Kevin Hendrick is vying for the District 5 seat on the Board of Supervisors with a background as a public servant, not a politician. It is this distinction that has shaped his campaign platform, “People over politics.” The California state primary is March 3 Hendrick feels that too often polarizing politics get in the way of people working together on solutions. Through his 20 years as director of the Del Norte Solid Waste Management Authority, he has worked with people all over the political spectrum to accomplish difficult tasks. #placement_573654_0_i{width:100%;max-width:550px;margin:0 auto;}var rnd = window.rnd || Math.floor(Math.random()*10e6);var pid573654 = window.pid573654 || rnd;var plc573654 = window.plc573654 || 0;var abkw = window.abkw || '';var absrc = 'https://ads.empowerlocal.co/adserve/;ID=181918;size=0x0;setID=573654;type=js;sw='+screen.width+';sh='+screen.height+';spr='+window.devicePixelRatio+';kw='+abkw+';pid='+pid573654+';place='+(plc573654++)+';rnd='+rnd+';click=CLICK_MACRO_PLACEHOLDER';var _absrc = absrc.split("type=js"); absrc = _absrc[0] + 'type=js;referrer=' + encodeURIComponent(document.location.href) + _absrc[1];document.write('');“The experience working for the Solid Waste Management Authority was really formative for me in showing that people will work together,” he said. “[What] I’ve demonstrated in the 20 years I’ve worked for this agency is the ability to work with city council members and county supervisors finding common ground, finding cost-effective solutions that work for everybody.” He believes people can set aside their differences to accomplish a common goal, and that is what he hopes to accomplish as a supervisor. “In a small community, we can come together and find solutions that are acceptable and that work for everybody, and what I’ve seen in Crescent City is that people will come together,” Hendrick said. As a supervisor, he has more than a few items on his agenda that he is passionate about, some of which include affordable housing, affordable childcare, affordable health care, reliable internet and Last Chance Grade. “The key on so many of these programs is there’s a lot of attention on the state level. There’s funding set aside to help develop more affordable housing, and same thing with affordable child care and early childhood development,” he said. The crucial element, Hendrick believes, is to bring funding, tax dollars, from the state level back into the county. In order to do this, county supervisors must maintain good relationships with other elected officials. “I have very strong positive working relationships with our current elected officials… they’re the ones that help bring that money to Del Norte County,” he said. “I think it’s really important that we both articulate the needs that we have and offer solutions, you know, be proactive in identifying things that our elected officials can do for us.” The issue Kendrick stresses the most is bringing creative solutions for affordable housing, and he already has some ideas, such as auxiliary housing units. Auxiliary housing units are small cottages that can be placed on people’s property for a low cost. “In some cases it’s simple — the cause of people being homeless is they can’t find affordable housing. It’s not a crime to be poor, and it is one of the roles that the government should have, sparking development of more affordable housing. I want to focus on issues that are important to people,” he said. Henrick’s policies and campaign are led by a compassionate mentality, and he is ready to listen to the people and put their needs over political agendas. “I’m in a position where I can help other people,” he said “I was raised that if you have the ability to help people you should. That’s part of why we’re here.” googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('ad-1515727'); });