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District
1 Supervisor hopefuls, from left, Kathy Mazzaferro, Zerrall McDaniel and
Gary Tofanelli listen as moderator Nick Baptista poses another question
at Wednesday’s Meet the Candidates Night in Valley Springs. Photo by
Laura Baptista.
District
1 supervisor candidates tackle a variety of issues
By
Nick Baptista
Similarities and differences between the three candidates running
for the District 1 seat on the Calaveras County Board of Supervisors
were revealed during a lengthy series of questioning at a political
forum Wednesday evening in Valley Springs.
All three supervisor hopefuls, Kathy Mazzaferro, Zerrall McDaniel
and Gary Tofanelli, participated in the Meet the Candidates Night hosted
by The Valley Springs News. The election is June 3.
The candidates answered nearly 20 questions posed to them by the
audience of approximately 70 people and the local newspaper.
The Ridge at Trinitas project attracted four questions from the
audience, generally along the lines of how each candidate would vote on
the proposal, which is going through environmental review.
McDaniel and Tofanelli said they would have to look at the
project’s documentation before making any decisions, while Mazzaferro
took the strongest stand saying the developer (Mike Nemee) should bear
the full financial responsibility for area road improvements, be ready
to provide an additional source of water and prepared to install a sewer
system that re-claims graywater for use on his project, all at his
expense.
“I don’t want the aquifer damaged,” she added.
All three candidates agreed installation of a traffic light at
the downtown intersection of Highway 12 and 26 was not the solution to
the community’s rush-hour woes.
“I can’t see the downtown and a stop light, it doesn’t
compute,” Tofanelli said.
“A stop light would change the quality of life in Valley
Springs,” McDaniel said.
All were in favor of a bypass to divert traffic from the
intersection, but the solution could be years away, Mazzaferro and
Tofanelli agreed.
All three had different approaches toward solving the county’s
budget woes.
Tofanelli said the county needs to expand its economic base by
attracting more retail services and at the same time convince county
residents it’s in their best interest to shop locally. He also said
that proposed commercial projects, such as the shopping center
envisioned for Highway 26 and Hogan Dam Road, should be placed on the
fast-tract at the county level.
McDaniel criticized county government for subsidizing development
to the tune of $1.2 million and said the county needs to address its fee
schedule and ordinances to stem the red ink.
Mazzaferro said fiscal responsibility rests with the county’s
department heads and the Board of Supervisors. She said everyone is
going to be asked to make sacrifices and citizens can help by being more
involved and offering their services as volunteers.
“Shameful,” was McDaniel’s reaction when asked about the
stalemate between the county and the federal government for permission
to clear debris and overgrown vegetation from flood-prone Cosgrove
Creek. “My heart goes out to (the residents).”
She said the county is not pushing hard enough to get the fed’s
OK for the clean-up. The county and the public need to put pressure on
the federal government and letter-writing is one way to do so, she
added.
Tofanelli said he “feels horrible” about the Cosgrove Creek
situation and its impact on homeowners and residents. He also said more
pressure needs to be applied to the feds.
Along with putting pressure on the federal government, Mazzaferro
said the problem could have been avoided if the county had listened to
the people who had lived in the area for many years and cautioned
against building homes in a flood plain.
In response to a question about the possibility of the county
building an annex and library in Valley Springs to bring county services
closer to its major population center, Mazzaferro and McDaniel agreed
the time is coming when there will be enough of a population in the area
to pressure the county to consider making such a move.
Facing a $2.3 million deficit, and continued tough times ahead,
Tofanelli said it’s unlikely the county would entertain such plans any
time soon. He suggested that the county should look at the number of
vacant buildings in Toyon as a location to service the Valley Springs
area.
All three agreed that the next District 1 supervisor would play
an important role in re-districting after the 2010 census and Valley
Springs and Rancho Calaveras should be in the same district.
Valley Springs’ future was also a hot topic at Meet the
Candidates Night.
District 1 supervisor hopefuls tackled questions about
incorporation, whether the community should have its own high school,
what can be done to raise money for a new community hall and
development.
When asked about their thoughts on incorporation, the candidates
said it would be a long process.
“It’s Valley Springs’ choice,” Mazzaferro said. If the
citizens were for it, she would support it.
Tofanelli cautioned that county services would be curtailed if
Valley Springs were incorporated. A new city would have to pay for its
own police force or contract with the county for such services. Fire
protection and water and sewer service would also need to be addressed,
he added.
McDaniel said she did not want to sound negative toward the idea,
but incorporation would require a strong tax base.
Tofanelli said he was “absolutely” in favor of a high school
in Valley Springs and added that a satellite campus for higher education
will also be beneficial for the community, students and employers
looking for a well-trained work force.
McDaniel, a Calaveras Unified School District trustee, said a
Valley Springs high school campus is in the district’s master plan,
but it’s a matter of having enough students to become eligible for
state funding.
She also said the school district has worked toward attracting
higher education to the area and it was a shame that San Joaquin Delta
College dropped plans to place a satellite campus in Valley Springs.
Given the growing student population in the area, Mazzaferro said
she’s pretty certain there will be a Valley Springs high school.
However, instead of a satellite college campus, Mazzaferro said
she’d rather see a full-scale community college in the area.
Tofanelli did not foresee any money coming from the county for
construction of a new community center. He said the American Legion and
the public would need to continue holding events and fundraisers to
reach their goal of $500,000 for the building.
McDaniel said she met with the American Legion and heard what
they do and why. She said it’s a shame that the veterans do not have a
new hall and she was willing to get on the bandwagon and help them build
public support for possible re-consideration of the proposal.
Mazzaferro said there was something fundamentally wrong with
holding bake sales to get the funds to build a new hall for the veterans
and the community.
If the memorial district asks for another vote on funding, she
said better explanation would be a key factor to get community buy-in.
“What’s in it for me?” needs to be explained to the average
voter, she said.
Along the lines of development, Mazzaferro said it’s not a
matter of what she wants, but what the public wants.
Tofanelli said scrutiny of development does not end when the new
General Plan is completed.
“You’re not done guys,” he said. “It’s up to you after
that to elect the right person to follow that plan.”
He said the county has had general plans for many years and has
not followed them.
McDaniel said she like to see every community in Calaveras have
its own specific identity and “brand it and protect it.”
The traits for District 1’s next planning commissioner
were also discussed.
Tofanelli would look for someone with experience in construction
and planning.
McDaniel would seek someone who is comfortable working with and
listening to people, along with being willing to put in the time to
educate themselves about the state’s laws. They would need to make
fair and consistent decisions and the courage to obey the laws.
Mazzaferro said the appointment is too complicated for someone
with just a construction background and she doesn’t want someone who
would be learning while on the job. She would seek someone who already
understands planning and all of its regulations.
Public transportation expansion was also a question posed to the
candidates.
Increased ridership could possibly pay for expansion, McDaniel
said.
Transit is subsidized, Mazzaferro said, and expansion is great if
the public is willing to pay for it.
“Is it something we can afford?” she added.
Tofanelli said he is “all for expanding it.”
He added that all public transportation is subsidized and with
gas prices skyrocketing more people will take advantage of the bus
system.
With more people using the system, Tofanelli said, the percentage
of the subsidy becomes less and less.
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