1. How should the homeless crisis be addressed? Should Del Norte County buy more motels to convert to homeless shelters? We need to develop a comprehensive plan to increase the availability of affordable housing. We can benefit from Rogue Valley’s model, among others, and create a plan that works for everyone, from homeless folks to working professionals who cannot find a suitable place to live.2. 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('');Problems in our Sheriff’s Department have been building for decades. We can improve morale by providing an environment that is clean and safe to work in, streamlining the hiring process, increasing the number of officers, paying competitive wages, offering bonuses to attract and retain officers, and recruiting local folks to apply. 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?By revitalizing our Sheriff’s Department, we can stop “catch and release” and improve safety and security in our jail facility. If we repurpose Juvenile Hall for adults, where would we put the juveniles? This is not a practical solution. In the long-term, we need to build a community where children receive structured support, not incarceration. 4. What is the most pressing problem in your supervisorial district? What do you propose as a solution? I’ve had four town hall meetings in Crescent City and Klamath. My constituents want their voice to be heard and to be a part of the solution. Their top concerns are: mental health, youth education/recreation, public safety and access to reliable internet and phone service. As your Supervisor, I have already started to work on many of these issues.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?Children in Del Norte County need to see their homes as a safe, innovative, in a growing community where they can dream about their future and find educational opportunities and adult support to make it happen. The County’s role includes revitalizing recreation programs, supporting schools, and participating in the Promise Neighborhood initiative which will bring $30 million to better equip our local students. 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? In developing a comprehensive plan for affordable housing, we do need to look at controls on short-term rentals. But we want to encourage tourism and local entrepreneurship as well as affordable housing. Finding the middle ground requires careful research.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? The short answer is, “It’s complicated!” We need to accept state and federal grants that work for our overall benefit. Yes, we should be wary of strings that come with grant money, but to turn our backs on all funding on ideological grounds would be imprudent.8. Should the Measure R sales tax increase be repealed? Why or why not?I don’t support the repeal of Measure R. Measure R money pays for emergency disaster preparedness and the salaries of employees vital to our community’s success: law enforcement officers, dispatch operators, District Attorney investigators, code enforcement, nuisance and blight officers, and animal control staff. 9. Briefly explain, Why are you the best candidate for a seat on the Board of Supervisors representing your district?I am grateful for the opportunity to be serving my county now as District 5 Supervisor. I believe voters will be able to answer this question for themselves after reading my answers here and considering my record of leadership in the community. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('ad-1515727'); });