The Fightin' 1st 

Editor:

Your bully pulpit should awaken folks to the political Rex Bohn, who will sell his influence to the highest bidder. Rex's supporters are virulent developers with a vision of Humboldt that relies heavily on corporate shenanigans.

Control of the political process, from Eureka City Council to the Board of Supervisors is another step in their agenda to shape our economy with sprawl development. Rex's ongoing campaign donors continue to be a "who's-who of Humboldt County builders and developers." ("Bohn Vs. Kerrigan," Oct, 21, 2004.)

To understand dangerous Rex and who he represents, look at his record. For many years, Rex ran the operations at Renner Petroleum, which controls access to the county for most of our high-priced gasoline.

Rex was vice-president, sales manager, and resource manager at Evergreen Pulp Mill, which was closed after incurring an endless string of health and safety violations including the improper handling of cancer-causing chemicals such as acrolein and chromium (remember Erin Brokovich?).

One long-time employee observed that "Our community was basically environmentally raped by Evergreen pulp," and "Evergreen Pulp racked up over 200 violations." (Samoa Softball, Oct, 27, 2010.)

Rex's willingness to serve any paying master was never clearer than when he advocated for CalPines' proposed LNG (Liquified Natural Gas) boondoggle that would have endangered not only Humboldt Bay, but our entire way of life. Rex claims that he only supported a study, but as a CalPine paid spokesperson who appeared on one of their mailers, did he not understand that the study involved an expensive and binding commitment?  CalPine went bankrupt soon after being kicked out of the county by thousands of smarter opponents.

Rex was also a mouthpiece for the lawsuit against the Coastal Commission, litigated by the fanatic Pacific Legal Foundation for the benefit of Arkley's Marina Center, which was thrown out by every court from Humboldt to the California Supreme Court.
Rex is now working in the soils industry for Fox Farms, despite opposing medical marijuana dispensaries in Eureka.

We cannot afford another tool of the 1 percent of monied interests as supervisor, putting profits ahead of the environment and our health.

Ken Miller, McKinleyville

Editor:

The 1st District Supervisorial race may be the most important one on the June 5 ballot. As Judy Hodgson said, one of the three candidates will have to fill the very large shoes of outgoing supervisor, Jimmy Smith -- moderate, considerate and a gentleman -- who tried to represent the interests of all of his constituents.

He was often the swing vote on contentious land-use issues: the developer-property-rights coalition demanding minimal restrictions on subdivision and use of land vs. planned-development advocates pressuring for preservation of prime resource lands (and waters) and minimizing the burden on infrastructure by focusing new growth in already urbanized areas.

As a regular witness of this battle for over 10 years, I see former Wiyot Tribal Chair, Cheryl Seidner, as the best choice not only to maintain the balance we need on the Board of Supervisors, but to help heal the rifts. Few have a stronger connection with the county. She has not been aligned with any of the above factions. She is a consensus-builder.  And as a direct descendant of the only survivor of the Indian Island Massacre, few have had more experience with forgiving.

Joyce King, McKinleyville
 
Editor:

When listening to Cheryl Seidner speak it becomes obvious that she is not a politician. She is much more than that. First and foremost she is an advocate. An advocate for the well-being of all people, regardless of political party or economic status. An advocate for the well-being and preservation of our county's unique environmental niche. And an advocate for a common sense approach to balance between the two. She brings no polished answers to the table, only the promise to listen, ask the tough questions and, in the end, be an honest steward for the people and land she holds so dear. That is an advocate. Can we ask anything more from a "politician"?

Greg Jaso, McKinleyville

Editor:

As election time closes in it seems important to recognize the effects that partisan politics have on our local communities. When I look at how the Democratic Central Committee is melting down ("Dem Schism Gets Real," May 17) and how Republicans are still trying to figure out their place here my head starts to itch.

First of all, city council and county supervisor positions are meant to be nonpartisan. This is our opportunity to choose to step out of the dung that the D's versus the R's have made. I must say it worries me when I see the upper level politicians like senators and assemblymen or even fellow supervisors or council members endorsing each other. I would rather see those candidates take all that time and effort and seek the support of the community, the people they represent. The people who create and hold down jobs. The people who are so sick and tired of red against blue. The people who are beginning to see through the charades.

The upper level candidates are probably still in need, or so they believe, of the machines that make up the political parties. That will likely be slower to change as that portion of government is stuck quite a bit deeper in the mire. Those candidates however need the example of independent public representatives from the lower levels. The levels closer to the people and more in tune with public needs.

I respect Rex Bohn and Karen Brooks for their independent candidacy. It is too bad I can only vote for one of them. They will have challenges like anyone else but they have the best chance of not being beholden to a particular political party. We can't expect them to solve all our problems or agree with us all the time, but they are the ones most likely to recognize that real solutions come from a variety of directions and perspectives.

Uri Driscoll, Arcata