Candidates Night Dville
October 5, 2010
Candidates Night
Candidates night in Downieville was sponsored and arranged by the Sierra County Democrat Central Committee and was hosted by Cindy Ellsmore and Moderator Bill Copren.
Cindy Ellsmore, Chair of the SCDCC introduces Moderator Bill Copren
Despite Election Day less than a month away, there was a sizeable turnout at the Downieville Community Hall. Although the field of candidates is much smaller, there was plenty to talk about.
First up were Sheriff John Evans and Sgt Tim Standley. Standley wants Evan’s job, although it isn’t clear why. When asked why, Standley said he disagreed with John on occasion however did not clarify what the disagreements were. They both spoke about their 20-year friendship and how much they enjoyed working together. Sheriff John pointed out that if he were elected the voters would retain the benefit of both of these dedicated public service employees, however if the voters chose Sgt Tim they would lose John as he would no longer have a job.
Sgt Tim mentioned many times he was not making any promises to anyone. He didn’t believe in promises, knows they can’t be kept and he wasn’t making any promises. He said this so many times; we began to wonder what promises were being asked of him.
It became clear when a member of the audience asked Sheriff John why a previous contender, Plumas County Deputy John Fatheree, had endorsed John, and did John offer Fatheree a job as Undersheriff or maybe a position in the Sierra County Sheriff’s Office in exchange for the endorsement. Sheriff John made it very clear, he had offered no jobs to Fatheree, or anyone else, and said he believed Fatheree was happy with the Plumas Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff John went on to say he was most likely not going to appoint anyone as Undersheriff, “we’ve saved the county a lot of money by not having an Undersheriff, the duties are being filled by other staff and he is further thinking about increasing other positions, such as Sergeants and Corporals.
Another question from the audience inquired as to whether Evans had offered endorsements to the many Sheriffs from surrounding counties who had endorsed Evans. Sheriff Evans replied he had not, although he felt the Sheriff’s Office had a great working relationship with surrounding counties and he would have been willing to endorse them had they indeed asked. He said he did endorse Yuba County Sheriff, but this occurred prior to this election and there was not an exchange offered or given.
Sheriff John demonstrated a surety and confidence in his ability to do the job by saying he had used this election as another learning experience including being more open to ideas from his staff, and not so much “I’m the Sheriff and this is what I want”. Sgt. Tim demonstrated he is a friendly, likeable guy with law enforcement experience who might be in for a rude shock if he actually became Sheriff and had to make the tough decisions.
Next up were the Judge Candidates.
Once again, two likeable nice guys, though practicing attorneys, stepped into the hot seat. Mostly distinguished by who lived in the county the longest. Tom Archer has lived in the Sierra Valley for twenty years, with law offices in Truckee and Chuck Ervin who, although he has a lifelong relationship in the County via his father Pharmacist Charles Ervin, only became a resident in the family home in Sierra City since January and has his law office in Sacramento.
Archer presents as an attorney who knows his business and people like him. Ervin is a little tougher to figure as he doesn’t smile as often, but comes across as thoughtful and not willing to give a glib answer.
An audience member wanted to know what Archer’s relationship was with environmental groups. The moderator, Bill Copren, interrupted him and told him the question was not relevant to the judge’s office and shouldn’t be asked,. Both Archer and Ervin indicated they had no problem responding and so they did. Both indicated they were not tied to any special interest group and would Judge as the fair impartial guys they are. At any rate if there ever was a problem involving a group they were involved in, they would have to step aside (recuse) themselves and life would go on.
Another question from the audience showed a little more difference in their thinking. It was pointed out that Ervin used the word “tough” in his advertising, as in being able to make the “tough decisions” and what exactly did he mean by the word tough.
Archer answered first, saying he never used the word “tough”, explaining to him tough did not belong in the language of judging. A judge has the law and guidelines to work with and toughness was not part of that. He didn’t believe in tough and wasn’t going to act tough.
Ervin explained very clearly what he meant by using tough, “tough means a lot of things, and in the context I have used it, there will be a lot of tough decisions, for the defendant, the victim and for me”. “It is tough,” he continued, “to make a ruling that may affect so many people in adverse ways. The law has to be followed and it often isn’t easy to make those tough decisions.”
The evening continued with an impassioned plea from James Berardi, Principal of the Downieville Schools, supporting Measure C, a bond to allow the fixing of several vital school facilities that have been proclaimed in dire straits and even unsafe. A rebuttal was offered by Dave Roberti who opined this was a Measure our children and grandchildren would be paying for thirty years down the road. Cindy Ellsmore, former Tax Collector, and Bill Copren, former Tax Assessor, said that now was the best time, although the economy is not great and people are feeling poor, the flip side is interest rates are low and this is the best time to float a bond for schools.
The evening ended with a lot of people concluding it was an interesting evening with a lot of audience participation. Whether anyone had his or her minds changed by anything that was said is a toss-up. Many voters have made up their minds; most agree there will be some close outcomes as the votes are counted. So watch for your ballots in the mail, County Clerk Heather Foster will have them in the mail Friday. Most importantly, be sure to mail them back in time for the actual count on November 2, 2010.
Candidates Night
Candidates night in Downieville was sponsored and arranged by the Sierra County Democrat Central Committee and was hosted by Cindy Ellsmore and Moderator Bill Copren.
Cindy Ellsmore, Chair of the SCDCC introduces Moderator Bill Copren
Despite Election Day less than a month away, there was a sizeable turnout at the Downieville Community Hall. Although the field of candidates is much smaller, there was plenty to talk about.
Supervisor Lee Adams sets up more chairs
First up were Sheriff John Evans and Sgt Tim Standley. Standley wants Evan’s job, although it isn’t clear why. When asked why, Standley said he disagreed with John on occasion however did not clarify what the disagreements were. They both spoke about their 20-year friendship and how much they enjoyed working together. Sheriff John pointed out that if he were elected the voters would retain the benefit of both of these dedicated public service employees, however if the voters chose Sgt Tim they would lose John as he would no longer have a job.
Sheriff John Evans speaks Sgt. Tim Standley speaks
Sgt Tim mentioned many times he was not making any promises to anyone. He didn’t believe in promises, knows they can’t be kept and he wasn’t making any promises. He said this so many times; we began to wonder what promises were being asked of him.
It became clear when a member of the audience asked Sheriff John why a previous contender, Plumas County Deputy John Fatheree, had endorsed John, and did John offer Fatheree a job as Undersheriff or maybe a position in the Sierra County Sheriff’s Office in exchange for the endorsement. Sheriff John made it very clear, he had offered no jobs to Fatheree, or anyone else, and said he believed Fatheree was happy with the Plumas Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff John went on to say he was most likely not going to appoint anyone as Undersheriff, “we’ve saved the county a lot of money by not having an Undersheriff, the duties are being filled by other staff and he is further thinking about increasing other positions, such as Sergeants and Corporals.
Another question from the audience inquired as to whether Evans had offered endorsements to the many Sheriffs from surrounding counties who had endorsed Evans. Sheriff Evans replied he had not, although he felt the Sheriff’s Office had a great working relationship with surrounding counties and he would have been willing to endorse them had they indeed asked. He said he did endorse Yuba County Sheriff, but this occurred prior to this election and there was not an exchange offered or given.
Sheriff John demonstrated a surety and confidence in his ability to do the job by saying he had used this election as another learning experience including being more open to ideas from his staff, and not so much “I’m the Sheriff and this is what I want”. Sgt. Tim demonstrated he is a friendly, likeable guy with law enforcement experience who might be in for a rude shock if he actually became Sheriff and had to make the tough decisions.
Next up were the Judge Candidates.
Once again, two likeable nice guys, though practicing attorneys, stepped into the hot seat. Mostly distinguished by who lived in the county the longest. Tom Archer has lived in the Sierra Valley for twenty years, with law offices in Truckee and Chuck Ervin who, although he has a lifelong relationship in the County via his father Pharmacist Charles Ervin, only became a resident in the family home in Sierra City since January and has his law office in Sacramento.
Archer presents as an attorney who knows his business and people like him. Ervin is a little tougher to figure as he doesn’t smile as often, but comes across as thoughtful and not willing to give a glib answer.
An audience member wanted to know what Archer’s relationship was with environmental groups. The moderator, Bill Copren, interrupted him and told him the question was not relevant to the judge’s office and shouldn’t be asked,. Both Archer and Ervin indicated they had no problem responding and so they did. Both indicated they were not tied to any special interest group and would Judge as the fair impartial guys they are. At any rate if there ever was a problem involving a group they were involved in, they would have to step aside (recuse) themselves and life would go on.
Another question from the audience showed a little more difference in their thinking. It was pointed out that Ervin used the word “tough” in his advertising, as in being able to make the “tough decisions” and what exactly did he mean by the word tough.
Archer answered first, saying he never used the word “tough”, explaining to him tough did not belong in the language of judging. A judge has the law and guidelines to work with and toughness was not part of that. He didn’t believe in tough and wasn’t going to act tough.
Ervin explained very clearly what he meant by using tough, “tough means a lot of things, and in the context I have used it, there will be a lot of tough decisions, for the defendant, the victim and for me”. “It is tough,” he continued, “to make a ruling that may affect so many people in adverse ways. The law has to be followed and it often isn’t easy to make those tough decisions.”
The evening continued with an impassioned plea from James Berardi, Principal of the Downieville Schools, supporting Measure C, a bond to allow the fixing of several vital school facilities that have been proclaimed in dire straits and even unsafe. A rebuttal was offered by Dave Roberti who opined this was a Measure our children and grandchildren would be paying for thirty years down the road. Cindy Ellsmore, former Tax Collector, and Bill Copren, former Tax Assessor, said that now was the best time, although the economy is not great and people are feeling poor, the flip side is interest rates are low and this is the best time to float a bond for schools.
The evening ended with a lot of people concluding it was an interesting evening with a lot of audience participation. Whether anyone had his or her minds changed by anything that was said is a toss-up. Many voters have made up their minds; most agree there will be some close outcomes as the votes are counted. So watch for your ballots in the mail, County Clerk Heather Foster will have them in the mail Friday. Most importantly, be sure to mail them back in time for the actual count on November 2, 2010.
