Amador County – First-term District 10 Assemblywoman Alyson Huber took public comment in her town hall meeting Wednesday in Jackson, while sharing ideas that have landed her a top committee assignment in her first half-year of service. Huber said unemployment is 18 percent in Stockton, while Amador has seen Prospect Motors and other businesses close. She said she has been in office 6 months and is “now chairing the Joint Legislative Audit Committee,” looking under every rock to end fraud and wasteful spending. She encouraged attendees to help with her contest, “There Ought To Be An Audit,” looking for suggestions on curbing state bureaucratic waste. Huber said the Assembly allowed her to form a “select committee on lowering California’s high school dropout rate.” She said the statewide dropout rate is 24 percent. But in Stockton Unified, the dropout rate is 54 percent. Nina Machado of First 5 Amador asked how vocational training fit her plans, and Huber said there are bills now addressing funding cuts that have impacted high school ROP and career technical programs. But she said it is “hard to do without a public-private partnership.” Al Lennox, state commander of the American Legion, said California ranked 50th among states for National Guard wages and benefits. Huber said she was also appointed to the Veterans Committee, and hopes to see that vets are getting services that the federal government should be giving them. She said a software tracking system for services rendered to vets could save an estimated $230 Million Dollars. Jim Spinetta, of Charles Spinetta Wineries, asked about the 10-cents per drink tax, costing vineyards $226 a ton. Huber said: “Would it make you feel any better if I said I was against it?” ACRA Executive Director Tracey Towner-Yep asked about the Preston CYA school in Ione, and how it is said to be among the top 3 in such schools being considered for closure. Towner-Yep said ACRA uses Preston cadets quite a bit in her recreation work. Huber said she dissuaded a legislator from carrying a bill to close Preston. She said the problem is the $200,000 dollars a year cost to house each kid there, due to lawsuits. But Huber said she did “not think it is a possibility” of closure, and she will work to “make sure it’s fully utilized.” Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.