Amador County – Assemblywoman Alyson Huber announced local endorsements in her reelection campaign during a press conference Tuesday at Café De Coco in downtown Jackson.

Huber introduced several local supporters from a list of 11 current and former elected officials and business owners, as Huber, a centrist Democrat, prepares for a District 10 California Assembly rematch against Republican Jack Sieglock, whom she narrowly defeated in the 2008 general election by 474 votes, or three-tenths of one percent.

Huber introduced Sheriff Martin Ryan, Amador County Superintendent of Schools Dick Glock, and local insurance agent Ann Lintz. She said the press conference was her way of showing that Amador is not too small a county for a campaign; and her endorsements showed bipartisan support from locals.

Sheriff Ryan said he does not often endorse politicians, but working closely with Huber on legislation seeking mandatory sentencing for methamphetamine dealers showed him she did an excellent job presenting the case in a committee.

“In the end she was able to get it out of committee,” Ryan said, adding: “That is working across the aisle. And that is why I’m here.”

Huber said AB640 eventually made it out of two committees and to the governor’s desk, where it was vetoed. She said it was a successful fight just to make it that far, with the legislation that would have given up to 180 days of mandatory jail time for meth dealers.

She said Ryan testified in support of the bill, but it was rejected by Schwarzenegger in part because it gave some sentencing discretion to judges, and had confusing differences in lengths of sentences.

Huber said the next step for the legislation would be introducing another bill, if she is reelected, noting that she would also have a new governor to work with.

Superintendent Glock said this was the first endorsement he has ever given. He said it was due to Huber cutting out the politics and being a good listener, without knee-jerk responses.

Glock has worked with Huber on dropout rates, which have not been a problem in Amador schools. Glock said: “It’s not just about education. We have 175 families leaving the county this year due to job loss.”

He also liked her push for a “funding model that is stable” for school districts, and her idea that schools do not need more money, but really need to receive funding to which they are entitled.

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – A deal between Amador County and Immanuel Lutheran Church will put to use the old county courthouse in Jackson, which has remained locked and empty since the county moved its base of government operations three years ago to Court Street.

The Amador County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously authorized the church to lease the 2,122 square foot building and adjacent parking lot area located at 42 Summit Street in Jackson. Rent will be $1,300 a month.

Immanuel Lutheran was the only interested entity that complied with Federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) law, which provides exceptions for some religious and private clubs. This allows the county to rent out the building without updating it to be compliant with current law.

General Services Director Jon Hopkins called the exemption “particularly unusual” but fortunate considering the county will not have to provide any money for building upgrades.

Supervisor John Plasse asked County Counsel Martha Shaver why an article is included in the lease agreement that allows the church the option of leasing out part of the property with the county’s prior written consent. He questioned why the church would be allowed to sublease at all.

Shaver said the group could assumably sublet to another agency that meets ADA requirements. “If you don’t allow assignment in subletting conditioned upon reasonable consent, then your ability to exercise your remedies for past due rent are limited,” she said. In other words, she said, a tenant who can sublet without official authorization from the county can get out of their obligation for rent due.

Supervisor Richard Forster asked if the county would be responsible “if someone falls down and breaks their arm” on the property, or some similar circumstance. Shaver said the church is required to indemnify the county for anything related to their activities on the premise.

The Board made a call for oral bids before accepting the written proposal from Immanuel Lutheran. Seeing none, they voted unanimously to approve the resolution of Immanuel Lutheran as the winning bid.

The lease was set to have begun October 1st for a two year agreement.

Supervisors Ted Novelli and Louis Boitano were absent from the meeting.

Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – Several dozen people attended the Amador Child Care Council’s All Candidates Forum Tuesday in Jackson, including all four candidates from the Sutter Creek City Council race.

Child Care Council Executive Director Joyce Stone introduced the candidates, who gave brief statements and talked about their qualifications for the two positions they will vie for in Sutter Creek.

Ed Arata said he worked with the fire department and has 15 years experience on the Sutter Creek Fire District board of directors. His focus would be to work with the city administration on infrastructure and budget issues. He said he has strong backing from his wife, Mimi, who keeps an eye on city finances.

Arata said his engineering background would help him become a “bridge” between construction management and engineers for city projects.

Jim Swift said this was his “first foray” into politics and he has “a lot to learn,” but he said he graduated with honors from California State at Sacramento “so I’m a good student.” His wife is outgoing city treasurer in Sutter Creek, so he has learned from her.

Swift called himself a fiscal conservative, said his job duties include being “a good steward over the city’s treasury.” He has experience in business, running ATI auto parts, and his father was on the city council, and he has attended many council meetings.

Bart Weatherly said he is a husband and father, and “a captain at a very busy firehouse.” He said a “power click” runs the city council, and people must “play golf with the right party” to be a member. He said the current city council is “out of touch with the people,” and he wants to change that.

Weatherly said he is motivated and has been attending council meetings for four or five years, and “win, lose or draw,” he will keep going to the meetings. He said he wanted to balance the budget, which has not been balanced in seven or eight years.

Rianda said she was appointed 16 months ago and the council wasted little time putting her to work. She was appointed to city committees on budget, finance, personnel and auditing, and immediately went to work “to rein in our budget.” She said Sutter Creek has a balanced budget this year, which includes about a $70,000 reserve.

Rianda was a teacher for nine years and retired from the state in 2008, her last post being associate warden at Folsom Prison. Her work included housing, administrative functions, budget and personnel, and negotiations involving employees and hostages.

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – Several dozen people attended the Amador Child Care Council’s All Candidates Forum Tuesday in Jackson, including all four candidates from the Sutter Creek City Council race.

Child Care Council Executive Director Joyce Stone introduced the candidates, who gave brief statements and talked about their qualifications for the two positions they will vie for in Sutter Creek.

Ed Arata said he worked with the fire department and has 15 years experience on the Sutter Creek Fire District board of directors. His focus would be to work with the city administration on infrastructure and budget issues. He said he has strong backing from his wife, Mimi, who keeps an eye on city finances.

Arata said his engineering background would help him become a “bridge” between construction management and engineers for city projects.

Jim Swift said this was his “first foray” into politics and he has “a lot to learn,” but he said he graduated with honors from California State at Sacramento “so I’m a good student.” His wife is outgoing city treasurer in Sutter Creek, so he has learned from her.

Swift called himself a fiscal conservative, said his job duties include being “a good steward over the city’s treasury.” He has experience in business, running ATI auto parts, and his father was on the city council, and he has attended many council meetings.

Bart Weatherly said he is a husband and father, and “a captain at a very busy firehouse.” He said a “power click” runs the city council, and people must “play golf with the right party” to be a member. He said the current city council is “out of touch with the people,” and he wants to change that.

Weatherly said he is motivated and has been attending council meetings for four or five years, and “win, lose or draw,” he will keep going to the meetings. He said he wanted to balance the budget, which has not been balanced in seven or eight years.

Rianda said she was appointed 16 months ago and the council wasted little time putting her to work. She was appointed to city committees on budget, finance, personnel and auditing, and immediately went to work “to rein in our budget.” She said Sutter Creek has a balanced budget this year, which includes about a $70,000 reserve.

Rianda was a teacher for nine years and retired from the state in 2008, her last post being associate warden at Folsom Prison. Her work included housing, administrative functions, budget and personnel, and negotiations involving employees and hostages.

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – A deal between Amador County and Immanuel Lutheran Church will put to use the old county courthouse in Jackson, which has remained locked and empty since the county moved its base of government operations three years ago to Court Street.

The Amador County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously authorized the church to lease the 2,122 square foot building and adjacent parking lot area located at 42 Summit Street in Jackson. Rent will be $1,300 a month.

Immanuel Lutheran was the only interested entity that complied with Federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) law, which provides exceptions for some religious and private clubs. This allows the county to rent out the building without updating it to be compliant with current law.

General Services Director Jon Hopkins called the exemption “particularly unusual” but fortunate considering the county will not have to provide any money for building upgrades.

Supervisor John Plasse asked County Counsel Martha Shaver why an article is included in the lease agreement that allows the church the option of leasing out part of the property with the county’s prior written consent. He questioned why the church would be allowed to sublease at all.

Shaver said the group could assumably sublet to another agency that meets ADA requirements. “If you don’t allow assignment in subletting conditioned upon reasonable consent, then your ability to exercise your remedies for past due rent are limited,” she said. In other words, she said, a tenant who can sublet without official authorization from the county can get out of their obligation for rent due.

Supervisor Richard Forster asked if the county would be responsible “if someone falls down and breaks their arm” on the property, or some similar circumstance. Shaver said the church is required to indemnify the county for anything related to their activities on the premise.

The Board made a call for oral bids before accepting the written proposal from Immanuel Lutheran. Seeing none, they voted unanimously to approve the resolution of Immanuel Lutheran as the winning bid.

The lease was set to have begun October 1st for a two year agreement.

Supervisors Ted Novelli and Louis Boitano were absent from the meeting.

Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.