May 20, 2018 - As you fulfill your constitutional right to vote and head to the polls or fill out your absentee ballots, I urge you to vote for the most qualified candidate running for supervisor -- Heather Bernikoff. We deserve a supervisor who is fair, open-minded and has integrity. We deserve a supervisor who listens to constituents, treats everyone equally, and is not out for their own interests and those within their circle. We deserve a supervisor who is competent, educated, knowledgeable, and experienced and we’re lucky to have a candidate who encompasses all of these traits and that’s Heather Bernikoff.
As a lifelong resident of Catheys Valley, I want to see our rangeland and open spaces stay as beautiful as they are today. The incumbent believes in loosening restrictions on the Williamson Act, a law that was set forth to protect and preserve agricultural lands. Amendments to the Williamson Act would open up preserved land to industrialization and would not be in the interest of farming and ranching.
My family have been active volunteers, community representatives and local government officials in Mariposa County for 50 years. In the same vein, Heather has been an active member of the community since she and her husband moved here. She has volunteered for various community and school organizations and served on the planning commission. She’s been actively involved for many years -- not just when she decided to run for an office.
During the Detwiler Fire, which burned my family’s ranch along with the acreage, homes and businesses of many of us in District 3, it was not our current supervisor who kept us informed on the progress of the fire and what was happening during and after we were evacuated. Many of us had to rely on social media to keep up to date as we left our homes for firefighters and emergency services to protect. Our supervisor was not relaying any information to us, instead another supervisor -- Rosemarie Smallcombe -- was helping us in a time of need and was a light at a very dark time for many of us. For years, Heather has been diligent in keeping friends and acquaintances informed about issues that are important. I have no doubt that if we encounter another disaster, that Heather will be there to relay information and help us when we need her the most.
Please join me in voting for Heather Bernikoff for Supervisor in District 3. This is not a partisan position and it doesn’t matter which political party you support. Heather will represent us all equally.
Tanya M. Hughes
Catheys Valley, CA.
