District 4 Assembly candidates field questions at Lake County virtual forum
LAKE COUNTY >> Assemblywoman Cecilia AguiarCurry and Matt Nelson touched on a variety of topics from wildfire prevention to curbing the spread of COVID-19 at Wednesday’s District 4 Assemblymember candidates forum.
The candidates answered questions from the public, prepared by the Lake County Chamber of Commerce, which hosted the hour-long forum via Zoom.
Asked what their top priority would be in office, Aguiar- Curry, D-Winters, said her current focus was improving access to healthcare, mentioning legislation she introduced to improve access to telehealth services. Assembly Bill 744 requires that healthcare plans reimburse providers for services provided both in-person and virtually.
Nelson, a Republican from Lower Lake, said he would want to laser in on homelessness, as
well as get the Mount Konocti lookout tower operational once again in a few months.
He brought the tower up again as a proposed solution when asked what measures he would take to prepare for the 2020-2021 fire season, although admitting he was aware Aguiar- Curry previously told the press state funding was not available for the tower. Nelson then asked if the assemblywoman would put her campaign contributions toward it.
Aguiar- Curry said the project was impor tant and funding for it was requested, but Cal Fire needed money for other things this year.
“By law, I cannot use campaign funds, and you well know that,” she said.
When asked how they would help ranchers in the district, Aguiar- Curry said it was important for her to educate her urban colleagues about how proposals could have unintended consequences for sma ll farmers. Nelson took issue with AguiarCurry describing herself as a farmer, saying she only belonged to a farming family, but that she was a politician.
One thing the candidates did agree on was how to keep COVID-19 cases down: wear a mask, socially distance, and wash your hands. They also said they were both opposed to penalties for failure to wear a mask.
“Just be smart about it,” Nelson said. “Use common sense.”
Asked about finances for the office, Aguiar said she had four field offices instead of two, as some other assemblymembers had, because the district was so large. Nelson said he would take an over $30,000 cut in pay, if elected, and reduce the salaries for his staff.
In her closing statement, Aguiar- Curry said she would continue to give her “heart and soul” to the community and that her goal was to one day see an article in the San Francisco Chronicle declaring that the Lake County water was clear.
Nelson said he was worried about the country heading toward socialism and communism but also said the state needed to unify. He called out his former competitor in the race, Sophia Racke, a progressive, who he said had some good ideas.