Letters to the Editor

Voting
Editor: Windsor has been promoting itself as a family-oriented town over the last 20 years. Our town now provides many fun-filled activities and educational programs for its residents. We have numerous parks, playgrounds and sport fields to accommodate our young families’ recreational needs and interests. Our schools are recognized for their diverse curriculum and learning opportunities for all students. All these things make Windsor a place where young families desire to live.
With that said, it seems obvious that these young families need a representative voice on our Town Council. Mike Wall will provide that voice. He has a young, growing family and he has the necessary leadership qualifications to represent the vision, needs and interests of Windsor families on our Town Council. Please join me and many others in voting for Mike Wall on Nov. 8.
Don Albini
Windsor
Change
Editor: In surveys for our 2040 General Plan, the majority of Windsor residents agree that the most important use of land is open space, parks and agriculture, and that any additional development should protect our environment and infrastructure. Despite this very clear message the current Town Council (including incumbents Bruce Okrepkie and Deb Fudge) has favored development that will impact our roads and sprawl our town. For Windsor’s 2040 General Plan, the council majority suggested converting the agricultural land on the east side of Windsor (mostly vineyards), north of Jensen, south of Jensen, and south of Pleasant to housing developments. In addition, Windsor’s current General Plan specifically states that the Town shall encourage rural development and agriculture at the town’s western edge, Fudge and Okrepkie have not opposed the high density 361 houses and 200 room hotel development proposed on the rural west side of Windsor. Are Deb Fudge and Bruce Okrepkie protecting the environment, and the agricultural green belts surrounding Windsor, as their glossy mailers proclaim? According to the Town’s Summary of Housing Projects, from September 2016, there are currently 523 housing units approved and/or under construction, 479 housing units under review and 349 housing units in discussion. If approved, this would add 1,351 new housing units to Windsor, with the potential of 2,000 more cars. Is this what you want for Windsor? It’s time for a change on the Windsor Town Council. I am voting for Rosa Reynoza and Mike Wall. Both Rosa and Mike support open space, parks and agriculture and sustainable growth. They will fight for your quality of life in Windsor. I urge the citizens of Windsor to vote for Rosa Reynoza and Mike Wall for Windsor Town Council.
Mary Ann Bainbridge-Krause
Windsor
GMOs
Editor: Monsanto, Syngenta, Bayer, BASF, and duPont have arrived in Sonoma County to fight Measure M, a ballot measure that prohibits growing GMOs.
The opposition said they weren’t planning to spend money against Measure M. According to documents filed with the Sonoma County Clerk, these companies are funding a recently formed committee, “No on M – Sponsored and Opposed by farmers, ranchers, and agricultural technology companies” receiving over, $98,000 as of Oct. 10. Contribution reports are online: http://bit.ly/2dw5DDX. Agro-chemical corporations wouldn’t be funding our opposition if they didn’t have plans for Sonoma County. The fact is, more and more people want non-GMO food. Our local farms have a right to grow without contamination. It’s that simple.
When grown in open fields, GMO crops present a contamination threat to non-GMO farms miles away. As new GMO crops are released, local farmers will face a greater threat to their businesses. Eighty percent of Sonoma County dairies are organic, so their cows cannot eat contaminated grass.
Farmers are concerned. “My right to grow non-GMO shouldn’t be threatened by someone else’s business practices that are harmful to mine. Millions of dollars in lost export revenue has occurred from GMO contamination,” said Joey Smith of Let’s Go Farm. “Because people growing genetically engineered crops aren’t required to register, we don’t know how many genetically engineered crops are growing in Sonoma County.”
The Yes on M Committee is supported by a broad list of endorsers, including: local farmers, dairy owners, farming organizations, vintners, business owners, newspapers, environmental organizations like the Sierra Club and Sonoma County Conservation Action; political groups like the local Democratic Party; former Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey; former State Senator Noreen Evans; former State Assemblywoman Mariko Yamada; local elected and community leaders throughout the county and numerous residents.
The text of Measure M, endorsements, and more can be found at gmofreesonomacounty.com.
Karen Hudson
Council veteran
Editor: I have not voted for Debora Fudge in the past. In fact, I have often publicly supported her opponents, because it seemed we were at odds on our approach to business, growth management and spending priorities. Even so, I have long admired Deb’s passion and dedication to Windsor and over the years I agreed with many of her positions during her tenure on our Windsor Town Council. I certainly can’t argue with our success as a community. I’m proud to live here and to be a downtown business owner as well.
 At a Windsor Rotary candidate forum, I was able to meet and listen to all five of our Town Council contenders. It’s clear that Deb Fudge, Bruce Okrepkie and Julia Donoho understand the challenges ahead, know the facts and issues, and possess the leadership skills needed for elected office. They are, overall, the best qualified among the five. The first-time contenders likely have much to contribute, and I’m all for people jumping in to participate. But I like to see more consistent and sustained engagement in the breadth of community issues than they can demonstrate at this time. 
I thank Deb Fudge for her knowledge, energy, enthusiasm, and experience. She has my vote for re-election. 


Maureen McDaniel Merrill

Windsor
Time tested
Editor: Our family has lived in Windsor for 63 years. The main North-South Highway was Old Redwood Highway. Shiloh Road was a very narrow county road, and the telephone was on a nine-party farmers line. Over the years, we have watched many dedicated people work to make Windsor the beautiful, small town it is today.
Debora Fudge is right when she says council meetings in the ‘90s were like the Wild West, as we were there for many of those meetings. Debora Fudge has been so involved in the planning and growth of Windsor. She has always been available to give of her time, help and knowledge. We have read that the town has recently lost two senior planners, there is to be new residential development and Lytton land going into trust. Now is not the time to bring in new candidates. We need our vice mayor to be re-elected. Please give your vote to Debora Fudge for Windsor Town Council.
Marianne Olufs
Windsor