1. How should the homeless crisis be addressed? Should Del Norte County buy more motels to convert to homeless shelters? Motel conversion is just one tool to address the homeless crises. The complexity of this issue involves an understanding of why people became homeless, mental illness, drug addiction, reasons for job loss, housing markets, and the tools to deal with this crisis. This question cannot be answered in 50 words or less as requested by the editor2. What can be done to improve morale within the Sheriff’s department? How can the Sheriff’s department more effectively recruit, hire and retain experienced deputies?#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 Sheriff is responsible for the leadership of the department. Proper leadership will ultimately improve morale. The Supervisors are responsible for the department budget. Without proper funding, this department will remain a training facility for other departments outside of our area. We need to pay a good living wage to our officers. 3. What can be done to avoid the “catch and release” back into the community of criminal defendants before their matters are resolved by the courts? Should the 48-bed Juvenile Hall – with only one or two persons in custody – be repurposed as an adult facility?The answer lies with the District Attorney, the court system, and the lack of a proper county jail. The “catch and release” is due to the lack of available space in the jail. We need a new jail. Funding is available from the Federal Infrastructure Act of 2021 to help us pay for it. Can Juvenile Hall be legally converted for this purpose? When the facility was constructed, did the language in the state or federal grant funds restrict the use of the facility? If the facility can be used for a different purpose, then use it. 4. What is the most pressing problem in your supervisorial district? What do you propose as a solution?Housing is the most pressing problem. Many properties lie within the “Tsunami Flood Zone” and cannot be built on. Also, there are restrictions on septic systems due to high ground water. The County needs to invest in a sewer system for county residents. This can be built using grant funding from the Federal Infrastructure Act of 2021.5. How can Del Norte County become a place where young people want to remain, to raise a family, to start a career, and become a vital part of this community? What will you do to bring about these changes?Bring good paying jobs to our community. An example is the Federal and State initiatives to bring Offshore Wind Power to our region. This industry will bring approximately 7,000 new jobs to Del Norte and Humboldt counties in the next five to eight years. We can expand our harbor without disruption to the fishing fleet.6. Should Del Norte County impose additional controls and fees on short-term rentals? Should short-term rentals be confined to commercial or multi-family zones, or to owner-occupied properties? The Board of Supervisors will ultimately make that decision. I know the county needs to hire additional Code Enforcement Officers who can identify all operational AirBnb’s. Then a determination must be made to see if the housing stock has been affected. Then the Board should act accordingly.7. Should Del Norte County turn down state and federal grants with strings attached that dictate how local government must solve local problems? Under what circumstances should Del Norte County confront problems without outside funding?It depends on the “strings” attached. The Supervisors will assess what the funds are for and weigh it against the restraints. Until we can fund the county government without help from outside sources, we must take the grant funds for specific projects. Question: Do we refuse funding because of a political agenda?8. Should the Measure R sales tax increase be repealed? Why or why not?No. We need to pay the Sheriff’s staff a livable wage and hire Code Enforcement Officers. The voters just passed Measure R and there are provisions for a public oversight committee. If the Committee determines that there is a problem, then we the citizens can repeal Measure R in the future. 9. Briefly explain, Why are you the best candidate for a seat on the Board of Supervisors representing your district?I am the only candidate with the qualifications and experience to do the job. When I became a Harbor Commissioner, the harbor was on the brink of bankruptcy. Due to my hard work, the Harbor now has a positive cashflow of $ 1.3 million per year (less depreciation.) My governmental and business experience was applied to fix the problems. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('ad-1515727'); });