Six Fifth District candidates address local issues
Topics run gamut from county staff to tourism
The six candidates vying for the open Fifth District Inyo County supervisor seat introduced themselves to a large crowd in Independence and responded to more than a dozen questions posed by those in attendance and the organizers, the Independence Civic Club. Topics ranged from housing, the fate of the historic Inyo County Courthouse in Independence, safety on US 395, and tourism promotion.
Incumbent Fifth District Supervisor Matt Kingsley isn’t running for reelection. He opened the candidate night by thanking the crowd and the mix of candidates seeking to fill his shoes.
introductions
The candidates started with a brief introduction.
Dan Berry comes from a 5th generation Lone Pine family and has worked in risk management and insurance for more than 20 years, which he said gave him experience in finance, budgets and human resources. He has a “passion” to serve the public and said housing was one of his top concerns and issues.
Ash Seiter is also from Lone Pine. He spent many years in the music business before coming back to his hometown to work in various businesses and
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“either you run the day or the day runs you.” volunteer at the Lone Pine Volunteer Fire
Department. The music industry taught him “the artist” has the vision, and in this case the people in each community express their vision and elected officials work to implement it.
Spencer McNeal is the owner of Delight’s Hot Springs Resort in Tecopa with his wife. He said the county’s closed sessions make it seem decisions are made beforehand, and the people don’t get the whole story and the supervisors might not get the “best facts” from staff. He said the county “needs a change” and he would stand up “for the people.”
Aaron Cassell’s family runs the Panamint Springs Resort, in Death Valley, and he said his experience with a small, family business in a rural area taught him to be “innovative” when trying to get things done. Some ordinances and rules don’t quite fit such a large area, he added, and he wants to bring a “new perspective” to the county.
Laura Blystone was first a part-time, second homeowner in Lone Pine and moved to Lone Pine permanently in 2007. She has a degree in communications and has been involved in the community and volunteered for numerous organizations and Santa Rosa Catholic Church.
Will “The Handyman” Wadelton was raised in Big Pine, served in the Navy and then came back to live in Lone Pine. He has managed property, done construction and handyman work, along with leading the Community Service District and volunteering at the food bank. “Transparency and twoway communication” would be his primary focus.
County staff
The first prepared question involved the candidates’ stance on county employees working from home, which was widespread during the COVID pandemic, and has continued to some degree.
Seiter said, yes, working from home should be an option to help with productivity and improve worker morale. Online services, such as permits, could be more “convenient and save the county and taxpayers money.” The bigger issue is providing digital access to the huge district for everyone.
McNeal said “no,” emphatically. He said county employees got millions in pay raises during
and since COVID and should not be allowed to work “from the couch, no way,” and should be in county buildings.
Cassell said each department head should be allowed to determine if working from home improved productivity, but there should be ongoing performance reviews.
Blystone said county workers should return to buildings, but some hybrid work could be okay. However, collaborative work, meetings and trainings should be in person, face-to-face.
Wadelton said some working from home could be allowed, “if needed,” and the county should be able to keep conducting business when large distances or storms limit access, for example. But all county offices need to be open and phones need to be answered, he stressed.
Berry said he works from home, so it can be successful if there is no loss in productivity and there is a “limited number” of such jobs. But job descriptions need to be revised for home workers and their managers and supervisors to ensure productivity does not suffer.
All five said they would adamantly fight against any loss of jobs or other moves to diminish
Independence’s historic role as the county seat. All five also agreed the county needed to put more effort and emphasis on supporting the district’s volunteer fire departments and ambulance services. All the candidates also said they had no problem with the county “PRIDE proclamation,” and support civil liberties and would not condone any sort of discrimination.
Tourism and economic
development
The next question was about promoting tourism and economic development.
Cassell said cleaning up trails and improving signage would be an easy start. Then he would rely on each community for input on what it wants and can handle.
Blystone said there should be a 5th District website separate from the county tourism website offering complete information on all the district’s attractions, from Death Valley to hiking trails to events and organizations, plus businesses and restaurants and hotels and accommodations. “Everything under the sun” and it would be updated and kept current.
Wadelton agreed with the need for an up-to-date webpage with 5th District tourist information. He said the district “has everything except Mule Days,” and cited such attractions as Death
Valley, Mt. Whitney, Manzanar, the Alabama Hills and more.
Berry quoted famed Father John Crowley, of Lone Pine, who promoted tourism in the 1920s: “the largest crop is the tourist harvest.” The county “couldn’t ruin tourism if it tried,” Berry said, and additional efforts should see tourism and the economy grow.
Seiter said the county hasn’t funded the infrastructure needed to accommodate tourism. Town “beautification” and improvements on US 395 and investing in such amenities as Diaz Lake could increase tourism and county income.
McNeal said he has been supporting tourism in the Southeast County for 20 years and would support all the ideas coming forward. He did mention that there could be some support for mining, too.
Housing and traffic The candidates were asked for ideas and insights about the ongoing housing crisis and how it is impacted by short term tourist rentals such as Air B&Bs in the county and specifically in the 5th district.
Blystone said the county should hire a housing director to oversee all housing-related projects and initiatives, ranging from obtaining land from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, seeking grants for housing projects focusing on workforce housing and also work with businesses to help them secure housing for their employees.
Wadelton noted he has been a property manager, so he is familiar with the housing situation. A county board made up of employees could suggest action on such things as renovating “derelict buildings,” overseeing compliance with Air B&B rules, and handling state housing grants, which are plentiful right now. Changing zoning and building restrictions could increase the number of homes being built. A key is getting LADWP land
“released” as mandated in the Long-Term Water Agreement.
Berry said Air B&Bs have had an “undeniable” impact on each community, but there must be a balance between private property rights and community needs. Getting the promised 75 acres of LADWP land released and used for housing, including apartments, could allow more current workers who live in RVs during the week and have homes elsewhere to live in the area.
Seiter said “responsible development,” not “crazy development” could be accommodated. He cited several vacant open parcels in Lone Pine that could hold “large apartment buildings.” Having the county, not neighbors, enforce Air B&B regulations could help limit problems with those rentals.
McNeal had issues with the county imposing restrictions on hosted, short-term rentals, but not non-hosted ones. Apartment buildings would be the quickest way to create additional, affordable housing and the county could get involved with negotiating with builders and contractors to secure the land and start the work.
Cassell said simple changes like allowing RVs on private land could help short-term, but long-term solutions should focus on housing for workers and employees.
The candidates were also asked for ideas and actions that could help improve safety for pedestrians and drivers on US 395 through Lone Pine and Independence.
Seiter said the “rules”
Caltrans uses to determine improvements such as stoplights and pedestrian crossings are geared to urban areas, not rural ones. The “Sacramento Rules” don’t work well in Inyo County and the county should push Caltrans to modify them.
McNeal said despite a multi-million dollar budget, some simple steps, such as correct signage, well-maintained painting and striping, would be a start.
Cassell noted the county probably can’t change Caltrans rules and procedures but should negotiate.
Blystone said she applauded the recent CHP enforcement action that resulted in dozens of speeding tickets issued in Independence, and that should be expanded.
Wadelton said “tragic” pedestrian deaths on US 395 helped prompt him to run for office and the county “needed to be heard” about safety improvements in both towns.
Berry also stressed “advocating” as loud as possible to Caltrans for improvements. More CHP enforcement actions could help spread the word to travelers that speeding in both towns could end up costing them the price of a ticket.