A Weekend Away returns in Valley Scene
Volume XXXVI No. 20 • 20 October, 2016
www.ourvalleyvoice.com
Measure K Returns to Kings County Ballot
Devon Mathis, left, and Ruben Macareno, right.
Mathis, Macareno Go One-on-One in Exeter Catherine Doe The debate was cordial -- but tense -- between Devon Mathis and Ruben Macareno at the candidates’ forum for Assembly District 26 on October 12. Assemblyman Devon Mathis is defending his seat after his first term in office against Macareno, former Tulare County Chair of the Democrat Central Committee and now publisher of Our Town Farmersville. The moderator, Paul Myers, posed half a dozen questions to the candidates then allowed the audience to ask follow-up questions. The forum was sparsely attended, but those who came were anxious to participate. The first question presented to the candidates concerned where they stood
on Proposition 64: the ballot measure that would legalize recreational marijuana. “I think the proposition is half baked,” said Mathis. He said that the biggest problem with the proposition is that it doesn’t address the level of THC in the product. “With alcohol you know what percent of alcohol you are getting in the product.” Mathis added that Colorado and Washington have had extremely high levels of children who are overdosing, “So I stand firm with our sheriff and DA and oppose Prop 64. I don’t think we need to have teenagers driving around with a stick of marijuana bubble gum.” Macareno said that those who support Proposition 64 see the potential for
The June, 2016 ballot initiative was close - it was really close. But, the implementation of Measure K, a ¼-cent sales tax countywide that would be used for public safety issue fell short, barely. By less than 1% of the two-third majority vote, the measure didn’t make it. In other words, Kings County voted 66.29% of the 66.67% needed – about 70 votes shy of passing. Measure K appears on the November ballot, again, because it was oh, so close. In theory the measure would not increase sales tax. With the expiration of Proposition 30 statewide sales taxation of ¼ cent at the end of this year, a new ¼ sales tax within the county should not be felt. Taxes would remain the same, with all Measure K funds going toward public safety. Prop 30, which passed statewide in 2012, included the ¼-cent sales tax providing temporary revenues for schools, and guaranteeing all funding for public safety services realigned from state
Nancy Vigran to local governments. Other sources for funding through Prop. 30, including an increase in personal income tax for individuals earning higher than $250,000 per year, remain in place for another three years. With this in mind, Measure K would not really “increase” the current sales tax, but rather keep it the same. Currently, Kings County’s sales tax rate is 7.5%. It is slated to lower to 7.25% on January 1. If Measure K passes, it will return to 7.5%. Measure K would be a “special tax.” It would not be placed into any general fund, but could only be deposited into a designated, “special fund,” tagged for public safety. Within the county, outside of the cities, funding would be split 50/50 between the Sheriff’s department and the Fire department, said Dave Robinson, Kings County Sheriff. Within the
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FORUM continued on 10 »
Four Seats Up for Grabs in Porterville Six candidates vie for three positions; one seat has an uncontested candidate Nancy Vigran This November there are three regular-term Porterville City Council seats open, and one short-term seat. Only Mayor Milt Stowe’s seat remains intact, with his current term lasting through November, 2018. The short-term seat, a two-year term, has only one candidate running, long-time council member, Cameron Hamilton. This seat is currently held by council’s appointee, Monte Reyes, who filled the void following the passing of former member Pete McCracken. The three regular term seats, are currently held by Hamilton, Councilman Brian Ward, and Councilwoman Virginia Gurrola. Ward is seeking re-election to his seat; Gurrola is not. The candidates
for these seats include Ward, Reyes, Shelbie Akin, Martha Flores, Austin Drake Slater and Richard Stadtherr.
The Candidates
Shelby Akin is an events manager for a security technology company. She has served for the past four years on the Burton School Board of Trustees, and has been active in the Leadership Porterville Board since 2008, being the current board chair. She is also active within her church. She is married and has three children. Martha Flores was born and raised in Porterville. She is now retired, having worked for the Porterville Unified School District as an administrative assistant. She has been a regular
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Michael Lampe, a Visalia attorney pursuing multiple cases against the Tulare Local Healthcare District, holds up a blown-up document showing an authorization to disburse the district’s $800,000 line of credit to a pharmaceutical company. Tony Maldonado/Valley Voice
Tulare Hospital Board Meeting Erupts in Controversy Over Loan Even by the standards of recent Tulare Local Healthcare District meetings, Tuesday’s meeting was heated -- almost made for television. And, since this show lacked commercial interruptions, it only lasted nine minutes -- with board member Dr. Parmod Kumar and Healthcare Conglomerate Associates CEO Benny Benzeevi absent. While the agenda was only to meet with legal counsel in closed session, local governments are still required to allow public comment on any agenda item -allowing some opponents of the board time to speak about items on the closed
Tony Maldonado session agenda -- which included a recently filed suit against the district, and a Public Records Act suit filed by Deanne Martin-Soares and Emily Yenigues. Michael Lampe, who is representing various plaintiffs in those two suits against the district, spoke first. In his comments, he revealed that the board had used a recently-approved $800,000 line of credit, in its entirety, to pay a pharmaceutical company.
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