Meet the Candidates

(Wednesday April 25, 2012)

The Union, Yuba Net, KVMR and KNCO ask the Candidates questions. The Union's  publisher and editor is moderator for the forum.

In the local race for District 1 Supervisor, incumbent Nate Beason touted his experience and his ability to represent rural Nevada County at the state level, which he does with the Regional Council of Rural Counties. His opponents, Sue McGuire and Al Bulf, both distinguished themselves from the incumbent, with McGuire saying her legal experience as an attorney, her emphasis on financial transparency by the county, and to make sure there was no "spiking" of government employee salaries prior to retirements. Her program of considering each issue in the light of how it would affect job creation made her the ideal candidate. Bulf said he would advocate for public transportation, which would create jobs and bring more tourist to the area. During the discussion, incumbent Beason assured the audience that there was no "spiking" of salaries prior to retirements. Nice to know, but according to an article by Dai Meagher Nevada County pension expense rose 5,000 percent over a ten year period, and what will be the solution for the $120 million pension shortfall.

State Assembly District 1 candidates.

Taking a break during the forum.

For Superior Court Judge are.... George Smyrnos and Tom Anderson.

Those running for Congress - District 1.

Candidate Sue McGuire and former Supervisor Sue Horne.

And then......

Candidate Evening at the Rood Center

(Monday April 30, 2012)

The questions and answers were interesting and informative...providing a larger view of   candidate and constituent concerns.

Following the Supervisor's forum were two candidates vying for Superior Court Judge...incumbent Judge Tom Anderson and his challenger,  Sacramento County Deputy District Attorney George Smyrnos. We didn't stay for this, but according to the Union newspaper, "The debate grew somewhat contentious in response to a question from KVMR's Paul Emery, regarding handling caseloads in a timely manner. “We could use a little bit more help,” Anderson acknowledged, adding that the real problem is not the number of judges, it's the loss of 13 staff members in the last four years due to budget cuts. “We need our budget back.” Smyrnos, however, said the court just needed to handle cases in a timely manner. “Requiring the attorneys to be prepared would result in less continuances,” he said. “Cases are being continued unnecessarily for weeks on end....” You can read the rest of the story at The Union.

 

         

Nate Beason    Alfred Buft   Sue McGuire interviews.

Supervisors Competing for District 1

 

To make long stories short, all three candidates for the District 1 seat on the Nevada County Board of Supervisors feel they embody experience, ideas and accountability. Nate Beason's been Supervisor for two terms and thinks he's done a pretty good job, and that people trust him. He can't figure out why Sue McGuire and Alfred Buft are running against him.
 
 Challenger Al Bulf believes he'll bring new, vibrant ideas capable of bolstering the local economy and solving lingering problems, by building a public railroad via electric train that would connect Grass Valley, Nevada City, Lake Tahoe and Colfax. He figures it'll help the economy head in a different direction.
 
 Challenger Sue McGuire said she has the necessary experience in both the public and private sector to ensure that the county is run in a more business-friendly manner and will bring more transparency to the county's fiscal operations. Her opponent (Beason), and several people on the Board's employment, have only been in public employment, so they don't  understand what private businesses go through. Too many expensive regulations, fees and hurdles imposed on them. She thinks Bulf has some good ideas, but wondered about feasibility. As for Beason, she feels two terms in office is long enough to get in there and do your work, because human nature has a tendency to become entrenched, too friendly with staff to where the elected tends to forget those they're supposed to represent. She advocates more and better use of our county's natural resources...water, timber, gold and other minerals that are important to our lives and economy. Times have changed and so have the ways of doing things.
 
 All three candidates will be on the June 5, primary election ballot. If one of the candidates wins 50 percent plus one vote, he or she will win the seat outright. If no clear winner is declared on June 5, the top two vote-getters will face off in the November general election.

 

Back