Letters to the Editor 5-15-14

Endorsement for Churchill
Editor: Ken Churchill would provide the leadership that North County needs for 4th District Supervisor. I have come to know Ken through his avid support of Save Our Sonoma Roads since its inception. If elected he would bring a major commitment to the board of supervisors to fix our roads and to reign in non-essential county spending. Ken is independent of the special interests, who for decades have backed public officials who helped create the current financial mess that has resulted in the decaying public infrastructure in Sonoma County. Ken wants to create a fiscally responsible government that delivers the services everyone depends upon for our quality of life. His business and financial experience in running a solar company and an environmental consulting firm are an asset. For those who daily experience the failure of over 65 percent of our rural roads Ken is the ray of sunshine in this election.
Craig S. Harrison
SOSRoads
No endorsement
Editor: I was extremely alarmed to find my name on a mailer as an endorser for a local candidate. I have given NO ONE permission to use my name. I am always interested in making sure people talk to ALL the candidates that are running so they can be personally informed and then make the wisest choice but this is not an endorsement.
Heather Cullen
Windsor
Wood for Assembly
Editor: I have had the pleasure of serving with Jim Wood on the Healdsburg City Council for the past five years. His leadership, integrity and sincere concern for his constituents have always shown through. He has consistently used these exceptional characteristics to deliver excellent results for the citizens of Healdsburg. Now Jim wants to apply his skills to the California State Assembly. We are fortunate that someone of his caliber is willing and able to step up to this task. As the current mayor, Jim recently led the effort to obtain permission from the Regional Water Control Board for Healdsburg to supply recycled water for construction dust control and irrigation. The agricultural community is suffering from one of our most severe droughts and access to this source of water is extremely important. Jim worked tirelessly over the last several months with local and state officials to make this happen. He used his experience, tenacity and ability to work within the system to fulfill his promise to our council that he would make this happen. Jim is an independent thinker, yet a true team player. Collaboration, vision and persistence are key to driving results and these are clearly Jim’s strengths. He does not compromise his values but understands the necessity to get things done. I will be voting for Jim in the upcoming primary election and strongly encourage you to do the same.
Tom Chambers
Healdsburg City Council
Homes Tour Success
Editor: The 24th annual AAUW Healdsburg Homes Tour on May 4 was the most successful tour yet, generating about $48,000.  This will enable AAUW to continue awarding scholarships to women and girls, contributing to Healdsburg Education Foundation (HEF) and other programs benefitting education in our community. Last year’s Homes Tour provided support this year for HEF’s Tomorrow’s Leaders Today and Pasitos programs.  Contributions were also made to Public School Success Team (PSST), Expanding Your Horizons, Healdsburg Science Fair, HHS’s Career Choices program and for supplies and books to Healdsburg Elementary School.  Scholarships were awarded to four re-entry women graduating from SRJC to continue at a four year college and to two girls graduating from Healdsburg High School. AAUW also maintains its GEMS (Girls Engaged in Math and Science) field trips to companies showing engineers and scientists at work. Each year the Healdsburg branch of AAUW also sends local junior high school girls to Tech Trek Camp at Stanford University.  This year we will be sending eight girls from Cloverdale, Geyserville, Healdsburg and Windsor to Tech Trek Camp. The Healdsburg Homes Tour is our major fundraiser. Its success was a community effort of which we can all be proud.  Thank you owners of the six beautiful homes, sponsors, advertisers, raffle donors, in-kind contributors, donors, Healdsburg Museum and Curator Holly Hoods, businesses from Cloverdale to Santa Rosa and Sebastopol who displayed posters and postcards and sold tickets, Sonoma West Publishers and the Santa Rosa daily.
Ronnie Devitt and Janet Hoehn
Co-Chairs Healdsburg Homes Tour
Charge for grad night?
Editor: Please hear this my fellow Windsor people, I don’t know how other schools do it, however, I just got a email that says my son has to pay $60 by today or $70 by next week to enter Graduation Celebration. I’m sorry but I don’t remember any such thing for my grad night. This night is so very important to keep our kids alive that I am reaching out to everyone I can possibly think of. Why didn’t our boosters do their job and make this event a little more mandatory for our seniors to have a most amazing night? I know that my son has no desire to go, why? Because none of his friends are going because they cannot afford it after prom happened two weeks ago, which costs most of us over $300, now why isn’t our senior grad night free to our seniors? There should be absolutely no reason our children should have any reason to go out and party. And if they aren’t going, then they should have a parental note saying why they won’t be staying the night with all the other seniors. This is a disgrace. I am contacting every place in town, because how can I stop my son from going out and getting wasted with his friends when he can clearly be at grad night with what sounds like to be not very many.
Loni Mallory
Windsor
Lowry for Assembly
Editor: John Lowry has the ability to draw support from both sides of the aisle. He has many years of experience as the chief executive officer of Burbank Housing. This role brought him into direct contact with city, county and state government officials in efforts to provide rental and owner-occupied housing to lower income seniors and families in and outside Sonoma County. He understands the issues present when the public and private sectors interface and he appreciates the importance of defining strategies that work for both. John Lowry has proven his ability to successfully navigate the challenges that exist between the private sector and the public sector and will be equally successful in dealing with the political challenges inherent in the multi-party system at the California State Assembly. John’s honest approach and commitment to finding workable solutions will draw support from all political perspectives. These skills are critical as our elected officials seek solutions to the financial, social and environmental challenges that lay ahead. I urge your vote for John Lowry to the State Assembly (Second District).
Rick Lewis
Santa Rosa
Bunco for a Cause
Editor: Have you played Bunco?  Would you like to learn? Now is your opportunity. Saturday, May 17. BBQ lunch at noon, game starts at 1 p.m. Food, drinks, raffles, prizes, fun. All proceeds benefit the American Cancer. Society.  Pre-registration $25 per person, $30 at the door. Call 837-1992 to register. Game to be held at Nicole Cowlin’s home, 6134 Old Redwood Hwy., Santa Rosa.  Must be over 18 to attend.  A fun way to play and also support the goals of the American Cancer Society.
Jill Sullivan
Windsor