Candidate Forum Re-cap Calaveras County Supervisor Candidates Districts 1, 2 and 4.

Candidate Forum Re-cap Calaveras County Supervisor Candidates Districts 1, 2 and 4.

Calaveras County Taxpayers Association (CCTA) and the Copperopolis Community Center (CCC) hosted a Candidates Forum at the Historic Armory on April 23, 2012.

District 1 includes Wallace, Burson, the downtown portion of Valley Springs, San Andreas, and a lightly populated area between New Hogan Lake and Angels Camp. Candidates: Gary Tofanelli, Valley Springs, incumbent, Cliff Edson, San Andreas, owner of Country Cliff’s Café, Joe Kelly, Copperopolis, retired rancher

District 2 includes a wide swath of northern and central Calaveras County from Paloma to West Point and south to the towns of Sheep Ranch, Calaveritas and Mountain Ranch. Candidates: Chris Wright, Glencoe, Foothill Conservancy executive director, Bryce Randall, West Point, owner West Point Trading Post, Michael Dell’Orto, Mokelumne Hill, businessman and former supervisor, Tom Swartz, Paloma, businessman

District 4 includes Copperopolis as well as Angels Camp. Candidates:  Tom Tryon, Angels Camp, incumbent, Debbie Ponte, Angels Camp, executive director Foothill Village Senior Living Community, Russell Thomas, Copperopolis, businessman and former supervisor.

 L to R : Tryon, Randall, Dell'Orto, Kelly, Edson, Thomas, Ponte.

Candidates were asked a question from questions submitted by residents in attendance. Questions were vetted by Copperopolis Community Center board members and Calaveras County Taxpayers Association members. Candidates were each given a limited amount of time to answer from two minutes to three minutes. Candidates were rotated for each question. Due to the large turn-out of candidates each question posed was only asked of two candidates, the following question were asked of the next two candidates, and so on. The answers posted here are condensed.

Opening statements:

Debbie Ponte – desire to serve my community…past Mayor Angels Camp.

Russ Thomas – contribute to the betterment of my community I live in.

Cliff Edson- stand for truth and fairness with no special interest…make a beter place for all of us.

Joe Kelly – career BOS meeting attendee wear like a badge… prepare for bankruptcy get ready for development, both sides…transparency in government.

Michael Dell’Orto – 4^th generation Moke Hill…concerned with economy and what we can do to get it (going)…enjoy working with people for a common goal.

Bryce Randall – BS design engineer…small business owner…keep business local.

Tom Tryon – Advocate for a successful Hwy 4 corridor…positive economic growth…need community plan.

Question #1: With 10% of the population of Calaveras County being veterans will you increase services for them? Or at the very least not cut what is left?

Ponte – certainly no cuts to services…inquire into State and Federal funding for programs… a need for them especially in the seniors in Calaveras County.

 Thomas – providing services for veterans should be expanded on.

(In his closing statement Kelly addressed this question and put forth the idea that “first dibs should go to veterans for any new low-income housing built Calaveras County.”)

Question #2: How long can an individual live on a property without building?

Edson – would need to check with county code … those situations should be monitored.

Kelly- the time frame is connected to a building permit…should have a septic.

Question #3: Why doesn’t the county have an economic development team?

Dell’Orto- Calaveras County Chamber of Commerce promotes the county…it does exist its just quiet.

Randall – The economic development committee was taken away in the early ‘90’s… I am opposed to spending government money to promote development government is the problem.

Question #4: How do you propose residents of Copperopolis to gain access to New Melones?

Tryon – decision with the community plan advisory committee… not a necessity to top infrastructure.

Ponte – ’05 and ’09 community plans submitted with no BOS blessing…will support what the people of Copper want.

Question #5: Do you support proposal Agenda 21?

Thomas – The UN doesn’t have their eye on Calaveras County … we are a laughing stock in the region for lack of economic development.

Edson – When you plan you need to plan for water, emergency services, need some sort of sustainable…put it on the BOS as an agenda item.

Question #6: What is your plan to make Calaveras County more business friendly?

Kelly – Government Center not friendly to small business…county should be trained.

Dell’Orto – collaborative effort.