Incumbent, David Finigan – 5th District Supervisor

By Donna Westfall – October 3, 2016 –

David Finigan is nearing his 20th year as the 5th District Supervisor for Del Norte County and running for re-election. I didn’t know much about Finigan’s background before sitting down with him for this interview.  He’s worked in saw mills in a variety of capacities, then became a union rep. He has witnessed firsthand the decimation of the logging industry and resulting loss in jobs.

David told me, “I admired Bobbie Kennedy and try to emulate what he stood for.   One of the things he believed in is a hand up not a hand out and I’d like to see that put into practice.”

As to the issues:

1. Term limits  – This happens every time you go to the polls. It takes time to learn and develop relationships and term limits can force good people out of office. More importantly, the voter may have inferior choice(s) to the current representative. Relationships are invaluable. Also, not every politician is lining their own pocket. People, voters, complain that we make money by being in office too long.  I’m coming up to my 20th year in office, and I can tell you that being a supervisor is a net loss for me.

2. Last Chance Grade – “No, can’t build it in five years. It will take two seasons just to do environmental reports – impact on plants, birds, streams….. core samplings.  You can’t dewater the hillside.  Then there are probably going to be lawsuits.”  Finigan showed me the Project Study Reports for the permanent restoration of Last Chance Grade  There are already plans for an alternate route.  If the current road falls into the ocean, the Feds will come in here and cut back into the mountain to get a road up and running again.  And we’ll be right back to where we are today. It’s not practical to keep the road where it is. The money needs to be identified and committed before the contracts can be let out and bid.  If the Feds were ready to hand us a billion dollars and we were ready to go out and hire contractors, it would probably still take 8 – 10 years to put in the new alternate road because of simple construction: dirt moving, tunneling and bridge building will take more than five years.

3. The Budget – We have to pass a balanced budget.  I’m not happy.  I wish we had more revenue to do more things like pay better wages. I’d like to see more money in the discretionary budget for things like animal control, recreation and blight.  We currently spent $135,000 on blight this past year.  Also I’d like to see more money for a prudent reserve, as well as to create an environmental staff position within the community development department to handle all of the new regulations being created and pushed upon us and try to get ahead of the issues…. like I did when I successfully led the defeat of the “one size fits all” AB885  new State septic tank regulations when I was the Chair of Regional County of Rural Counties (RCRC).

I’d like to see the children’s budget changed by finding a way to take money from the juvenile justice system and move it over to bettering early education and families.  If we can get to children early enough we may reduce the need for a juvenile justice system.

4. Consolidation of services – as a cost cutting measure – we did have some consolidation of services in place but before former City Manager, Gene Palazzo left, he undid the sharing and returned it back to square one.  I would like to see us resurrect the resolutions to put consolidation on an advisory ballot.   This would affect things like planning, animal control, building inspecting and engineering.  The County and the City still meet in 2 x 2 in an effort to work together.

5. Solid Waste – The transfer station was built in the wrong place. They should have built an industrial park where the transfer station is currently located.  In the past I have publicly stated that I thought the business of the Joint Power Authority (JPA) could be accomplished cheaper and more efficiently by bringing it under either the City or County public works department.  Since that time the Grand Jury and economic review studies have indicated there would be no measurable savings and that the majority of the public think it is operating fine.  There are two representatives from the County on the JPA and I have always been open to discussing any recommendations they have brought back to our Board.  I have also asked the County to look at moving the liability of the Transfer Station off the County books and to the JPA if it is to remain.

On the issue of the missing funds, It appeared the sheriff’s department dropped the ball on the missing money.

6. Sutter Coast Hospital – They have a tax exempt status and Tax Assessor, Jennifer Perry, is looking into whether or not their tax exempt status should be lifted.  This decision rests with the State Board of Equalization. I have asked Sutter to open their books, minutes and meetings which are still not open to the public.

7. Jobs/Industry – There is a current need to fill 100 jobs in our area per Rural Human Services. The Harbor needs to lower their mooring rates.  Factories are not necessarily the wave of the future.  However, renewal energy products like manufacturing small solar panels are a good idea.   Telecommunting will account for more jobs.  We have to make sure our broad band is affordable and we need high speed internet, not dial-up, for our school kids. I will continue to focus on improving the infrastructure to attract business and sustain the economy:  HAS199.com.