A remarkable amount of dedication
I have volunteered on more than 10 local campaigns over the past 40 years. I have noticed that a candidate who has begun preparing for the position long before election season is a stronger candidate on the campaign trail and does a more effective job once elected or re-elected. I live in District 5 and have been paying close attention to the race for Supervisor between Jessica Pyska and Daniel “Boone“Bridges. I watched the January 10 forum streamed on the Peg channel (you can find it on YouTube). I also had an opportunity to interview both candidates as part of the Lake County Association of Realtors' Legislative Committee.
I was struck by Jessica Pyska's comments at the January 10 forum that she had begun preparing for the Supervisor position two years in advance of the 2020 election when she was first elected. I thought that showed a remarkable amount of dedication to earning a job. Since then, it seems to me that we have been getting our money's worth: She devotes more than full time to the position. Jessica Pyska has built upon the community organizing skills she honed after the Valley Fire and in obtaining grant funding for Cobb after the fire, and as Supervisor she has helped to expand grant funding for all of us in Lake County.
She also has shown that she listens and responds to her constituents. I have learned from Jessica Pyska that the whole renaming of Kelseyville issue was taken out of our collective hands when the Healing Organization filed for the name change with the federal government. Once those papers were filed, we no longer were in control of either the process or of the outcome.
In the meantime, it seems that our elected supervisor is incorrectly being accused of spearheading the name change process and chastised for not taking a stand on either side. Good leaders don't divide their communities; they encourage all voices to be heard and they are there after a decision is made to assist with the healing process.
Mr. Bridges has shown a surprising lack of preparation for this job he is applying for. I was disappointed that he didn't have even a basic grasp of the Middle Creek Marsh project that has been ongoing for close to 20 years and could have a major impact on the quality of the lake water.
Mr. Bridges was unwilling to commit to devote full time to this position at the January 10 forum, and later walked back his comments to clarify that he would still participate in his day job but would make time for the Supervisor position. I am out of patience with candidates who promise (let alone those who don't promise) to give up their day job, and we citizens later end up having to make do with less than full time effort from our Supervisor.
I am voting for Jessica Pyska to continue the work she has started, and I hope you will join me.
— Mary Benson, Lower Lake