About District 4

Fourth District, Calaveras County, CA

Altaville | Angels Camp | Douglas Flat | Murphys | Vallecito

"Tryon, Seaton clash"

Friday's Calaveras Enterprise focused on Tom's "heated response" aimed at me during the candidates forum Monday night. You can see the video on ThePineTree.net.

Tom is quoted saying that I was "absolutely wrong" about the public health and safety being put at risk. The public records do not support his position. The Calaveras County Counsel released over 1200 pages of documents concerning the operation of the County's planning and building departments. For the most part, these are photocopies of the actual inspection records and related official memorandums. All of these records are available on-line for your own review.

I carefully read most of these records before forming any opinion. The pattern of failing to meet the public need quickly emerges. After hundreds of pages, the evidence clearly supports a finding of systematic malfeasance in the management of public inspection. Further analysis of additional hundreds of pages confirms those findings.

Note that I said at the candidate forum that the failure to protect the public was systemic, I never once singled out an individual as solely responsible. I clearly stated that the problem was managerial in nature, meaning the process that the public expects to safeguard them is not working in an acceptable manner.

In the specific examples I cited, there are multiple opinions presented in the building records. For example, the shortfall in the water supply requirement for rural fire protection is identified by an inspector and a fire prevention planner. As there are no mitigating circumstances noted in the record, approving less water storage imperils public safety. Once an inspection is signed off, later buyers of the property typically rely on the integrity of prior public inspections. In light of the public record, such reliance is misplaced.

My assessment of the "quagmire" is based on the public record and my expertise in business management consulting. In public organizations, systemic problems seldom have only one cause. Therefore, blaming one individual rarely solves anything and in fact may mislead the public into thinking that the problem has gone away. The truth is the root cause typically lies above that individual, at a higher level of management. Systematic problems are more likely caused by improper guidance, the failure to monitor performance, or by executive interference (meddling).

As I have said throughout this campaign, it time for a change in county management starting at the top. I believe my experience and skills will help reform the public system to serve the public interest in a consistent and transparent process.

Citizens for Seaton will have a booth in Mark Twain Hall during the Fair; please stop by to say hello.

If you would be interested in hosting a klatch (coffee, tea or soup), please use the "Write Lee" link to arrange a date.