Grand Jury shows Kopf's conflicts

To the Editor:

We were elated to read the article regarding the Grand Jury report on conflict of interest committed by Ron Kopf. Finally, his lies and underhanded tactics have been revealed and may perhaps be halted in our beloved Tuolumne County.

Our family ranch was threatened by his and his cohorts' Mountain Springs Development plan to convert agricultural preserve land into a golf community surrounding the course. They originally wanted to build 2,500 homes on 900 plus acres of ag land, across our dividing fence line, dodging and breaking many rules and regulations set in place to protect the preserve.

Kopf was recruited by Mountain Springs to push the development through because of our vehement opposition to this abominable, incongruous plan. He was the “fixer.” He apparently thought he could convince the Board of Supervisors and the Planning Commission that the Mountain Springs Community was good for the county. He tried every trick. He became cozy with members of the board and planning commission. He schmoozed and cajoled.

We fought for nine years, finally agreeing to a minimal number of homes in 2008. Our rejection of the plan was aided by neighbors, CSERC, Citizens for Responsible Growth, the Farm Bureau, Voters Choice, and attorneys. Dad, who established the ranch in 1950, passed away in 2004 at age 90, before we could settle with Mountain Springs.

Kopf has been the instigator for numerous farmland conversion projects since then. He has gotten himself appointed to boards, commissions, committees, etc. He has continued to strongarm public officials. His influential TUD membership affords him power to confiscate and direct water to projects for his benefit, leaving established homes and ranches little access to water that used to run through and under our properties. We hope he can be stopped. We need no more TUD “education!”

Fran Heron Bryant

Oakdale