January 31, 2024
Fifth District Inyo Supervisorial Candidates
Get Grilled in Independence
Six brave souls faced their potential constituents Monday evening at the Independence Civic Club’s Fifth District Supervisorial Forum. The questions, ranging from housing to water and everything in between, started with five pre-determined queries, then went to questions submitted by the packed audience.
Here is the abbreviated version.
Dan Berry is a fifth generation Inyo resident. His career has spanned risk management, public agency financing, labor contract negotiations and contract reviews. He currently serves on the Inyo County Water Commission and lives in Lone Pine.
Ash Seiter, a 30-year resident, works in the music industry, comparing that job to his approach to the Supervisorial position. “I don’t create the vision,” he said. “I make the musician’s vision do-able; I help them achieve their goals.” He has served on the Lone Pine Fire Department for 10 years; “public safety is my passion.
Spencer McNeal works in the lodging industry and is also a volunteer fireman in Death Valley. He will be “a trusted voice” for his constituents. McNeal was critical of the current Board and its reports which he compared to the mainstream media. “The County wants more power and more money,” he said.
Aaron Castle lives in Panamint Springs and has been a small business owner since 2006. “There are a lot of obstacles; the County has to be innovative.”
Laura Blystone is a resident of Alabama Hills. “Love brought me here,” she said in reference to her late husband’s involvement in ranching and the movie industry. Her community service has been focused on the St. Rose Society service club.
Will Wadelton, known as “Will the Handyman,” grew up in Lone Pine and served in the U.S. Navy, focusing on engineering and budgets. He has been involved in the local Food Bank and served on the Lone Pine Community Service District Board. His focus will be on housing and public lands.
Question: Explain how you view the structure of Inyo County government, the role of elected and appointed officials and the function of the Chief Administrative Officer and the Board of Supervisors.
Berry said the CAO supervised County departments while the Board sets priorities, makes budgetary decisions and passes ordinances.
Seiter agreed with Berry, adding the Supervisors set the “big picture” for the County.
McNeal criticized the County’s lodging taxes, noting the removal of the Transient Occupancy Tax Operating Allowance. His goal is to make sure the people are protected.
Castle outlined administrative duties and the Board’s responsibility to oversee and approve the budget.
Blystone said her constituents would be her bosses. She outlined the duties as directing County policy and being the public face for Inyo.
Wadleton told the audience they were the most important. “You need to keep on us; tell us what you want and need.”
Question 2: Do you believe public servants should work from home?
Seiter: Yes, provided the residents had the same level of service and increased productivity.
McNeal didn’t like the concept of employees working from home.
Seiter said it was up to the department heads.
Blystone wanted employees in the workplace. “Face to face is best,” she said.
Wadelton wanted the offices to stay open. Work from home decisions could be made on a case-by-case basis.
Berry;s job was designed to be mobile. His concerns about employees working from home focused on an assurance there would be no reduction in services to the public as well as how home workers would be supervised as well as safety issues.
Question 3: Explain the function of the legal documents that control actions of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and the County; describe some of the ongoing issues.
McNeal and Cassell were aware of Owens Lake issues but didn’t have enough information.
Seiter was aware of mitigation and habitat issues as well as projects in the Long Term Water Agreement. He cited dust mitigation on Owens Lake and the need for land transfers.
Blystone had an understanding of the history and the legal battles as well as the function of the County’s Water Department.
Wadelton was aware of the LTWA, the Technical Group and the contentious relationship. His focus was on land transfers and wanted the County to be able to negotiate for DWP-owned land.
Berry, as a member of the Standing Committee, was well versed in all things water/LADWP related.
Question 4: How will you support the assets tourists come here to see?
Cassell: maintain the area.
Blystone wants to create a District 5 website to showcase area attractions and provide links to “everything under the hot desert sun.”
Wadelton liked that idea.
Berry sees the County’s scenery as its best asset. “We have to capitalize on it. It’s the crop and we can harvest tourists.” He cited the Film Commission and Museum, would encourage local cultural activities and wants to see the Manzanar orchards restored. He also wanted to see Owens Valley tourists encouraged to check out Death Valley.
Seiter asked if the County had the funds to support infrastructure to take full advantage of the tourism potential. He cited town beautification, safety and traffic calming.
McNeal would support all the County’s assets and called for trimming the palm trees.
Question 5: Do you have a creative solution to the housing shortage?
Suggestions included a position in the County focused on housing, tiny home villages (Blystone); relaxing the ADU rules, incentives for Short-Term Rental conversion to long term (Wadelton); LADWP’s release of 75-acres for housing (Berry); look at how similar communities deal with the housing shortage (Seiter); apartments (McNeal); travel trailers, ADUs and higher wages so employees can buy a home (Wadelton).
Submitted questions:
If you have a job now, how would you balance your duties as Supervisor?
The five with current jobs would quit or cut back.
How many acres are there in South County?
Nobody knew.
How would you solve the EMS issues and what are your views on losing the Independence Courthouse
None of the candidates had a solution to EMS funding but acknowledged its importance. They all wanted the Courthouse maintained.
What would you about crossing U.S. Hwy. 395 in Lone Pine?
Suggestions included working with CalTrans for lights, stop signs or traffic calming strategies (Seiter, McLean, Bystone). Wadelton said pedestrians had to keep themselves safe. Blystone wanted streetlights.
Should the Sheriff’s Department have more patrols in the Fifth District?
All of the candidates noted that while they felt the Department was under-staffed, Sheriff response times were good.
How would they engage with tribal communities if elected?
Berry acknowledged the tribes had special rights which they deserved. He and the other five candidates did not view the tribes as separate– “we’re all one community.”
What would you do to expedite the Owens River Water Trail?
McLean wasn’t aware of it but would look into it.
Blystone was familiar with the project and wanted to see area schools involved.
Berry and Cassel were familiar with access and tule issues and wanted to see the issues figured out.
Seiter said the river was “close to people’s hearts” and acknowledged California Environmental Quality Act issues.
Support of Pride Activities
Everyone would.
What can be done to preserve the County’s historic buildings?
Everyone wanted to see historic buildings preserved. Berry explained if those specific buildings were in the historic registry, they could not be destroyed.
LADWP land releases: “why bother, people will just use them as second homes.”
Seiter thought apartment buildings would be a way to solve the scarcity and cost of housing. All the candidates realized the housing shortage and LADWP land release issues.
Shortage of childcare for working families. Nobody had a solution but acknowledged affordable childcare was important.
