three aspirants for Fourth District Supervisor, two of whom -- Neely and Eureka Mayor Virginia Bass -- used to be Republicans, mirroring the shift in the county as a whole.

At stake was the county Dems' seal of approval for two supervisor seats, district attorney, assessor and auditor-controller. The latter was an easy one (Joe Millett, the lone candidate, earned their blessing), but each other contest saw candidates saunter to a podium where they attempted to outsell their opponents to the panel of 25 committee members. It wasn't a cold-sell; candidates had previously submitted written responses to committee questionnaires, and clearly some HCDCC members had already made up their minds. (Charlene Cutler-Ploss, for example, sported an "Allison Jackson for DA" button.)

With 25 voting members present, the magic number for endorsement was 17. After listening to each candidate's four-minute presentation -- followed in most cases by two minutes of Q and A -- the committee dismissed the candidates, then reconvened to cast their votes. (This without debate, to the disappointment of several in attendance including a noticeably annoyed Shane Brinton, Arcata City Councilman and staunch Paul Hagen supporter.)

With 18 yea votes, Neely earned endorsement on the first tally of the evening, besting Eureka City Councilman Jeff Leonard and Eureka Mayor Virginia Bass, who faced skepticism about her recent party switch.

The district attorney contest, which featured a crowded field of four Democrats, suggested a heated battle yet to come. Incumbent Paul Gallegos failed to earn the committee's blessing, garnering just 10 yea votes to 11 nays and four abstentions. Hagen also fell short with four yeas. Allison Jackson made a strong showing with eight yeas and 13 nays, while Kathleen Bryson failed even to earn a motion for consideration.

The Fifth District match also ended in a draw with both Pat Higgins (12 yeas, nine nays) and Patrick Cleary (11 yeas, 11 nays) falling short. Assessor hopeful John Brooks bested incumbent Mari Wilson by barely reaching the 17-vote threshold.

Offstage, Republican challengers wait in the wings. In some of the races, anyway. -- Ryan Burns
see also: Charge of the Underdog and It's So Simple in that same piece.
◼ Notes from the Hustings April 15
Two pieces: Follow the Money (on campaign finance reform), and Sundberg and Spaghetti (Ryan Sundberg is running for Fifth District Supervisor)
◼ Notes from the Hustings April 8
Consult This!, and Arts Gallegos
◼ Suddenly Sexy Assessor!

Supervisors races attracting big money -- already

◼ Supervisors races attracting big money -- already
Supervisors races attracting big money -- already

James Faulk/The Times-Standard
Posted: 02/04/2010 01:24:18 AM PST

While we may be some four months away from a primary to determine who will next occupy the 4th and 5th District seats on the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors, donors have begun shoveling money into those and other races as if the general election is right around the corner.

Three candidates are vying for the 4th District seat, long held by incumbent Supervisor Bonnie Neely, who will be seeking her seventh term. Last time around, the two main candidates vying for the job -- Neely and former Eureka Mayor Nancy Flemming -- spent more than $250,000 in that race, and it came down to a smattering of votes.

With the 4th District to a large degree consisting of Eureka and its suburbs, it's perhaps no surprise that two denizens of City Hall are trying to make the leap from city to county government.

Eureka Mayor Virginia Bass is one, and she's outdistanced all her competitors in funds raised so far, according to financial disclosures filed this week with the Humboldt County Elections Office. And judging by the numbers, it appears that this year's 4th District race is off on a trajectory similar to the race of 2006.

Bass in 2009 raised a total of $53,174. Her list of donors is long, and includes a number of people and businesses from Humboldt County's building and development communities, among others.

They include David Schneider of Pacific Affiliates, who gave $1,000; Fred Sundquist, who gave $1,500; Glenn Goldan, $1,000; Michael Dominick, $1,500; Truman Renner, $1,500; ReProp Investments, $500; TJS Leasing and Holding Co., $1,500; Loretta Nickolaus, retired county administrative officer, $200; Pierson Co., $1,500; Hilfiker Pipe Co. $1,500; Kramer Investments Corp. $1,500; Russ Cattle Co., $3,000; Hooven and Co. of McKinleyville, $1,500; A.N. Hunts and Sons, $1,500; Eureka Oxygen Co., $1,500; Bettendorf Enterprises, $1,500; Barnum Timber Co., $1,000; Eureka Ready Mix/Sand and Gravel Co., $1,500; Gary Philp, $500; Jim Furtado of McKinleyville, $1,500; Kim Slack of Eureka, $1,500; and Robert McBeth of O&M Industries, $1,500, among others.
Neely is no stranger to serious challenges for the 4th District seat, having barely defeated Flemming for the job last time around. And she's no slouch as a fundraiser, as proven by her 2009 disclosures.

Neely raised $27,334 in 2009, from a relatively short list of donors who gave, on average, much larger amounts.
Sedgefield Properties, owned by longtime Neely ally and sponsor Bill Pierson of Eureka, donated $10,000; Kurt Kovacks of Portland, Ore., gave $2,000; Thomas Hofweber, a county planner, gave $3,000; MPDSE, Inc., a building firm from Dana Point, CA, also known as Master Plan Developments, gave $10,000; Recology of San Francisco, formerly known as City Garbage Co., gave $500; and CA Dewitt of Fairhaven gave $200.

MPDSE is a development company which in 2004 had a project to develop a portion of Orange County's last untouched stretch of beach front property. The project was approved against staff recommendations.

But when that project was approved by the commission, Neely had yet to be named as a member. Former 3rd District Supervisor John Woolley was the commission representative at the time. Neely has voted on minor issues surrounding that development since taking her seat on the commission, but has voted both for and against the developer.

Also in the 4th District race, Eureka City Councilman Jeff Leonard has some catching up to do in the money race. For 2009, he raised a total of $7,902 -- $5,342 in cash, $2,300 in a loan, and $260 in non-monetary contributions.

Donors include Eureka attorney Ken Bareilles and his wife Rene, at $100; Teresa Sims, loan officer with Redwood Capital Bank, with $500; Hank Pierson, owner of L&H Properties, at $1,000; and Pierson Co. of Eureka at $1,500.

Farther north, in the county's 5th District, one candidate -- Ryan Sundberg -- has so far run the tables during this fundraising cycle, and did so with many of the same donors who gave to Bass' campaign.

Donors include Glenn Goldan at $500; City Ambulance at $1,500; Dale Wermuth at $1,500; Maxine Maples at $1,500; Michael Dominick at $1,500; Hilfiker Pipe Co. at $1,500; ReProp Investments at $500; Barnum Timber Co. at $1,000; TJS Leasing and Holding Co. at $1,500; Eureka Oxygen Co. at $1,500; Kramer Investment Corp. at $1,500; Eureka Ready Mix at $1,500; Bettendorf Enterprises at $1,500; A.N. Hunt and Sons at $1,500; Russ Cattle Co. at $1,000; Hooven and Co. at $1,500; Pierson Co. at $1,500; Marilyn Renner at $1,500; Becky Pritchard at $1,500; and JL Furtado Construction at $1,500, among others.

The other filing received so far for the 5th District -- from McKinleyville resident Jeffrey Lytle, who first ran four years ago -- had scant information to report. There was no money raised for 2009, and a total of 10 cents spent, copying a form from the Elections Office.

The Elections Office has yet to receive 2009 disclosures from Lost Coast Communications President Patrick Cleary and 5th Division Harbor District Commissioner Patrick Higgins, both of whom have declared for the 5th District race. The disclosures had to be postmarked by Monday, and could arrive as late as today.

In other Humboldt County races, only two candidate disclosures were received as of Wednesday afternoon.

In the race for Humboldt County sheriff, Undersheriff Mike Downey raised $1,905 in 2009. Donors include Sheriff's Lt. Steve Knight, $100; Sgt. Wayne Hanson, $100; The Liquor Still, $100; outgoing Sheriff Gary Philp, $1,000; Melinda Ciarabellini, $100; and Lt. Michael Thomas, $500.

A disclosure from Mike Hislop, also running for sheriff, has not yet been received.

And in the race for county assessor, Johanna Rodoni -- former 2nd District supervisor and wife of the late Supervisor Roger Rodoni -- filed a disclosure under the name Johanna Rodoni for Assessor 2010, but no money was raised in 2009.

As the supervisorial races are making abundantly clear, Humboldt State University political science professor emeritus JeDon Emenhiser said, even local campaigns have steadily become more expensive. He noted that Humboldt County seems to be finally catching up with the rest of the state as far as campaign war chests are concerned.
This flow of campaign money into politics is worrisome, he said.

”(Politicians) spend a lot more time raising money than they do governing,” Emenhiser said. “Once in office, instead of studying the issues, they have to spend a lot of time making speeches, hosting breakfasts and calling donors, all looking toward their next election.”

Emenhiser said the first campaign finance reports are often seen by candidates as an opportunity for a pre-emptive strike.

”They're saying, we have this war chest here, and you shouldn't even try us,” Emenhiser said. “Sometimes, they refer to it as the funding primary.”

Even on a local government level, Emenhiser said, political bodies make decisions that have major implications for people -- hence the spending.

”It's land use and planning -- there's a lot of money to be made and a lot of interests to be represented,” he said.
Emenhiser said the only way to truly reduce the influence of campaign money in politics is to switch to a system of publicly funded campaigns, where voters decide how much money to allocate to campaigns, and candidates are forced to live within those bounds. That might mean a very short campaign season, Emenhiser said, but it would also mean a more level playing field.

But, Emenhiser said, the idea hasn't gained much traction.
”Nobody is willing to take that seriously,” he said.

Staff writer Thadeus Greenson contributed to this report.

James Faulk can be reached at 441-0507 or jfaulk@times-standard.com.
******

(Virginia) Bass... raised a total of $53,174. Her list of donors is long, and includes a number of people and businesses from Humboldt County's building and development communities, among others.

They include David Schneider of Pacific Affiliates, who gave $1,000; Fred Sundquist, who gave $1,500; Glenn Goldan, $1,000; Michael Dominick, $1,500; Truman Renner, $1,500; ReProp Investments, $500; TJS Leasing and Holding Co., $1,500; Loretta Nickolaus, retired county administrative officer, $200; Pierson Co., $1,500; Hilfiker Pipe Co. $1,500; Kramer Investments Corp. $1,500; Russ Cattle Co., $3,000; Hooven and Co. of McKinleyville, $1,500; A.N. Hunts and Sons, $1,500; Eureka Oxygen Co., $1,500; Bettendorf Enterprises, $1,500; Barnum Timber Co., $1,000; Eureka Ready Mix/Sand and Gravel Co., $1,500; Gary Philp, $500; Jim Furtado of McKinleyville, $1,500; Kim Slack of Eureka, $1,500; and Robert McBeth of O&M Industries, $1,500, among others....

Neely raised $27,334 in 2009, from a relatively short list of donors who gave, on average, much larger amounts.

Sedgefield Properties, owned by longtime Neely ally and sponsor Bill Pierson of Eureka, donated $10,000; Kurt Kovacks of Portland, Ore., gave $2,000; Thomas Hofweber, a county planner, gave $3,000; MPDSE, Inc., a building firm from Dana Point, CA, also known as Master Plan Developments, gave $10,000; Recology of San Francisco, formerly known as City Garbage Co., gave $500; and CA Dewitt of Fairhaven gave $200....

Eureka City Councilman Jeff Leonard... raised a total of $7,902 -- $5,342 in cash, $2,300 in a loan, and $260 in non-monetary contributions.

Donors include Eureka attorney Ken Bareilles and his wife Rene, at $100; Teresa Sims, loan officer with Redwood Capital Bank, with $500; Hank Pierson, owner of L&H Properties, at $1,000; and Pierson Co. of Eureka at $1,500.

Ryan Sundberg -- has so far run the tables during this fundraising cycle, and did so with many of the same donors who gave to Bass' campaign.

Donors include Glenn Goldan at $500; City Ambulance at $1,500; Dale Wermuth at $1,500; Maxine Maples at $1,500; Michael Dominick at $1,500; Hilfiker Pipe Co. at $1,500; ReProp Investments at $500; Barnum Timber Co. at $1,000; TJS Leasing and Holding Co. at $1,500; Eureka Oxygen Co. at $1,500; Kramer Investment Corp. at $1,500; Eureka Ready Mix at $1,500; Bettendorf Enterprises at $1,500; A.N. Hunt and Sons at $1,500; Russ Cattle Co. at $1,000; Hooven and Co. at $1,500; Pierson Co. at $1,500; Marilyn Renner at $1,500; Becky Pritchard at $1,500; and JL Furtado Construction at $1,500, among others.

The Elections Office has yet to receive 2009 disclosures from Lost Coast Communications President Patrick Cleary and 5th Division Harbor District Commissioner Patrick Higgins, both of whom have declared for the 5th District race. The disclosures had to be postmarked by Monday, and could arrive as late as today.

In the race for Humboldt County sheriff, Undersheriff Mike Downey raised $1,905 in 2009. Donors include Sheriff's Lt. Steve Knight, $100; Sgt. Wayne Hanson, $100; The Liquor Still, $100; outgoing Sheriff Gary Philp, $1,000; Melinda Ciarabellini, $100; and Lt. Michael Thomas, $500.

A disclosure from Mike Hislop, also running for sheriff, has not yet been received.

◼ James Faulk: The unauthorized translation the Mirror

Ryan Sundberg

◼ Sundberg Is In - The Journal
The Sundberg campaign’s kickoff party will be held on Saturday, Jan. 30, from 3-6 p.m. at McKinleyville’s Azalea Hall. Sundberg emphasized that it will be a family-friendly event, with refreshments and kids’ activities free to the public.

◼ Sundberg in - heraldo
Sundberg kicks off fifth district campaign
◼ TS comments
◼ Sundberg official in 5th. 4 running for Humboldt County Assessor's seat? More Humboldt County political bits. Samoa Softball

◼ http://www.sundbergforsupervisor.org/