Editor’s note: The following is a letter to the editor. The opinions expressed in this letter are those of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect those of The Mendocino Voice. If you would like to submit a letter to the editor feel free to write to info@mendovoice.com.
Dear Editor:
The election is all about the people. After candidate forums and questionnaires, one lesson stood out clearly: people want to feel seen, heard, and supported, and they believe a better future is possible when their voices are part of the conversation. In conversations with voters while walking neighborhoods in Ukiah, Little River, and Anderson Valley, residents shared a common hope for a supervisor who is present, approachable and ready to listen.
One couple in Ukiah spoke about concerns with their road and the uncertainty of not knowing where to turn. Moments like that are a reminder that regular community meetings, coffee chats, and backyard gatherings matter because they create opportunities to solve problems together and strengthen trust across our communities.
I have been deeply grateful for the chance to travel throughout District 5 and spend time with residents at community meetings, senior luncheons and local gatherings. Each conversation has been a reminder not only of how much people care about their neighborhoods, but also of the strength, creativity and dedication that already exist in every community. Seeing students in Anderson Valley help shape their community park was especially inspiring because it showed that when people are invited to take part, they bring energy, pride, and hope for what comes next.
Throughout this campaign, voters have spoken about the importance of security, trust, accountability and open communication. One young voter in Ukiah shared that these values mattered deeply to her as she prepared to vote in her first primary. Her words stayed with me because they reflect what so many people are asking for: leadership that listens with care, responds with honesty, and helps build a future people can believe in. That is why I am running to be your next Supervisor—with hope in what we can accomplish together.
Kevin Evans
Anchor Bay
Nothing will get done to help this county because there is no togetherness within county government or the departments. The sheriff and DA despise each other. The CEO has been a total failure, concerned more with crafting public policy and controlling the behavior of the board than managing departments. We’ve had the worst string of county counsels in history. Most board members themselves only listen to the few people they’ve known for decades or who knew their parents. Department heads hire their cousins and in-laws regardless of capability. Public Safety takes all the money anyway, by right according to our emotionally pickled district attorney. And the board has no backbone or real power to do anything within the structure anyway. Staff don’t work for them, therefore they don’t need to listen to them. It’s each to their own and everyone for themselves. Nothing can change because this county has been fossilized by the same people who run it. Board members come and go but the dinosaurs continue live within the caves of county departments and elected offices.
“Most board members themselves only listen to the few people they’ve known for decades or who knew their parents. Department heads hire their cousins and in-laws regardless of capability. ” – What you just described is Mendocino County culture by and large. This mentality is sunk deep into the psyche of long time locals/ natives in this community; It’s like an unearned entitlement now coming to light as a huge insolvency issue in the community.
Mendocino County is going to have a learning curve in paying for their own community, for once. Wealth Accumulated into the dozen or so big families are going to be put under pressure to start paying their fair share to support the community that made them wealthy from the beginning. Times are changing.
Good Luck Sucka.
Here, here, hold my beer.
Yep.
Idiots and miscreants galore.
Many departments with uber long term
$#@ kissers, wont say anything but collect a paycheck.
Fraud in billing. Oh no nothing to see.
Keep staff in fighting to maintain upper secrecy.
Keep departments separated and back stabbing each other’s efforts.
Pretend no one knows and the newbies are in shock, see the obvious, upend everything then after a few weeks back to the same ol same ol.
HR sweeping up messes day in day out to keep the public facade up.
The BOS candidates um, oh yeah, ya know, ya know, um, um. Between all of em maybe they can make a coherent sentence.
Quality is something to strive for though many have no idea of the definition.
Its a decline in function decades in the making.
The managers, CEOs all on the looping, long term crazy train to nowhere.
Dear Kevin:
Your letter speaks to us. Like we are in the 6th grade. “Campaigning has shown me that voters care—and they want leaders who respond in kind.” I just read that again, no, not the 6th grade, more like the 3rd grade.
Maybe try something along the lines of…I won’t stop “listening” after the campaign is over and in fact I want to get to work and do the hard work of balancing a budget. I will work on it every day that I am in office.
I agree that Mr. Evans’ letter to the editor is weak and doesn’t mention how he will solve the major problems you all described above. But there was at least one 5th District Candidate forum on Zoom on May 11. It went by really fast, and there wasn’t much opportunity to explore the candidates’ claims in detail, but it was better than nothing. Evans knows a lot more about this county than his letter reveals, unfortunately. I appreciate the detailed descriptions about what’s wrong in the county that you all wrote, but that’s easy. I have my own complaints. What I want to hear is how they can be solved. Mr. Evans seems like the best candidate of the three. But I would like to hear another forum or debate in which the candidates answer specific questions and have enough time to rebut each other. Does anyone know if/when this might be happening? Or are there any recorded debates I don’t know about.