By Linda Sutter – January 19, 2024 Ladies and gentlemen, fellow residents of the 5th District, I am here to share with you my vision for the future of Del Norte County. For the past 16 years, I have been deeply involved in the life of our community. I have lived, worked, and raised my family here, and I have attended most of the local government meetings during this time. Throughout these years, I have witnessed a lack of proactive economic planning and the neglect of critical infrastructure in our county. It is unacceptable that for the last 12 years, not one board member has presented an economic plan to attract and retain businesses in Del Norte County. I firmly believe that we need to take action to revitalize our local economy. As your representative, I will propose a tax exemption for all new businesses for the first two years to encourage entrepreneurship and stimulate economic growth in our area. Furthermore, our roads and streets are in dire need of repair. The state of our infrastructure is a reflection of the state of our community, and we cannot afford to let it deteriorate any further. Moreover, the environmental issues in our county cannot be ignored. We have manmade landfills spewing into plain view, and it is disheartening to see that nothing is being done to address this. As your representative, I will advocate for environmental responsibility and seek sustainable solutions to these pressing issues. Additionally, it is alarming to learn that 46% of our county relies on public assistance, and a portion of that includes county workers who are paid minimum wage rather than a viable living wage. This is simply unacceptable, and we must work to ensure that our community members are able to make a living wage, especially those who serve our county. Moreover, the recent tax increases that were meant to support our essential services have burdened our residents. The current leadership's thought process is not sustainable, and it is time for a change. As a community we need to see what we are paying for. That's why I am standing before you today, asking for your vote. I am committed to bringing about the change that our county so desperately needs. I am dedicated to implementing policies that will foster economic growth, improve our infrastructure, address environmental concerns, and ensure that our residents are supported and empowered. Together, we can build a better future for Del Norte County. I humbly ask for your support and your vote, so that together, we can bring about the positive change that our county deserves. Thank you.