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| Joe Nation, Dem. Candidate, 3rd Dist. State Senate |
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| Click on Pic to go to Joe's Web Site |
JOE NATION, Democrat
Candidate for Dist. 3 State Senate:
www.joenation.com Email: senate@joenation.com
NEW!! See the video
on the Rohnert Park casino at www.joenation.com
I'm Joe Nation, Sonoma County resident and candidate for your State Senate District.
I stand with you in opposition to the mega casino in Rohnert Park. The last thing we want in Sonoma County is a 790,000
square foot casino that will harm our quality of life, create more traffic congestion, hurt the environment and bring a host
of other problems that we do not want.
For many years now, I have been at the forefront of this issue
In 2005, while serving as your Assemblymember, I introduced a constitutional amendment to put a moratorium on new casinos.
The bill, ACA 15, would "place before the voters a constitutional amendment that would modify the Governor's
authority to conclude tribal-state gaming compacts for class III gaming activities on Indian lands in urban areas and on Indian
lands acquired after July 1, 2006."
In this State Senate campaign, I've taken a strong stance in opposition
to the casino and have tried to bring more attention to the issue.
For example, I provided a statement to be read
into the record at the County public hearings which said - "Mr. Nation strongly urges this Board to allow
the residents of Sonoma County an opportunity to voice their opinion on whether additional Indian Gaming Casinos should be
built in this County. The people of Sonoma deserve to be heard. I urge you to approve this resolution and allow
the measure to be placed before the voters on the June 3, 2008 ballot."
On April 17th, in a public
debate, I raised the casino issue myself because it had not been addressed. I told everyone that I unequivocally opposed the
casino and asked my opponents to specifically state their positions I also stated my pledge not to take
any gaming money in this State Senate race.
As you are well aware, stopping the casino will not be easy. But if
I can make it to the State Senate and we work together, I believe we can get it done.
I respectfully ask for your
vote on June 3. – Joe Nation
| Jared Huffman, Incumbent, 3rd Dist. Assembly |
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JARED HUFFMAN, Incumbent,
Democrat for Dist. 6 State Assembly:
Email:
info@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.
Since
then, I’ve been the leading voice in calling 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 been very clear that I don’t oppose all tribal
gaming – but I have a clear standard: I’ll only vote to support compacts if the gaming is on legitimate tribal
land; 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 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. I believe the Graton casino proposal is fatally flawed and I will
be voting against any compact for that project. Finally, I would like to see major reforms at the state and federal level
to put an end to the spectre of off-reservation gaming, and will continue working in every way I can toward that end.
| David Reber-1st Dist. Supervisor Candidate |
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| Click on Picture to go to David's Web Site |
DAVID REBER,
Candidate for First District Supervisor:
www.davereber.com Email: Dave@davereber.com
NEW!! Sonoma Valley
Sun, in a very accurate and concise summary of all the candidates in the race, concluded by saying of Dave, " . . . we'd
like to see him have the chance to show us what he can deliver." Their editorial was titled "Who's
the best for us?", and it makes a compelling case for David Reber as the best choice to represent the 1st District
as our supervisor. We'd like to thank them for their great coverage of the campaign so far, and for taking this
courageous position in support of change. Read the full editorial.
NEW!! Dave receives
endorsement of Sonoma County Law Enforcement Association! The SCLEA has switched its endorsement this year from Valerie
Brown to Dave. This group of over 500 county employees includes Park Rangers, Fire Inspectors,
Juvenile Correctional Counselors, Residential Care Counselors and Correctional Officers.
I support
the efforts of Stop the Casino 101 Coalition in trying to prevent development of a casino in Rohnert Park. The social and
environmental impacts of the proposed casino are tremendous, and control of such a significant local issue should not be solely
in the hands of state and federal bureaucracies. STC101 is a classic grassroots effort of concerned citizens acting to protect
their community through education and action.
As a candidate
Sonoma County 1st District supervisor I have signed a pledge not to accept funds or services from casino interests, and to
support the right of the people of Sonoma County to hold a plebiscite vote to express their opinion on this issue; I disagree
completely with the decision of the Board of Supervisors not to include this issue in the June 3 election, and will support
the efforts of any group working to have a vote of the people of Sonoma County, even if the vote is only symbolic.
The people of California (and Sonoma County) voted to approve Indian
gaming out of compassion, as a means to redress historic atrocities committed against Native Americans. Although the compassion
was commendable, many voters assumed Indian gaming would be confined to established reservations, well away from urbanized
areas - and certainly not on land which tribes purchase and have the federal government declare tribal land. The people of
California need to correct the mistake they made; Indian gaming in California now takes in more money than all of the casinos
on the Las Vegas strip, and the pressure to locate casinos near urban areas will not abate.
Residents of the 1st District should know that they have not yet escaped a casino on Hwy. 37 at the southern end of
Sonoma Valley. The casino interests still own a 321 acre parcel there (after selling 1,700 acres to the Open Space and Agricultural
Preservation District) and this parcel could be the back-up location if the Rohnert Park casino is stopped.
For more information - including links to a video Q&A on Indian gaming
- please visit my web site www.davereber.com
David Reber
Candidate - 1st District Supervisor
| Lawrence Wiesner 1st Dist. Supervisor Candidate |
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| Click Pic to go to Larry's website |
LAWRENCE WIESNER,
Candidate for First District Supervisor:
www.votewiesner.com Phone: 707-578-5905
Payback. That's what this candidacy is about.
Raylene and I have lived in Sonoma County for 28 years. We've enjoyed beauty, bounty and blessing. It's
time to pay my community back.
Here are five ways I'd like to do it:
1) Model Servant Leadership:
The best leaders are short-term servants, not professional politicians. They're accessible to all, attentive to
all, and in the back pocket of none. That will be me.
2) Keep People Safe. Burgeoning gangs, frequent murders,
and increased drug trafficking are unacceptable. Working closely with law enforcement, churches and other citizen groups,
we can control them.
3) Oversee responsible Development. My campaign motto is "Keep the Valley Green".
That's possible if we safeguard its extraordinary beauty by pegging growth to available resources. Accordingly,
I oppose more or larger casinos, which strain the environment, hurt the poor, and encourage crime..
4) Protect Property Rights. These days, its all the rage to increase tax revenues by using eminent domain
to steal people's private property, and hand it over to big business. Not on my watch.
5) Develop infrastructure.
Better roads, new roads, more water. It's just what supervisors do.
Lawrence Wiesner is a native
of San Francisco and a life-long resident of California, except for his active duty with the United States Air Force (1961-1965).
Mr Wiesner graduated from Sequoia High School in Redwood City in 1961, and from San Francisco State University in 1969 with
a BA in both World Business and Accounting. In 1986, he opened his own Certified Public Accounting firm in Santa Rosa.
| Mike Reilly Endorses Rue Furch for 5th Dist. Supe |
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| Click on Picture to Go to Rue's Web Site |
RUE FURCH, Candidate for
Fifth District Supervisor:
Contact Rue to learn her position on Sonoma County casinos!
Web
Site: www.ruefurchforsupervisor.com/ Email: Rue Furch
"Rue Furch has lived and worked here for 37 years, while raising a family, owning and operating a small
business and taking an active part in her community. Her achievements have won her numerous awards at both the local and state
level. She has served as Project Manager for the Sonoma County Community Foundation's Parent Education Project,
Los Ninos Bien Educados, and the Executive Director of the Sonoma County Business Education Roundtable. She served on the
site councils for El Molino High School, Analy High School and the Sebastopol Union School District. She also served
on the committees that brought Neew Ways Workers and the West County School to Career programs to our local schools...She...founded
Citizens for Responsible Water Use, and the South County Irrigation Project, and is an original member of the Russian River
Watershed Council...." Read More about Rue's service to Sonoma County.
| Tom Lynch, Candidate for 5th District Supervisor |
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| Click on Pic to go to Tom's Web Site |
Thomas Lynch,
Candidate for Fifth Ditrict Supervisor
Web Site: www.tomlynch4supervisor.com
Email: tlynch@tomlynch4supervisor.com
Phone: 707-827-3415
At a recent Democratic Club debate a couple
of my fellow candidates expressed opposition to the Rohnert Park casino and stated they were going to "negotiate the
best deal" they could get from Station Casinos in order to offset the social and economic cost to our community in Sonoma
County. How does one "negotiate the best deal" walking into a room having already accepted the inevitability of
this casino? I stated that I am a community activist and as the next Fifth District Supervisor I would fight the casino and
I even encouraged those opposed to think of clever ways to defeat the casino with "civil disobedience" (http://www1.pressdemocrat.com/article/20080401/NEWS/478055661/1305/ELECTION&template=kart) .
I have also signed a pledge that I will not knowingly accept any
contributions nor hosted fundraisers from supporters of the casino.
The labor
unions understandably support the casino; they feel it would support union members with good paying jobs building and operating
the casino. I stood in front of the North Bay Labor Council and when asked how I felt about the casinos I said, "…I
am opposed to the Casino!" I do not think the unions nor some local political leaders in search of jobs and dollars,
realize the social, environmental and economic costs to our community with this project.
There are consequences with the aquifer, wastewater, gridlock, public safety, and further
erosion of the social fabric in our community. Large amounts of money will be taken out of the County, disproportionately
from poor families, minorities and the elderly -- looking for a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow that would free them
from their economic suffering.
We
need economic justice for Native Americans, but this is not the vehicle to choose. Additional harm on the
backs of other's sufferings, along with unacceptable burdens thrust upon our communities. Our cities
and County are looking for money anywhere they can find it regardless of the eventual problems that will occur. Making deals
with casinos is a Faustian bargain that will not be a panacea for our budget problems but will open a Pandora 's Box of
unexpected travail. There are other solutions to our lack of funding if we have the courage and vision to utilize them.
Since 2000 the mediun household income in Sonoma County has declined by 2% while
salaries and benefits for County staff has increased by 64%. Of the 4000 County workers the top 1000 average compensation
is over $160,000 per year. For four years now the County has cut programs and services from that of the previous year. In
front of most of the Unions representing Sheriff's deputies, SEIU Service Employees Int'l Union, and North Bay Labor
Council I have been asked what can we do to stop the demise of our Human Services, Mental Health programs and lack of funds
for roads and infrastructure.
I have said in a conciliatory tone that we
are in a recession with declining income and increasing costs. Their ranks are being thinned through attrition of retirement
without rehiring. In order to avoid additional layoffs of less senior workers and corresponding cuts in programs and services;
we need a temporary freeze on salaries and benefits. Also the community cannot rely upon our County workers to solve all our
problems; we all have to step up to the plate ourselves and work toward a better future for everyone…we need to leverage
our resources better by restoring funding cuts to our non-profits and volunteer organizations. Also we need to focus more
on prevention; less on reaction…try to get more the gain from contributors, less the liability of our failures.
The unions were gracious host to me and they understand that I want to represent
them along with the interests of everyone in Sonoma County. We need courage and vision with difficult times ahead. We need
leaders who are up front and honest. Why do we elect our political leaders if not to solve problems?
Thank you to Stop the Casino 101 Coalition for giving all of the Supervisorial Candidates an opportunity to provide
their detailed and well thought out positions on the Rohnert Park casino. Please go to our website (www.TomLynch4Supervisor.com) to learn more about our ideas of working
"Together Toward A Sustainable Future". Join US!!!
| Tim Smith 3rd Dist. Supervisor Candidate |
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| Clcik on the Pic to go to Tim's Web Site |
TIM SMITH, Candidate for Third
District Supervisor:
www.vote4tim.com Email: timsmith@vote4tim.com Phone: 707-585-9593
With regard to the casino under consideration
on land adjacent to Rohnert Park, I would prefer that it not be located there. That
land, within the Rohnert Park Urban Growth Boundary, was intended for other types of development under our General Plan.
The process by which the Memorandum of Understanding between the City and the Federated Indians of the Graton
Rancheria, which occurred prior to my election, was flawed and mishandled by the City.
The details of such problems have been well documented and reciting them now would not only exceed my response time,
it would exceed the time available for this entire forum.
With that said, the Draft Environmental Impact Statement
submitted by the Federated Indians of the Graton Rancheria, about
which the City timely submitted 24 pages of comments, is under review in Washington, D.C.
In accordance with the Act of Congress under which tribal sovereignty is recognized, the Secretary of Interior is authorized
to place land within Marin County or Sonoma County into trust. The Governor will then be responsible for
negotiating an operational compact. It is my belief that concerns raised by local residents and governments
are not sufficiently considered as part of this process.
It has been suggested by some, including a candidate for supervisor
in another district, that civil disobedience should be undertaken. I disagree. It is
unbelievable to me that, if with us today, either Mahatma Gandhi or Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., both champions of civil
disobedience for civil rights, would involve themselves in such behavior over this issue. The Federated
Indians of the Graton Rancheria have acted within the scope of their
authority under federal and state law, honoring their legal commitments. Rather than civil disobedience,
I prefer civil discourse, based upon mutual respect and tolerance.
| Veronica Jacobi-3rd Dist. Supervisor Candidate |
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| Click on Photo to go to Veronica's Web Site |
VERONICA JACOBI, Candidate
for Third District Supervisor:
www.VeronicaJacobi.com
I oppose the casino proposed in Rohnert Park due to unacceptable impacts.
Unfortunately, Native
American sovereignty and state law are threatening to dictate use of our local land. I certainly believe Native
Americans deserve compensation and opportunities to right past wrongs and to prosper, but it should be done with thorough
consideration of future generations and also of current neighbors. Community groups, unions, and local and county governments
must be given options when negotiating with local Native American tribes, and we should be able to go to court to stop or
thoroughly mitigate the environmental and social impacts of such developments.
A casino by its very nature carries
a massive carbon footprint. How do they plan to mitigate this? Even if they are 100% carbon neutral on site, they are
still a destination business with cars clogging our local highways. How do they plan to deal with traffic in-flows,
water usage, underage partying that spills into surrounding neighborhoods, eyesore issues and so on. What level of prevention
will they create for: crime and gangs, drugs and alcohol and gambling addiction prevention? What benefits would tribe
members, nearby residents and our overall County residents receive? Also, even if they are 100% water neutral, there
is evidence of serious ground subsidence from historic overdraft condition in the surrounding area. This should be reversed
and restored to balance and sustainability as well. I believe that the County and Cities should take responsibility
for their part of an overall water balance. It is very important to take excellent care of our area's water supplies
to avoid adjudication or control of water allotments by a judge.
There are many concerns to be addressed before
any new casinos should be built. The Board of Supervisors should use every influence we have, including protesting
liquor licenses and holding off on improving nearby infrastructure and all other items under Board control until all of the
above concerns and more are thoroughly addressed by legally binding agreements - and I mean thoroughly!
| Sharon Wright endorsed by Supervisor Tim Smith |
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| Click on Pic to go to Sharon's Web Site |
SHARON WRIGHT, Candidate for Third District
Supervisor:
www.friendsofsharonwright.com/
Email: Sharon@FriendsOfSharonWright.com
My position on the Rohnert Park Casino is really quite simple.
I am opposed. I believe that, on balance, it will be singularly detrimental to our community.
While some folks would find employment at the Casino… the cost to the community on so many levels far exceed
this one benefit.
I do not believe that when we passed
the Indian Gaming Propositions in California we had anything remotely resembling
this in mind.
As your Supervisor, I will do everything within my
legal powers to prevent this casino from being built. Should we find ourselves unable to prevent the casino
from being built I will do everything legally possible to ensure the casino fully mitigates its negative impacts.
As to the issue of Indian recompense; my great grandmother was full blooded Cherokee.
My ancestors walked the trail of tears. I am fully aware of Indian history and yet as a member of
this community I cannot in good conscious in any way support this Casino.
| Shirlee Zane, 3rd Dist. Supervisor Candidate |
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| Click on Picture to go to Shirlee's Web Site |
Shirlee Zane,
Candidate for Third District Supervisor: www.zaneforsupervisor.com/ Email:shirlee@zaneforsupervisor.com
Casino Position:
I am opposed to the casino for two fundamental reasons: 1) Community
impacts and
2)
Land Use
The community impacts on crime, traffic congestion and the exploitation of minorities, seniors, and low
income all have been documented in much research data. The land use issues have environmental impacts on our watershed and
on endangered species. The County cannot mitigate the traffic congestion or the water usage from the casino.
I have taken a stand against all forms of legalized gambling since I saw how the working poor
and minorities were exploited by the Lotto when I lived in Chicago as a young graduate student. As the
CEO of Council on Aging I am concerned about the impacts of gambling on our senior population, especially seniors who live
on low fixed incomes. The suicide rate for problem gamblers who are seniors is ten times higher than the
suicide rate for seniors without gambling addictions.
Rohnert Park’s watershed
has dropped by over 100 feet since 1962 and the City has been successfully sued twice for over usage of our County water supply.
We need to initiate a countywide report on water capacity in order to develop sound land use policies for the future
and to stop the spread of casinos in our County. I am proudly endorsed by The Sierra Club and
Sonoma County Conservation Action.
While it is exemplary that the Graton Tribe has entered into union contracts that will pay Living Wages, this still
does not cancel out the other significant community impacts on our beautiful agricultural county and the people who live here.
However, we should use the model of union contracts and Living Wages for all businesses that wish to enter into our County.
Please feel free to call me if you would like more information about my position at (707)495-2246.
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