MendocinoCoast.news sent the same set of written questions to both campaigns to help Mendocino County voters get to know the two candidates vying to serve as Superior Court Judge. The questionnaire focuses on judicial experience, approach to the work of the court, and the responsibilities of the bench. Judge Patrick M. Pekin returned his answers by the initial deadline. Attorney Colby J. Friend requested a short extension while on vacation and submitted his responses soon after.

The outcome will shape Mendocino County court operations, access to justice, and judicial culture through 2032.

Please visit MendocinoCoast.news to read the responses in full and view a side-by-side comparison.

The Candidates

Judge Patrick M. Pekin (Incumbent)

• Background: Age 51, lives in Mendocino, elected 2020, practicing law since 2003

• Experience: Extensive criminal defense background, presided over criminal, civil, family law, Behavioral Health Court, and Adult Drug Court

• Community ties: Volunteer firefighter, ocean rescue team member, Mock Trial coach, Save Our Coast Court advocate

• Endorsements: Every sitting and retired Mendocino County judge from last 15 years, DA, Public Defender, 4 county supervisors, law enforcement

• Campaign spending: ~$3,000

Attorney Colby J. Friend (Challenger)

• Background: Age 52, lives in Willits, practicing law since 2004

• Experience: Family law practice, no judicial experience, diverse work history (construction, restaurants, business owner)

• Community ties: Youth sports coach, community garden founder, theater participant, radio host, pro bono work

• Endorsements: Declines attorney/judge endorsements on ethical grounds; seeks community-based endorsements

• Campaign spending: Under $1,000 spent, up to $10,000 anticipated

Key Issues in the Race

Juror Shortage Crisis

Pekin’s view: County holds many jury trials; need for judicial districts; low turnout reflects civic disengagement

Friend’s view: Compensation is inadequate; expand juror pool; create voluntary recall list of individuals willing to serve as jurors; improve experience

Coast Courthouse Access

Pekin’s position: Deep Coast ties; commuted to Ukiah for years; supports technology solutions (remote interpreters, court reporters)

Friend’s position: Supports satellite courts in every district; compares county size to Jamaica/Hawaii; funding is the core issue

Public Access to Court Records

Pekin’s stance: Must follow California Rules of Court requiring in-person access; encourages working with court clerks

Friend’s stance: Strongly supports transparency; criticizes charging for digital copies; wants user-friendly searchable portals

Judicial Philosophy Differences

Pekin emphasizes:

• Following law and facts regardless of personal belief

• Experience with difficult cases (gang homicides, prison crimes)

• Patience combined with firmness

• Speaking in plain language to aid understanding

Friend emphasizes:

• Court prioritizes process over truth too often

• Every case deserves care and attention

• Broader life experience informs empathy

• Commitment to ensuring people feel heard

Significant Contrasts

Endorsements

Pekin: Embraces establishment support from entire judicial community

Friend: Rejects attorney/judge endorsements as ethically problematic, questions their appropriateness

Experience

Pekin: 5 years as sitting judge, extensive criminal trial experience

Friend: No judicial experience, family law focus, diverse non-legal work background

Judicial Temperament

Pekin: Emphasizes empathy alongside fair an equal application of the law and communicating in plain language

Friend: Emphasizes empathy from varied life experiences (cancer survivor, single parent, multiple careers)

Court Culture

Pekin: Works within existing system, advocates for practical solutions

Friend: Challenges court dress codes as First Amendment violations, questions judicial traditions

Systemic Issues

• Geographic challenges: County size (larger than Delaware, similar to Jamaica) creates access problems

• Resource shortages: Statewide lack of court reporters and certified interpreters

• Consolidation trend: Court operations centralizing in Ukiah, reducing Coast access

• Technology gaps: Odyssey system has problems; remote appearance pilot program expiring June 2026

• Election timing: June 2 election gives candidates only 4 months vs. November general election

• Transparency limits: California keeps judicial evaluations confidential; limited public records

Notable Details

• 2016 race was razor-thin: Pekin lost to Faulder by just 154 votes (49.51% vs 50.13%)

• If Friend wins: All 8 judges would live inland; no Coast-based judge

• Judge salary: ~$240,000 first year

• Pekin’s unique experience: Represented prisoners in Salinas Valley and Soledad State Prisons

• Friend’s creative compensation: Accepted figs, fish, books, tacos, paddleboard lessons for legal work

• Background checks: Friend has multiple minor traffic violations across states, he is currently a party in a family law case that is presided over by Judge FredRicco McCurry; Pekin’s records restricted

Three candidates vying to represent District 5 on the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors — Kevin Evans, Ted Williams, and Todd Lyly — participated in an election forum Monday, April 6, sponsored by Mendo Local Public Media and the Independent Coast Observer. The candidates addressed issues ranging from economic development and how to generate more and better-paying jobs to housing, public safety, and equitable uses of taxpayer funds.

INTRODUCTIONS

The forum opened with each candidate giving a brief statement about their background and their motivation for running for office. Each candidate was given two minutes for introductions and two minutes to answer each question that followed.

Kevin Evans
Kevin Evans said he is running out of concern for the county’s financial future following a recent state audit, emphasizing the need for better tracking of revenue sources to ensure sustainable funding for essential services like housing, roads, and public safety.

Ted Williams
Incumbent Ted Williams highlighted his experience and institutional knowledge, arguing that effective leadership requires understanding the limits of the Board of Supervisors’ authority and building relationships across independently elected departments to achieve progress.

Todd Lyly
Todd Lyly emphasized his lifelong local roots and business experience, saying he entered the race in response to community frustration with high permitting costs, slow processes, and concerns about water and development policies driving residents and businesses out of the county.

QUESTION ONE

What specific actions would you, as the District 5 supervisor, take to bring more jobs to the district, and which sectors would you prioritize?

Kevin Evans
Kevin Evans said he would prioritize sectors like agriculture, tourism, and healthcare while advocating for reduced permit fees and a streamlined process for workforce housing.

Todd Lyly
Todd Lyly called for the revitalization of traditional industries, such as timber harvesting and manufacturing, to create a stable tax base for the county.

Ted Williams
Ted Williams emphasized the opportunity created by the General Plan update to create conditions where people are willing to invest, hire, and build. He spoke about aligning zoning, reducing uncertainty, and allowing the public to shape growth in order to preserve the character of the coast. He said one practical step forward would be to allow licensed professionals to self-certify certain permits like other counties do.

QUESTION TWO

What’s your thinking on balancing the development of more affordable housing for locals versus preserving a robust visitor housing supply?

Ted Williams
Ted Williams argued that the visitor economy and affordable housing must be viewed together as balanced needs and suggested that investing in infrastructure like water and sewer systems is the best way to lower development costs.

Kevin Evans
Kevin Evans supported existing short-term rentals but expressed concern about an influx of outside investors. He warned that existing short-term rental operations could become oversaturated while the cost of affordable housing increases, and he noted the impact on emergency and healthcare facilities. He proposed a formula to prioritize long-term workforce housing development.

Todd Lyly
Todd Lyly contended that a stable base of year-round jobs is the most important factor, as tourism alone cannot sustain the services the county requires.

QUESTION THREE

What is your position on low-impact camping and short-term rentals?

Todd Lyly
Todd Lyly declined to take a specific position on these ordinances, stating that he had not yet had the opportunity to research their actual impact on the local economy.

Ted Williams
Ted Williams supported a regulated, legally defensible approach that protects neighborhoods while recognizing that tax revenue from these activities currently funds volunteer fire districts. He noted the difference between local residents renting part of their home for extra income and large-scale commercial operators.

Kevin Evans
Kevin Evans said he supported the rights of property owners to develop their properties as they see fit. At the same time, he said he opposed uses that negatively affect the quality of life for neighborhood residents or place an undue burden on emergency services or county staff responsible for enforcement.

QUESTION FOUR

A lot of attention is paid to the Potter Valley dam decommissioning, but District 5 has its own challenges with water. Should the county pay more attention to water scarcity in District 5, and if so, what would you suggest as solutions?

Todd Lyly
Todd Lyly suggested that the county explore the use of desalination plants and increased storage capacity to meet future water needs.

Kevin Evans
Kevin Evans noted that District 5 is facing significant water issues along both its coast and inland areas, primarily due to drought and resource management challenges. He recommended that the county act as a “pipeline” for state and federal funding to assist independent local water districts with infrastructure projects.

Ted Williams
Ted Williams said District 5 water needs deserve more attention given limited storage, aging systems, and seasonal variability. He added that the most effective solutions will require local leadership. He noted there has been discussion about countywide taxes to support needs related to the Potter Valley Project but said it would not be appropriate for coastal communities to subsidize commercial agricultural water use elsewhere when they have their own unmet needs.

QUESTION FIVE

Healthcare policy is determined primarily by the California Legislature and the federal government and often doesn’t reflect the needs of rural counties. What can the Board of Supervisors do, if anything, to change that?

Kevin Evans
Kevin Evans advocated for the county to fund its share of social programs like SNAP and IHSS while acting as a local advocate within the framework of state and federal regulations.

Ted Williams
Ted Williams noted that the county can improve care by ensuring county policies do not make it more difficult to deliver services and by coordinating with providers to avoid duplicating services. He also said health care access follows economic stability, so improving local health care means strengthening the local economy.

Todd Lyly
Todd Lyly argued that building a stronger local tax base is the best way for the county to address healthcare needs.

QUESTION SIX

Mendocino County spends a disproportionate amount of resources on public safety, addressing activity that tends to be concentrated in discrete areas geographically remote from District 5. Is there a way to reallocate resources so that District 5’s property taxes are spent proportionately on the district’s actual needs?

Ted Williams
Ted Williams contended that public safety resources must be allocated based on countywide need. He noted that even if resources were distributed disproportionately, other supervisors would be unlikely to support reducing funding in their own districts.

Todd Lyly
Todd Lyly reiterated the need for a strong economy and the importance of helping the hamlet of Potter Valley (District 1) address the consequences of the Potter Valley Project decommissioning.

Kevin Evans
Kevin Evans argued that District 5 disproportionately funds the county through taxes and called for a more proportional distribution of funds, specifically mentioning the need to support rural fire districts.

CLOSING STATEMENTS

Todd Lyly
Todd Lyly called for a collaborative approach in which the unique benefits and resources of each district are developed to support the county as a whole, specifically highlighting tourism, water, and timber harvesting.

Ted Williams
Ted Williams said there are easy answers that sound good, but governing requires understanding constraints, building consensus, and delivering results. He advocated for surfacing the truth, even when it is unsettling.

Kevin Evans
Kevin Evans highlighted his 30 years of municipal government experience and pledged to bring transparency and professional management to the supervisor’s office.

The owner of a chain of cannabis dispensaries and a candidate for the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors is facing a lawsuit alleging sexual harassment, retaliation and whistleblower violations, according to a complaint filed in Superior Court on March 24.

The suit was brought by Alyson Swartz, a former employee who was terminated almost immediately after submitting a written complaint of sexual harassment on Jan. 10, 2026, according to her attorney, Oscar Ramirez.

Russell Green, the founder, CEO and owner of Kure Wellness, acknowledged the suit in an email to MendoLocal.News. “We strongly deny the claims set forth in the complaint and believe them to be without merit,” he wrote. “We have full confidence in the judicial system and look forward to defending ourselves through the appropriate legal channels, where the facts will speak for themselves.”

Ramirez, a principal at Los Angeles-based firm Blair & Ramirez, said the complaint was filed after Swartz completed the mandatory administrative process required under California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act and received a right-to-sue notice. “The process, not any external event, governed the timing of this filing,” Ramirez wrote in an email to MendoLocal.News.

According to the complaint, Swartz was hired by Kure in 2023 and maintained a record free of disciplinary warnings, reprimands, or corrective actions.

The suit alleges Swartz’s claims arose after Green, who served as her direct supervisor, began sending degrading and sexually charged text messages to her personal phone.

Among the messages allegedly written by Green and quoted in the complaint: “[A]s a guy who loves women lol, [y]ou look trashy af.”

He also allegedly asked, “[D]on’t you have a boyfriend or someone [sic] to argue with?”

After Swartz characterized the messages as sexual harassment, Green allegedly responded, “it’s sexual harassment if you are retarded / I am married and have hot women, any jury will see that / sleep it off bebe.”

The suit states the messages referenced and disparaged Swartz’s appearance and were rife with disability-related slurs.

On Jan. 10, 2026, Swartz filed a written complaint with the company’s human resources contact, whom the suit identifies as Green’s mother.

According to the complaint, Kure acknowledged receipt of the complaint and, on the same day, informed Swartz it was “reviewing significant compliance irregularities regarding the Metrc system that occurred under your supervision.” Metrc is a state-mandated software platform used to track cannabis products through the supply chain.

Within days, the suit says, Swartz was suspended and effectively terminated, with an offer of severance, which she rejected. “A company whose sole HR contact is the accused harasser’s mother is a company with no meaningful complaint process at all,” Ramirez wrote.

Swartz is seeking $10 million in damages on three causes of action, as well as punitive damages and attorney’s fees.

More election-related stories:

Mendo Local Candidates Forum — Board of Supervisors District Three

Mendocino County Voter Rolls Show Shift Toward Conservative Parties

About Mendo Local

Mendo Local is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit publication that is funded by monetary donations from our readers and in-kind donations from our volunteer editor. Similar to nonprofit newsrooms like CalMatters, we believe that for nonprofit news to be trusted, the public must know who is paying for it. Transparency distinguishes legitimate, objective journalism from propaganda or advocacy funded by hidden interests. We disclose supporters who donate more than $5,000 and we do not accept anonymous contributions.

As of April 8, 2027, Mendo Local has currently received $6,137 in donations toward $10,000 in annual operating costs from nearly 100 donors whose giving ranges from $4 to $500. We are also seeking to separately raise $400 to update our voter registration analysis with current data following the June election.

You can help by subscribing for pre-set amounts on Substack or donating any amount to our current effort to raise operational funds. Or, you can send a check made out to our fiscal sponsor, The Tiny News Collective, to P.O. Box 362, Mendocino, CA 95460. Please note that we will need your email, along with your check, for compliance purposes. The Tiny News Collective is a registered 501c3.

An analysis of voter registration data by MendoLocal.News shows a recent shift in Mendocino County toward parties typically associated with more conservative political views.

Between 2020 and 2024, the number of registered Democrats declined by 4% to 25,338 voters. Green Party registration fell 6% to 753 voters. Registration in the Peace and Freedom Party, a small socialist party, increased 27% to 375 voters.

Over the same period, Republican registration rose 12% to 12,561 voters. The American Independent Party, often associated with conservative positions, increased 36% to 2,650 voters. Libertarian registration rose 14% to 740 voters.

Voters registered with no party preference declined 7% to 11,196.

Overall, the county’s registered voter population grew slightly, increasing by 201 voters to a total of 53,898. The net shift toward more conservative parties represents about 4% of the electorate.

National research suggests that party switching remains relatively limited but has, in recent years, slightly favored Republicans. A 2022 analysis by The Messina Group found that from 2018 to 2020, about 1.3 million Democrats switched to the Republican Party, compared with 1.0 million Republicans who became Democrats. From 2020 to 2022, roughly 673,000 Democrats switched to Republican, while about 570,000 Republicans switched to Democrat.

Overall, the net advantage in party switching favored Republicans by about 267,000 voters from 2018 to 2020 and about 103,000 voters from 2020 to mid-2022. Still, party switchers represent a small share of the electorate. Between 2016 and 2022, about 3.3% of registered voters in the states studied changed party affiliation.

Other research has found similar levels of voter movement between parties. A 2020 analysis by the Pew Research Center found that 9% of voters who identified as or leaned Republican in 2018 identified as or leaned Democratic two years later. A similar share of Democratic-leaning voters shifted toward the Republican Party during the same period.

However, local data diverges from the national trends. According to a January report from Gallup, 45% of U.S. adults identify as political independents. In Mendocino County, that figure is about 30%.

The analysis is based on a snapshot of registration data from February 2025. With reader support, Mendo Local will update the analysis following the June primary election.

Mendo Local is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit publication that is funded by donations from our readers. Similar to nonprofit newsrooms like CalMatters and the Independent News Network we believe that for nonprofit news to be trusted, the public must know who is paying for it. Transparency distinguishes legitimate, objective journalism from propaganda or advocacy funded by hidden interests. We disclose supporters who donate more than $5,000 and we do not accept anonymous contributions.

Mendo Local has currently received $6,017 in donations toward $10,000 in annual operating costs from nearly 100 donors whose giving ranges from $4 to $500. You can support the acquisition of updated voter registration data by subscribing here or donating any amount to our current effort to raise operational funds. Or, you can send a check made out to our fiscal sponsor, The Tiny News Collective, to P.O. Box 362, Mendocino, CA 95460. Please note that we will need your email for compliance purposes. The Tiny News Collective is a registered 501c3.

The cost of the voter registration database in 2025 was $393.

Four candidates vying for the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors District 3 position — Eric Hart, Buffy Wright Bourassa, Clay Romero, and Russell Green — participated in an election forum Thursday, March 26, sponsored by Mendocino Local Public Media, addressing critical issues facing the county including economic development, road maintenance funding, financial oversight, and public safety spending.

INTRODUCTIONS

The forum began with each candidate introducing themselves and outlining their qualifications and priorities. Each candidate was given a time limit of two minutes.

Buffey Wright Bourassa

Buffey Wright Bourassa, born and raised in Mendocino County, highlighted her Native American family's deep roots in the area and her decade of experience in county government across human services, public health, behavioral health, and the sheriff's office. She emphasized her commitment to public service and bringing the voice of District 3 to the table, focusing on improving infrastructure, supporting local economic development, ensuring responsible use of public funds, and strengthening public safety by addressing root causes.

Clay Romero

Clay Romero, a 51-year resident of District Three and a graduate of Laytonville High School (Class of ‘78) , stressed the importance of community and working together despite differing backgrounds. He outlined five core priorities: safety, economic stability, a clean environment, freedom, and basic fairness. Romero also noted his 31 years of experience running his own business and his extensive knowledge of the county and board of supervisors.

Eric Hart

Eric Hart, a California native who grew up on a horse ranch in Illinois, shared his 25-year career experience in California improving operations and fixing organizations, from AT&T to local nonprofits. Living off-grid outside Willits, he has been involved with groups like the Fire Safe Council and Mendocino County Community Foundation. Hart aims to bring his problem-solving skills to the county, focusing on transparency, improving government efficiency, and strengthening community health through healthcare, public safety, infrastructure, economy, housing, and stable county operations.

Russell Green

Russell Green, a lifelong Willits resident and Willits High School graduate, emphasized his business background, including founding Cure Wellness and having the first micro-business in the county. He expressed a desire to reduce government interference and taxes, advocating for efficiency and a "win for once" for the people. Green highlighted his skills in managing money and his use of advanced AI technologies for analysis.

QUESTION ONE

What specific actions can a District 3 supervisor take to support economic development, and which sectors would you prioritize?

Buffey Wright Bourassa

Bourassa advocated for focusing on "basics" like reliable roads, predictable permitting, workforce development, and rural coordination between the county, cities, schools, and tribes. She prioritized small businesses, local entrepreneurs, agriculture, value-added food production, tourism, workforce training, and public sector-adjacent industries like healthcare, education, and skilled trades.

Clay Romero

Romero championed industries that produce physical products, such as machining, fabrication, manufacturing, construction, and energy, believing these are essential for long-term economic support, unlike service jobs alone. He cited the difficulties faced by Laytonville and the need for efficient permitting processes, referencing a cannabis grower who found it easier to get permits in Nevada County.

Eric Hart

Hart called for moving away from a "boom-bust" extractive economy by encouraging stable, long-term industries that bring money into the county and promote local ownership. He suggested value-added and vertically integrated industries, such as milling local wood products, and leveraging rural expertise for technologies like tank monitoring and fire hardening products. He also proposed supporting agrotourism and positive branding around "healthy living, organic farming, food combined with the W's: wine, weed, wilderness, waves and wellness."

Russell Green

Green's primary focus was on streamlining planning and building processes, stating, "quit king making with planning and building." He argued for easy, over-the-counter permits with clear pricing to encourage business creation. While open to all sectors, he specifically mentioned artificial intelligence and medical technology as priorities, alongside supporting logging and grazing.

QUESTION TWO

Would you support a 20-year sales tax on county businesses to fund road maintenance? Why or why not, and what alternatives would you consider?

Eric Hart

Hart stated he would support a tax only after exhausting other options, such as collecting uncollected assessments, selling unused county properties, and addressing internal inefficiencies. He also suggested examining gas tax allocations and electric vehicle contributions.

Russell Green

Green firmly opposed any new taxes, arguing that residents are "taxed to death." He called for greater efficiency from the current tax base and a "fair shake" from the state. He also criticized the county for blocking projects like asphalt plants, which increase the cost of road paving efforts.

Clay Romero

Romero also opposed adding to the existing sales tax, which he noted is already very high in Mendocino County. He suggested exploring alternative healthcare funding systems to reduce county insurance costs and free up funds for other needs.

Buffey Wright Bourassa

Bourassa said she could support a road measure if it were "transparent, accountable, time limited, and tied to a very clear project list in annual public reporting." She emphasized the need for voter trust and independent oversight, while also advocating for aggressively pursuing state and federal transportation dollars and prioritizing critical roads.

QUESTION THREE

Do you feel qualified to provide financial oversight at the county level? As part of your answer, and as a resident of Willits, can you please address the fiscal challenges facing the City of Willits and what role, if any, the county should play?

Clay Romero

Romero, drawing on 31 years of business experience and a dozen years of studying county information, felt well-qualified. He acknowledged Willits' challenges, including software issues, a "toxic culture" noted in a grand jury report, and questionable use of federal pandemic funds. He believed the current city council members are "good people" but noted a lack of experience.

Russell Green

Green asserted his strong qualifications, citing his family's century-long business history in Mendocino County and his personal training in finance. He highlighted his use of advanced AI technologies for budget analysis and his commitment to efficiency. Regarding Willits, he believed the council "wasn't paying enough attention to their manager and their numbers," overhired, and failed to react quickly to financial downturns. He stated the city is an independent entity but the county should act as a supportive partner.

Buffey Wright Bourassa

Bourassa affirmed her qualifications, citing her background in government program management, contracts, budgets, compliance, and administrative oversight. She pointed to a California State Auditor report highlighting Mendocino County's persistent deficits and weaknesses in financial reporting. For Willits, she acknowledged the fiscal emergency and layoffs, emphasizing the county's role as a "stable partner" in areas like economic development, infrastructure, and emergency preparedness, while respecting local control.

Eric Hart

Hart referenced his extensive background in operations, budgeting, and accountability. He stressed that financial oversight involves more than just approving line items, but also ensuring realistic assumptions, protecting reserves, and transparent reporting. He described Willits’ situation as a reminder of what happens when financial discipline slips, advocating for earlier action and transparency from the city council. He believed the county should advocate for the city with state and federal governments and provide resources where interests align, but not take over.

QUESTION FOUR

If you had been serving as an elected official in Willits during its current fiscal crisis, what would you have done differently?

Russell Green

Green, drawing on his business experience, stated he would have immediately recognized that the numbers “didn’t add up” and would have deployed AI agents to analyze the budget and identify the problem. He would have been more inquisitive with staff, not trusted anyone to tell him what he could afford, and avoided overhiring. He would have planned for tough times rather than taking good times for granted. He also would have pushed the county to ensure fair property tax revenue. He largely agreed with the actions the city council ultimately took but would have taken them sooner. He suspected that Bruce Burden, with his private business acumen, was instrumental in recognizing the financial issues.

Eric Hart

Hart acknowledged that hindsight is 20/20 but stated that with the information available, he would have acted earlier and more transparently. He noted that the crisis was a long-term structural gap where expenses outpaced revenue, and relying on reserves and one-time transfers was a warning sign that should have been addressed sooner. He would have pushed for clearer, more consistent financial reporting, including monthly actuals versus budget and reserve levels, to ensure the council and public understood the situation. Hart said he also would have started the adjustment process earlier, which might have saved some jobs, by looking at staffing and service priorities before layoffs became the only option. He emphasized that it's an elected official's job to recognize trends early and make corrections before a crisis.

Buffey Wright Bourassa

Bourassa stated that accountability is about building systems where warning signs are visible and acted upon early. If she had been an elected official in Willits, she would have pushed for much earlier and clearer financial reporting, early public disclosures of the problem's seriousness, and a review of all plans before the emergency level was reached. She would have asked for regular public budget updates, multi-year forecasting, outside reviews when needed, and a clear explanation to the public about what was structural versus one-time. She also would have wanted the city to be more proactive in identifying cost pressures, staffing liabilities, and operational inefficiencies. Most importantly, she said she would have treated transparency as part of the solution, ensuring honesty with the public and fostering a culture where staff could raise red flags early.

Clay Romero

Romero identified the primary missing element as the complete disregard for the finance director's warnings. He also noted a problem with the city being two years behind on verifiable audits, which hindered finding the right solutions. He believed that some council members "just didn't know" due to this lack of transparency, which led Willits to a "terrible situation." He stated that these would be "red flags" he would actively look for at the county level and would speak up about them.

QUESTION FIVE

County officials have said that roughly 70% of general fund spending goes toward public safety. How would you evaluate whether that money is being spent effectively, and what additional data or metrics would you need to make that assessment?

Clay Romero

Romero acknowledged the complexity of evaluating public safety spending, stating it would require his "own knowledge of what things cost" and what to expect. He mentioned an anecdote about the cost of a child psychologist hired by the county as an example of potential inefficiencies.

Eric Hart

Hart proposed evaluating public safety spending by looking at outcomes, such as trends in crime, response times, and recidivism. He also suggested assessing system performance, including staffing levels and bottlenecks between departments, and cost-effectiveness compared to similar rural counties. He called for better, more consistent data and multi-year trends to ensure accountability.

Buffey Wright Bourassa

Bourassa emphasized the responsibility to evaluate not just the amount spent but also the outcomes. She highlighted the challenges of covering a vast territory with limited staff, leading to long response times. She questioned whether current spending makes people safer, reduces repeat calls, or provides value from prevention and diversion efforts. She called for data on response times by geography, vacancy rates, recidivism, and the effectiveness of alternative programs.

Russell Green

Green echoed concerns about potential "bloat" in contracts and salaries, referencing past county compensation packages. He found the 70% allocation "staggering" and questioned its necessity. He proposed a detailed analysis of expenses and income using AI technology for real-time reports and anomaly detection. He also suggested exploring public self-regulation, such as supporting CCW holders, and investing in logging and grazing to mitigate fire risk.

CLOSING STATEMENTS

Russell Green

Green emphasized that he is running for the "right reasons," stating he doesn't need a job and is not beholden to special interests or parties. He wants the people to "get a win for once" and believes "taxation is a form of theft," advocating for more careful government spending. He expressed concern about a Sheriff's Department employee voting on the sheriff’s department’s budget. (This was reference to Bourassa, who would presumably recuse herself from these votes if elected.) He also highlighted the damage done by partisan alliances that lead to a "status quo of placate and then do nothing," and elected officials lacking the "backbone to bring about change." He invited interested individuals to reach out on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/russgreen707/ or visit his website, green4mendo.com.

Eric Hart

Hart expressed his eagerness to continue problem-solving and helping people, which he sees as his core motivation and something he has done for years in the community. He views the supervisor role as an opportunity to "step that up a level and increase the impact." He announced upcoming "meet and greet" events at Flying Dog Pizza on April 8th at 5:30 p.m., and in Laytonville and Covelo in the coming weeks, which will be posted on his Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/erichartforsupervisor and website, erichartforsupervisor.com. He also mentioned holding office hours at Brickhouse (first and third Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.) and Northspur Brewing (fourth Thursday evenings around 5 p.m.).

Clay Romero

Romero highlighted his personal approach to campaigning, which involves talking to people directly, and expressed his passion for the role. He emphasized his interest in helping people and treating them fairly, drawing a parallel to a child's sense of fairness. He noted his concern for individuals who start businesses but die before obtaining permits, advocating for reduced permit fees to build the tax base. He also voiced strong opposition to the Potter Valley Project decommissioning, calling it "reprehensible" to dynamite a valuable piece of infrastructure and environmentally wrong, especially given the 600,000 people downstream who rely on the water. He mentioned his website, clayformendocino.org.

Buffey Wright Bourassa

Bourassa thanked the forum organizers and fellow candidates, acknowledging Mendocino County's challenges with its budget, roads, and the need for stronger, more stable services. She stressed the county's "strong communities and people who care deeply about where we live." She reiterated her commitment to bringing the "voice of our communities forward." She said she believes progress is made by "working together, focusing on practical solutions and following through." She committed to "showing up, listening, and doing the work." She listed upcoming engagements including a radio interview at KLLG, a chili cookoff at the Willits Senior Center, neighborhood meet and greets, and attending the Round Valley tribal council and MAC meetings. She referred voters to her website teambuffey.com.