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FEDERAL OFFICES:
6TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT RACE:
MICHAEL HALLIWELL ,
Republican, Candidate for 6th U.S. Congressional District, CONTACT: Phone (707) 795-5526 Email halliwel@csulb.edu Mail 271 E. Cotati Ave, Cotati 94931 Mike Halliwell supports local control over
casino gambling: The Indian gambling casino
which will create transportation and water problems in Rohnert Park was made possible by Lynn Woolsey’s HR 946 (2000),
that gave the Graton Rancheria Miwok Tribe the right to treat as a reservation any land they might purchase in Sonoma or Marin
County. When Woolsey’s land buying right was made part of an Omnibus Tribal Rights Bill (without
any restriction on the use of Indian land for gaming purposes), she could have blocked this Omnibus Bill, by going to the
floor and noting the absence of a quorum, but she did not do so. The first North Bay candidate to acknowledge receiving campaign money from a gaming
tribe ($4,000 from the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria) was Congress member Lynn Woolsey. Mike
Halliwell supports allowing Sonoma County voters to express themselves in a referendum on the Rohnert Park Indian
Gambling Casino. This was blocked by the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors. Lynn
Woolsey is afraid to debate: In her last
re-election, Rep. Woolsey backed out of the League of Women Voters debate with Republican candidate Mike Halliwell, claiming
she was too busy to attend. At the 2006 North Bay Council’s Candidates Forum in Novato, Lynn Woolsey
refused to face her Democratic and Republican opponents. The March 22, 2006 article in the Marin Independent Journal
reported, “Woolsey told organizers she was too busy meeting with constituents
to attend. But Mike Halliwell of Rohnert Park…was there.” In her first
run for Congress, according to the California Journal, Lynn Woolsey “slipped in under the radar” by refusing to
debate the surrogates of Republican Bill Filante, after he had been stricken with brain cancer. Mike Halliwell is a leader in the fight against breast cancer: When Betty Halliwell was diagnosed with a very aggressive breast
cancer, which had the worst prognosis of 247 tumors caught at a similarly early stage, Mike developed the innovative Yolanda
10 therapy regimen, which used extended chemotherapy and hormonal therapy to prevent any recurrence of Betty’s cancer.
In conjunction with Sonoma County oncologists and the Marin County Department of Public Health, Halliwell has tailored
and targeted this regimen to fit the risk profiles of local breast cancer patients. Representative Woolsey
has not done much to help, in spite of the fact that Marin County had the highest rate of breast cancer anywhere in America.
Woolsey’s focus has been to to find out why Marin County’s breast cancer rate is so high, while
ignoring the immediate treatment needs of women whose breast cancer has been detected. Rep. Woolsey sponsored
an amendment seeking $35 million to investigate the danger posed by GMO’s, but she couldn’t come up with $1 million
for digital mammographic screening for Marin’s General Hospital (Marin Independent Journal, August 13, 2004). Mike Halliwell supports political reform: Mike has fought in court against the gerrymandering of congressional
districts while Woolsey promoted in 2001, and is trying to force again in 2011. Halliwell’s Reform Coalition partner
Senator Peter Behr ended unrecorded committee voting in the State Legislature.
STATE ASSEMBLY:
| Patrick Wm. Connally, Candidate for 6th Assembly |
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| Click on photo to visit Patrick's web site |
PATRICK WM. CONNALLY, Democrat,
Candidate for 6th Assembly District, CONTACT: Phone (415) 479-3504 Email patrick@connaly4assembly.net Web Site www.connally4assembly.net Native Americans, as anyone growing up the
pre-60s in the West knows, lived for the most part in segregated settings. Segregation came with social costs, lack of education,
healthcare, and salaried employment. Rather than do the right and decent thing and create top rate health and education systems,
California saw casino revenue as the answer to escape our obligations to one group of Californians, Native Americans. I don't foresee any political movement to abolish gambling in California but I do think
a few small changes may make it easier for everyone to live together.
The negative social costs of big gambling complexes
and the negative impact on families living nearby can't be denied. The common ground is that no one really seems to want casinos
in their backyard. It provides a bad environment for bringing up children. Yet they are popular and most American adults,
including myself, have gambled a few times. Native American nations have been under-funded in education and healthcare for
years, putting up with the social costs of gambling on tribal land is a heck of a lot better than no funding at all for these
programs. California's Native American tribes deserve the revenue
from gambling just as any descendant from a large property owner. It is time to do zoning of areas for gambling establishments.
Zones would be created through planning, not on the "chance of history" that created tribal property. People investing
in the area would know what they were getting. Gambling zones would only be in counties or cities who want that type of tourist
attraction. California's gambling franchises would still be owned by the tribes but the casinos would not have to be on tribal
property. They could be placed in properly zoned areas away from residential property. Kids in the Rohnert Park area will discover vices like gambling on their own but it should be when they understand
what is going on instead of seeing it all around them where they live. Thank you for the opportunity to ask for your vote.
JARED HUFFMAN, (Dem) Incumbent 6th State
Assembly District CONTACT: www.jaredhuffman.com My position on the casino
is unchanged – I oppose it because it is not being proposed on legitimate tribal land and would impose unacceptable
impacts – including traffic and water impacts -- on Sonoma and Marin counties. I’ve been very consistent, and
my reasoning is still exactly what I laid out in 2006 when I was a candidate. I’ve kept my campaign promises. Indeed, I’ve become the legislature’s leading voice on this issue. I’ve called for the Governor
not to start negotiations with the tribe, at least until they have land taken into trust that is eligible for gaming. I’ve
worked closely with members of the community who are opposed to the casino on a coordinated opposition strategy. And
I’ve authored legislation aimed at reducing the problem of “reservation shopping” by requiring off-reservation
casino proposals to demonstrate local support, including agreements with affected county and city governments, as well as
a resolution stating legislative intent not to approve gaming compacts that are negotiated before the land in question is
eligible for tribal gaming. So far, these legislative efforts have been defeated by the powerful interests who support
expansion of tribal gaming into urban areas, but my efforts have helped raise the profile of this untenable situation and
served notice that local communities and their elected representatives are going to continue fighting against wrong-headed
projects like the Graton casino. I’ve also been very clear that I support the legitimate
rights of Native Americans and that I don’t oppose all tribal gaming – but I have clear standards: I’ll
only vote to support compacts if the gaming is on legitimate tribal land; if there is no significant local opposition to the
project; if the compact includes enforceable protections for the environment and for workers’ rights; if the state gets
a fair share of the gaming proceeds; and if there is adequate accountability to the state such that we can verify financial
records, enforce child and spousal support orders, etc. I was one of a very small handful of legislators
who voted against the "Big 5" gaming compacts in 2007 because they did not meet these standards, but I did vote
for a compact for the Yurok tribe which I felt did meet this standard. And most recently, I voted against a compact for the
Pinoleville Pomo Nation in Mendocino County because there was local community opposition and the land in question had not
yet been taken into trust. I believe the Graton casino proposal is fatally flawed and I will
be voting against any compact for that project, as well as working with casino opponents on strategies to defeat it.
7TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT RACE:
DORIS GENTRY, Republican Candidate
for 7th Assembly District, Contact: Phone: (707) 257-7101, Email: doris@dorisgentry.com Web Site: www.dorisgentry.com As a conservative and a strong supporter of Free-Enterprise - I support business and
industry, job creation and corporations that bless, benefit and help their area. In my opinion - Indian Gaming does not do
this. They do not pay taxes, they do not abide by most rules and requirements that other free-market businesses abide by and
they play up their minority and/or set-aside status. EXACTLY the opposite of my views and beliefs. I do not advocate for or
support set-asides, bail-outs, freebies or subsidies. In my opinion - the tactics used by Tribes for the purpose of gaming
and casinos is a detriment to society in every direction - and worse yet - education was supposed to be the sole beneficiary
of the funds from gaming and the best I can read/reasearch/find on the subject shows very little going into education - less
than 5% and that is crazy - a direct lie to the citizens of CA. To get CA on track we need real industry that obeys
the laws! And more importantly honors the will of the people. In addition to gaming not paying taxes - often when they want
to force their way into a community - they ignore the will of WE the people. Last I checked - America is of and about WE the
people and that is what I intend to listen to - if you want something and are willing to give to get - then ok. But if the
voice of the people is against something - then it should not happen. In the case of this casino on 101 - from what
I have gleaned from the SRosa newspapers, Google, your group and such - citizens seem opposed to this idea - so why is it
pressing forward? I am very confussed. If the voice of the people cannot stop something like this - then what can we stop?
If we cannot be heard about industry in our back yard - then where can we be heard? In Southern Illinois, one time (1979?)
a local publishing firm got the contract to print the Playboy Magazines. WOW - the will of WE the people cried out. The locals
did not want their sons and daughters working around those photographs. This town was in the Bible belt and really was horrified
at this possible new contract. The publisher said it would add 200 new jobs to their plant - but the people said NO WAY. OK,
here is a private corporation with the freedom to grant contracts at his will - he did not answer to WE the people - but you
know what - he cared. He was a member of the Chamber and the community. He said it mattered to him that the people did not
want this - after much soul-searching - he let the contract go and settled with life as usual. Sometimes - the WE is a greater
and more important issue than anything else. I hear your passion against this and I hear what you are saying - and I
join you in your opionion that this is a bad idea for the citizens of Sonoma County.
SONOMA COUNTY SUPERVISORS:
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| Mike Healy Dist. 2 Supervisor Candidate |
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| Click on Photo to visit Mike's web site |
MIKE HEALY, Candidate for District 2 Supervisor,
Contact (707) 762-8768, or email him at mthealy@sbcglobal.net Web Site www.votemikehealy.com : Mike Healy is a lifelong resident of Sonoma County and a 28 year resident of Petaluma, he graduated from
Santa Rosa High School, attended SRJC, earned a B.A. in economics and an M.S. in engineering from Stanford University and
a law degree from the University of San Francisco. Mike and his wife Beth have two children, Megan and Tom. I have been trying for over two years to get an advisory vote on the proposed Rohnert
Park casino. A previous Rohnert Park City Council effectively gave away their citizens' right to an advisory vote there by
agreeing to an MOU with the Graton tribe. So an advisory vote called by the Board of Supervisors is the only available option. People overwhelmingly oppose casino expansion in our county. The Rohnert Park casino
alone would generate 18,000 vehicle trips per day, increase crime and costs to local government, and serious water supply
issues are also unresolved. Multiply this by up to three more Las Vegas-style casinos, and it's a recipe for disaster for
our county. Casino supporters refuse to concede that the public
strongly opposes the casino. Rather, they conjure a Potemkin Village illusion of great public support for the casino when
talking to state or federal officials, and then do everything possible to avoid an actual advisory vote. They shouldn't be
able to have it both ways. When I testified in Sacramento last
summer in support of Assemblyman Huffman's bill on casino advisory votes, it was obvious that the supporters of the Rohnert
Park casino are scared to death of an advisory vote. They should be. That's because it would be a game changer, particularly
in the run-up to the election of the new governor, who would be responsible for negotiating a gaming compact for the casino. I do realize that the cost issue has grown in importance as the County's financial
situation has continued to deteriorate. That is why we are now pursuing having the County call an advisory vote in only the
areas closest to the casino site: Rohnert Park, Cotati, and the surrounding unincorporated areas. That reduces the cost by
nearly 90%, and we have pledges in hand to completely defray the County's costs - actually, the County will probably make
a small profit. I've been pursuing this issue for years, long
before Mike Kerns decided to retire. I am the only elected government official to add his name to Stop the Casino 101 Coalition's
litigation that has the potential to affect all future tribal casino projects. My campaign platform includes - A comprehensive
solution for the 101 corridor, including widening 101 to 3 lanes through the Novato Narrows and implementing SMART passenger
train
service. - Support the entire Rainier cross-town
connector and interchange project to improve traffic circulation in Petaluma.
- Continue Sonoma County's commitment to a strong social services safety net.
- Promote Sonoma County's economic vitality by solving infrastructure challenges and making this an attractive place
to start and grow a business.
- Support meaningful regional
solutions and "smart growth" to stop urban sprawl, promote high-wage jobs and provide housing opportunities for
our next
generation. - Take all available steps to fight
the Rohnert Park casino.
- Reverse the slide in street maintenance
funding so our streets and roads stop getting even worse.
- Make
funding public safety a top priority.
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