3rd District candidate Bearman no newcomer to elective office
According
to Bearman, his position on state water more than a
decade ago was correct, in that he supported desalinization at an estimated
cost of $40 million as opposed to un-reliable state water that will cost $180
million over a period of 30 years.
Bearman noted that he’s been elected to more
offices (the Isla Vista Community Council, the Goleta West Sanitary District,
and the Goleta Water Board), has served more time in those elected offices, and
has faced more issues than any other candidate in the race for the 3rd district
supervisor’s seat.
“Character
and integrity” are the most important attributes he brings to the office Bearman said. “We need someone who will stand up for the
general good.”
In
addition to serving in elected office, Bearman has
been a driving force in the Santa Barbara Regional Health Authority, serving as
director from its inception in 1983 to June 1997, when he became senior health
care advisor and grants development director. During his medical career, he
served in many other executive capacities, including director and health
officer of the Sutter County Health Department, director of student health at
San Diego State University, founder and director of the Isla Vista Medical
Clinic, and a medical officer in the United States Public Health Service. Bearman has written extensively on health issues including
drug abuse and prevention programs.
When
asked what the most important issues confronting the board of supervisors are, Bearman noted that the state housing mandate must be
challenged, including a possible lawsuit to insure the county’s right to
determine what’s best for our own area.
“I
favor workforce housing in a way to preserve productive lands and open spaces…I
support transfers of development rights”.
Bearman declined to comment on a proposal
before the board of supervisors on a north county jail until he has the
opportunity to speak at greater length with Sheriff Bill Brown. He did,
however, indicate that he likes the recommendation of the Sheriff’s Blue Ribbon
Commission to invest $5.8 million per year in jail overcrowding prevention
funding.
When
asked during a recent candidate’s forum what he would
do to balance the county’s budget when faced with the possibility of declining
county revenues, Bearman said that he would require
department heads to provide budgets with 5-10% cuts in operating expenses, he
would support a hiring freeze, and he would work with the Sheriff to lower
crime.
On
the issue of the Chumash Casino, Bearman said that
“the Chumash are a major economic engine, but they have shot themselves in the
foot. They need to recognize they need to do more”.
Bearman went on to say that he opposes any
annexations to the reservation, and indicated his support of property rights
and the need to protect agricultural lands.
“I
oppose rezoning productive agricultural land for housing” he said. He also
opposes development on the Gaviota Coast and said he
will fight to prevent “McMansions” from being built
in that area. He would advocate the transfer of development rights from those
who seek to build in the Naples area to other sites in the county.
Bearman’s position on county
governments passing resolutions on national issues: “It would have to be a
unique set of circumstances,” but he would support converting county fleet
vehicles to bio-diesel, bio-mass, and alternative fuels to make the fleet more
eco-friendly, which he sees as a contribution to the fight against global
warming.
“Global
warming has significantly contributed to drought and climate disasters,” Bearman said.
A
nationally recognized expert in pain management with cannabis — the active
ingredient in marijuana — Bearman was asked how his
support of the medicinal use of marijuana would be viewed by more conservative
north county voters. As he explained, the voters of California overwhelmingly
approved Proposition 215, which legalized medical marijuana use under certain
conditions, in 1996. Patients who seek relief of pain from cancer or other
ailments run the political spectrum from liberals to conservatives, Democrats,
Republicans, Libertarians, and Independents, he said. All have come to Dr. Bearman for pain management through the legal use of
cannabis. He noted that, “I have 40 years of experience in drug abuse and
prevention”.
Bearman said that he is not the only doctor
in the county to prescribe cannabis for the management of pain. He explained
that he has patients who come to him from all over the county, including the
more conservative north county.