Feb. 8, 2008, Valley Springs News

Gary Tofanelli

Burson resident enters race for District 1 supervisor

By Nick Baptista

   Burson resident and former Calaveras County Grand Jury foreperson Gary Tofanelli is the latest candidate in the race for District 1 supervisor.

   Tofanelli, 54, a 16-year resident of Burson and foreperson of the 2006-07 Grand Jury is seeking the office being vacated by Bill Claudino, who has announced he will not seek re-election after serving one term. Businesswoman Zerrall McDaniel and emergency services professional Bryan Santos have also announced their candidacy for the district that encompasses Burson, San Andreas, Valley Springs and Wallace.

   Tofanelli served a total of four years on the Grand Jury. In addition, he has been involved as an officer with his Burson area homeowners’ association serving as either manager, vice manager or secretary-treasurer for the past 15 years.

   The supervisor hopeful has a steel fabrication and erection business in Stockton and previously owned a feed store in Burson. He and his wife of 36 years, Denise, have two adult sons, Gary Jr. and John. John resides in the county and works in the family business, while Gary Jr. lives in Hawaii.

   Tofanelli said he was approached by several people asking him to run for supervisor and he made the decision to enter the race after hearing Claudino would not seek re-election.

   Completion of the General Plan process, the local economy, Cosgrove Creek, the ambulance service contract and completion of the new jail are major issues the county faces, he said.

   The General Plan update is a two-step process, said Tofanelli, and “growth policies in a smart way” need to be implemented.

   Where the county goes in regards to the General Plan update will have an influence on the local economy, which is in need of more retail and sales-tax generating businesses, he added.

   “This county has become more of a bedroom community with a lot of rooftops, but most of our people commute to the valley and Bay Area,” he said. “Jobs are very few in the county and we don’t have a program implement business tax breaks to get those jobs to come here.”

   The ambulance issue has also become a thorn in the county’s side with many residents upset that American Legion Ambulance is downsizing the number of ambulances and staff and the impact that will have on emergency responses, he said, all of which needs to be addressed.

   As for the flood danger along Cosgrove Creek, Tofanelli said county leaders need to apply pressure in the right places at the federal level.

   The new jail will also be an important topic for the next supervisor, he predicted.

   “A lot of issues are going to come up regarding building of the jail within the next term,” he added.

   Those issues likely will include staffing levels for the new jail and finding the funds to man it, he said.

   The supervisors’ election will be on the June 3 ballot. In addition to District 1, the supervisor seats in Districts 2 and 4 are also up for election. Steve Wilensky is the District 2 incumbent and the district includes Mokelumne Hill, Mountain Ranch and West Point, while Tom Tryon is the District 4 incumbent and his district consists of Angels Camp and Murphys.

Mail: P.O. Box 1297, Valley Springs, CA 95252 
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