Press release

June Lake resident Bob Gardner announced Monday he is running for the Third District seat on the Mono County Board of Supervisors in the June 7, 2016 election. Current Supervisor Tim Alpers announced in November he would not seek re-election to the seat, which represents the June Lake and Mono Basin areas, and the northwest section of the Town of Mammoth Lakes.

Bob Gardner

Bob Gardner

Being on the Board of Supervisors is a chance to give back to a region that has been special to me for many decades,” said Gardner. “I have seen Mono County grow and change over the years. I now want to be part of ensuring it will continue to be one of the finest counties in California, and a great place to live, work, and play.”

Gardner has 40 years of experience managing public and non-profit organizations. “I am running for this office because we need to continue to move our county government forward to keep the quality of life we all seek,” stated Gardner. As an elected local official in California on the Redlands City Council, Gardner worked closely with other Council members to set priorities, make tough decisions, and hold managers accountable for results. “My career goal has been to make sure taxpayers get their money’s worth from government. I want to do this now for Mono County.”

The challenge to our Mono County Board of Supervisors, according to Gardner, is to sustain and build our current quality of life through wise policy-making and prudent fiscal management.

“Much progress has been achieved in the last few years through implementation of technology infrastructure, strategic planning, energy efficiency, and other initiatives,” Gardner said. “We need to work together to build on this foundation to ensure our success in protecting and preserving what we value most in Mono County. At the same time we honor the past, we also need to look to the future and make sure we anticipate new visitors and other community demands. Mono County is in a position to increase its collaboration with local, state, and federal agencies to leverage our county’s resources and meet these future demands. We need to be ready to respond and adapt to these changes while maintaining our quality of life and growing our economy. ”

Gardner’s approach on the Board would be to listen carefully to citizens and business owner concerns, address issues as soon as possible, and then keep everyone informed about progress achieved. “People have lost trust in government. I have found it can be built again through cooperation, collaboration, and frequent direct, open and honest communication.”

Gardner said as the District Three Representative he would initiate a monthly “Coffee with the Supervisor” event in Mammoth, June Lake, and Lee Vining, modeled after a similar activity he and the other Redlands City Council members started.

Bob grew up in Bishop and enjoyed hiking, fishing, and skiing in the Eastern Sierra. “My family and I love the June Lake area and the Eastern Sierra. We have enjoyed being part of the June Lake community for many years.”   He is currently a member of the June Lake Citizens Advisory Committee.

Gardner is currently the Executive Director of the Eastern Sierra Interpretive Association (ESIA), which operates 11 bookstores and provides various interpretive programs in US Forest Service Visitor Centers and Ranger Stations in the Eastern Sierra. He is also the President of the Eastern Sierra Land Trust Board of Directors. He has been a chief financial officer responsible for multi-billion-dollar budgets in both federal and state agencies throughout his career, including NASA, the US Department of Homeland Security, and the US Department of Veterans Affairs.

In 2008 Bob received a Presidential Rank Award, one of the highest awards for Federal civil servants. He also served as Vice President of Administration and Finance at California State University San Bernardino. Bob graduated from the University of Redlands with a major in Government in 1973. He received a Masters in Public Administration from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University in 1975.

Bob’s wife, Karen, is a recently retired United Methodist pastor.  They have three grown sons, Adam, Kyle, and Nathan.

 

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