District 3 Supervisor race

EDITOR:

Voters need to carefully review the ballot statements of each of the candidates for District 3 for at least the following reasons:

1. Two experienced supervisors will be leaving the Board of Supervisors in January. John Knight, a very experienced supervisor with expertise in land use and and planning issues was defeated in the primary elections by a candidate with no known history of experience, management, or governance at any level.

2. Jack Sweeney will be termed out after 11 years of service as a supervisor who lived in Distsrict 3. Jack was never defeated in an election, and in my opinion, he was the glue that that held the board together in critical situations, because of his historical perspective and leadership.

3. So that leaves the Board of Supervisors with two new supervisors on a board, one elected in the primary to fill John Knight’s, position, and one to fill Jack Sweeney’s position in District 3. The two rookie positions will be 40 percent of the vote on important issues regarding District 3. Voters in District 3 have a choice to fill Mr. Sweeney’s position from two candidates, Brian Veerkamp and Richard Barb.

Veerkamp’s career and his public service have prepared him for this position. He has board experience, having served on a school board for 14 years, plus other boards. Veerkamp has worked with local, state and federal agencies and in governace and will be prepared to be an active, effective and contributing supervisor immediately without a long learning curve. Furthermore, Veerkamp will not accept a salary or benefits for performing public service, saving taxpayers a considerable sum.

I have worked in much of District 3 as a teacher, principal and superintendent of the Mother Lode School District for over 21 years. Experience and leadership are important qualifications for a County Supervisor. I urge my friends in District 3 to vote for Brian Veerkamp.

BOB EDWARDS
Placerville