The following is a candidate statement submitted to The Mendocino Voice, published here as opinion. The views stated in this statement are those of the writer alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Mendocino Voice. This being an opinion piece, its content has not been fact-checked independently by the Voice, nor has it been copy-edited.
This statement was submitted by Shawna Jeavons, candidate for Mendocino County District 3 supervisor.
If you would like to submit an endorsement, or are a candidate and would like to submit a final statement, please write to [email protected], before 6 p.m. on Saturday June 2, 2018.
Shawna Jeavons Mendocino County 3rd District Supervisor Closing Statement
A huge thank you to all who encouraged and supported me over the last few months. There has been lots of love, laughs and heart-centered conversation.
I know some people feel I spent enough time speaking about other candidates – after all, politics is often expected to be a brutal competition – however I continue to be amazed at the camaraderie that emerged between most of the candidates and the opportunities to gather together to exchange ideas and brainstorm our future. It seems there is a consensus about Brooktrails access routes, mental health, cannabis regulation and fire safety.
Within a week of declaring candidacy, I knew that this was the right path for me. That feeling continues to grow daily. Some people questioned me about how I could be a full-time supervisor with school-age children. Those who know me realize the strength of family and community ties. They watched me complete a university degree at UC Berkeley while raising kids and working a 40-hour week. This is the way I roll. My children are now 9 and 11 years old. They are intrepid, thanks to a lively extended family of cousins, aunts, uncles, friends, neighbors and devoted grandparents. They thrive on adventure and back me 100%. They inspire me daily to want the best for this community.
Because I have children I am tuned into the needs and dreams of those too young to vote. That concern for our youngsters led me to manage the Willits City Pool for five years and set the stage for me to direct the first children’s play for the Willits Community Theatre last summer. My love of outdoor adventure and healthy opportunities for youth resulted in taking my high school class on a very special field trip. We were up before dawn and hiked 6.5 miles along Tomki Road from Willits to Redwood Valley to share a midday meal with the monks at the Abhayagiri Forestry Monastery. You can bet that my term as Supervisor will be marked by further educational experiences, expanding our awareness and deepening our love for this special place and the special community we live in.
Do I have the experience to be a Supervisor? The single most important concern brought to Mendocino County Supervisors is transportation with a specific focus on roads. Constituents want their roads repaired and maintained. Reputations rise and fall on the supervisor being able to find the money to get the job done. Here is where my experience with the City of Willits Public Works Department serves me well. I have the nuts and bolts experience, knowing how to get the job done and keep basic services – water, sewage, garbage, roads and sidewalks – running smoothly. At the City level, I know who to call personally for information and advice, and will figure out quickly how to apply these skills county-wide.
Another skill requisite to the job of Supervisor is being able to read and parse a 660-page budget. Here again, I’m blessed to have friends with degrees and expertise in accounting both here and in the Bay Area whom are bringing me up to speed in a subject most of us do not usually have to wrestle with. I’m confident I have the experience to take care of practical matters as well as the vision and judgment to move us forward, reestablishing mental health services in Willits, Laytonville and Covelo, building infrastructure for a thriving cannabis sector and encouraging a diverse economy so we can thrive, not just survive.
As I talk to parents and fellow teachers, I feel ever more strongly that my original impulse is true – to represent working class parents, and to use the office of Supervisor to create more fitness, health and recreational activities in our county for all ages, but most especially the youth.
Thank you for your continued support. Please vote Shawna Jeavons for Mendocino County 3rd District Supervisor.
-Shawna Jeavons