Letters to the Editor 11-1-12

Supporting three
Editor: This is another important election for Healdsburg residents. There is a vacancy on the City Council, and measure V will hopefully provide funding for public safety, economic development, and finally get some of those potholes repaired.
We’ve got 3 excellent candidates for City Council:
Tom Chambers: Without a doubt one the most intelligent councilmembers I’ve ever known. He has served us successfully for many years. Tom has all the tools to govern. He’s bright, independent, dedicated, principled, and hard-working. He knows how to dissect an issue, as he will look at all sides before making a decision. He and Penny have raised their family here, and have been an integral part of this community for 27 years. Tom knows Healdsburg and he knows the issues. We are really fortunate to have a Councilmember with his attributes. He will continue to be an excellent leader.
Gary Plass: One of the hardest-working members on the Council. Gary is a lifelong Healdsburg resident, (I really think it’s important to have that historical perspective), and he knows this town as well as anybody. He was a dedicated Healdsburg cop for nearly 30 years, and he is just as dedicated to his service as a Councilmember. He is outgoing and active in the community. He’s always accessible and willing to listen and discuss issues.
Shaun McCaffery: Shaun has done all the right things to ‘earn’ a seat on the Council. He has been involved with numerous community groups such as HPAT, Rotary, the Jazz Festival, and the Water Carnival, etc. Need a guy who is willing to get his hands dirty and jump right in ? That’s Shaun. He has that certain Healdsburg ‘spirit’ as defined by his eagerness to volunteer and participate. I’ve always felt that one of the most important attributes of a Councilmember is the ability to be a good listener. Certainly Shaun has that trait. There is no doubt that Shaun will be a very hard-working and dedicated Councilmember.
These guys are all mindful that we live in a very special community, and they are all mindful that this community demands the highest level of commitment from it’s Councilmembers. They all share that sense of commitment. The most important issues facing Healdsburg are balancing the budget, pension reform, and support for the continuance of the Urban Growth Boundary. All three also share support for those issues.
Kent Mitchell
Former Healdsburg Councilman & Mayor
Supporting Chambers
Editor: I am writing in support of Tom Chambers in his re-election bid for Healdsburg City Council. I’ve known Tom since the early 1980’s and have always been impressed by his integrity and willingness to work hard. He was the Plant Manager at Max Machinery when I went to work there, so I did have the experience of seeing his leadership skills in action. Tom has advocated safe bicycle lanes/routes in Healdsburg since he first was on the Council in 1992, knowing his children and their friends were riding bikes as their only transportation (when mom and dad weren’t taking them). The low-income apartments on Grant (by the freeway) were built during that time, he was at the dedication/opening. Tom will work hard for ALL the people in Healdsburg.
Janice Torres
Healdsburg
6 choices for 3
Editor: The typically leftist demeaning and ad hominem language spewed by Mr. Michael Haran to lambaste my recent letter are not worthy of a reply. Besides, my letter which followed his in the Tribune already covered the subject matter. Instead, I will focus upon our upcoming local election.
Since my wife Geri and I had the good fortune to move to Healdsburg in 2001, this is the first time that we have had 6 choices for 3 open seats on our City Council. However, after consulting with our city historian, Maria Curiel — City Clerk for 26 years and city employee for 32 years — I learned that many choices for Council used to be the rule rather than the exception. In 2000, 1980 and 1984 there were also 6 choices for 3. But that’s not the largest competitive slate in 40 years. There were 7 for 2, 8 for 2, and 9 for 3 in 1994, 1982 and 1988 respectively. In 1976, 11 vied for only 3 seats.
However, reviewing statistical history doesn’t simplify the 2012 selection process.
My first two choices are the easiest. The City Council experience and demonstrated service records of Gary Plass and Tom Chambers, their detailed familiarity with challenges facing our City and their consistent record of fiscal responsibility handily earn them my first two votes for re-election. However, choosing only one from the next four candidates is more daunting. While these four candidates have different backgrounds, points of view and levels of experience, they all appear to have the interest, qualifications and necessary energy for this thankless community service position.
I’ve narrowed my final selection to either Shaun McCaffery or Vernon Simmons. Shaun is a frequent attendee at our regular Council and other City meetings and frequently expresses his thoughtfully considered viewpoints. He was a major contender in our last election. Vernon Simmons has written several insightful letters-to-the-editor which demonstrate that he has both the will and the ideas to tackle our budget and deficit challenges. In my view, both Shaun and Vernon could effectively team with Gary, Tom and our other two Council members to insure that our City finances are sustainable in the long term.
At this point, I must be categorized as an “undecided voter” for the 3rd Council seat.
Please consider the qualifications of all six candidates and cast your vote on November 6.
Mel Amato
Healdsburg
Thanks for support
Editor: The family of Roy Davis wishes to express their gratitude to family, friends, co-workers and especially the Ledbetter and Tankersley’s for all of their love and support over the past few months.
Nancy and Michael Davis
Healdsburg
Setting a new tradition
Editor: The Healdsburg Junior High PTO held its first Annual Run for Funds event on Friday October 19. Students were led by County Supervisor Mike McGuire, down Fitch Street, around the plaza and back to the school. Over half the teachers ran with the students. Parent volunteers, in special vests with arrows, directed the students at the various intersections. Back at campus students enjoyed music, popcorn, apples and water after the run.
Thanks to the hard work of our students and our wonderful community we have raised over $12,000 in pledges. This was $4,000 more than what the HJH PTO had projected in their original budget, an amazing success especially given it was our first year. The money raised will go towards field trips, assemblies and a new outdoor PA system.
The PTO would like to thank the following businesses for their financial or in-kind donations: Bear Republic, Wine Industry Network, Spencer Solutions Tax Service, Options, Bella, Powell’s Sweet Shoppe, Sport Authority and Marmot. We would also like to thank the students for working so hard and diligently in getting pledges. Many went door to door through various neighborhoods, collecting $1 to $5 dollar pledges. Barbara Pinney’s Leadership Class was instrumental in making pledge packets, posters and setting the school momentum. Thank you to Mike McGuire for providing inspiration to our student body at our Kick-Off Assembly as well as the actual event. Finally, thank you to: our wonderful teachers; school office staff; Principal Deborah Hall – who always finds a way to make it happen; students and families – without them, this event would not have been possible.
Tara Smith
HJH PTO Vice President
Healdsburg
Social responsibility?
Editor: Pinot on the River turns away designated drivers. Responsible designated drivers are being turned away from the event festival unless they buy a ticket to drink wine. Where is social responsibility at this event? I drove four friends up from Marin to participate and as the designated driver I was turned away unless I bought a glass. This charity event should encourage social responsibility. I was told, “too bad, buy a glass and drink up and enjoy!”
Albert Barsocchini
San Anselmo
Scary dogs
Editor: To the owner(s) of the two dogs – one black and white, one brown-ish, both likely pit bulls, according to a neighbor – that were running off-leash on Grant Street on Friday night, September 14, at about 11 p.m.: your dogs would have killed my cat if the neighbor hadn’t saved her life by intervening.
After the attack, Luna ran away and hid. I spent two days searching for her, hoping that she wasn’t injured and suffering, praying that she’d be found.
She came home on Sunday night, the 16th, dirty, terrified, and so weak that she could hardly walk, with a nasty wound on her back, bruises and puncture wounds on her belly, and a badly herniated intestine. The damage, caused by one of your dogs picking her up and shaking her, was so severe that the surgery took twice as long as expected.
I didn’t want to write this letter until I knew whether Luna would live. Thanks to the skill of Memorial Beach vets Dr. Shafer and Dr. Dell and the attentive care of their staff, she’s making a good recovery. Saving her was worth the $3,000 its cost me, though it’s been a serious financial hit for me at a time when I’m unemployed.
But if you make a habit of letting your dogs run free, there may be other people in Healdsburg who aren’t as lucky as I am, whose pets go missing and never come home, or who can’t afford to pay for the injuries that your animals cause.
It’s illegal in Healdsburg to have dogs off-leash on city streets. On the night of the 14th, you broke that law. Please, never do it again.
Owners of all this town’s beautiful dogs, please remember that there are good reasons for our leash law. And cat owners, I’ve learned that our pets are safer indoors, or at a minimum, confined to a deck or a secure back yard. I deeply regret not having done that for Luna in the past. I will certainly be doing it for her in the future.
Nancy Roberts
Healdsburg