To the Editor:

As a parent of students at Santa Ynez Valley Union High School, I am concerned about the selection process for a new Principal currently taking place. A letter from the current Superintendent was mailed home to all parents stating, “Our new Superintendent, Paul Turnbull, will be working with our staff and the community to find the highest quality Principal for our students.” Will that be what really happens?

Who is on the interview committee? How were they selected? Who will screen the applicants for interviews? Who will make the final selection and what are the criteria for selection? Will the School Board or current Superintendent exert undue influence in the process?

In less than one month, the Superintendent axed nine-year incumbent Principal Norm Clevenger from his job for a seemingly trivial reason, the Board voted to not renew Clevenger’s contract, the District advertised for a new Principal, and interviews are set to begin. Combine this rapid succession of events with two secret Board sessions, and one must wonder if this is all part of a plan to bring in a new Principal that was “pre-selected” by the Superintendent and Board.

 

The only way to have any confidence in these proceedings is to ensure we have an open and transparent process, from beginning to end. Those selected for this process must truly represent the faculty, staff, parents, students and community. They must attest to the fairness of the process as representatives of all of us in the Santa Ynez Valley.

I have been told that Norm Clevenger has turned in his application for the Principal position. The way in which his application is treated will be an indication of the fairness of the process. Let’s all stay tuned!

Bruce Porter, Santa Ynez

 

 

 

Dear Editor,

 

The people of the 3rd District want positive leadership, not negative politics from our County Supervisor. That’s why we elected Brooks Firestone to represent us by an overwhelming majority four years ago.

Unfortunately, candidate Doreen Farr — a recent arrival from the 2nd District — doesn’t know our local communities and she has launched a political mudslinging campaign against me through proxy letters to the editor.

I have attempted to ignore these attacks, but they have grown so strident and hateful that I can no longer remain silent.

When Supervisor Firestone announced his decision not to seek re-election, community leaders throughout the 3rd District asked me to run for the Board and I agreed.

Since then, I have received financial support for my candidacy from a wide range of local businesses, farmers and individuals.

The Farr campaign has attacked my support from the Bacara Resort and Spa and made ridiculous claims — UNSUPPORTED by any facts — about alleged favoritism to “out of town” contributors.

 

This smear campaign against my character must stop.

Throughout my years of public service as a local Mayor, Councilman and Planning Commissioner, I have always maintained the highest standard of integrity. That’s why I’ve earned the endorsement of our Supervisor, Brooks Firestone, and our former Supervisor, Willy Chamberlin.

The Bacara Resort and Spa is a major employer in the 3rd District that brings in significant local hotel tax revenues to pay for parks and public safety services. While their corporate office is in New York, Bacara is clearly a local business concerned about local issues.

The real issue behind the campaign attacks against me is TOURISM. As the former Mayor of Solvang, I believe that tourism is vital to Santa Barbara County’s future and is a deterrent to urbanization. It produces more local revenues without adding more residents.

Visitors spend millions of dollars to boost our local economy.

Tourism also helps to provide the tax dollars necessary for law enforcement, fire protection, open space, road improvements and myriad other county services, lessoning the burden to local taxpayers.

My campaign is proud to have the support of Santa Barbara County tourism industry leaders.

By contrast, candidate Farr is an outspoken opponent of the Bacara Resort and of tourism in general.

I want to protect our open spaces, and tourism provides the needed revenues without development in the district.

Voters are fed up with partisan politicians that slander the character of opponents and their contributors. Let’s engage in an honest debate on the issues facing our communities and the qualifications and local experience each candidate has to offer.

Dave Smyser

Candidate for 3rd District Supervisor

 

 

 

Dear Editor,

 

Solvang Mayor Linda C. Jackson more than embarrassed herself recently with her analysis of the rejection of Indian Gaming Propositions 94, 95, 96 and 97 by 62 percent of her constituents. She claimed that it wasn’t truly a rejection of big corporate gambling because the people who voted “NO” were only “one- fifth” of the total population of the city.

How is that for fuzzy logic and a complete repudiation of American Democracy?

 

If she is willing to twist the will of the voter like she does logic, one can only imagine what she will do behind closed doors with influential lobbyists. She obviously is just another pawn of the big gambling interests. Ironically, if we applied her twisted thinking to her own election results, she shouldn’t even be in office.

This is a shining example of how corrupt our politicians have become and how far they are willing to go to ignore the majority of her constituents in favor of the gambling mafia. Mayor Jackson should resign immediately and if she does not she should be removed.

 

Tom Cleary

Los Olivos