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6A – Daily News – Thursday, June 3, 2010 Opinion Sheriff’s pride Editor: D NEWSAILY RED BLUFF TEHAMACOUNTY T H E V O I C E O F T E H A M A C O U N T Y S I N C E 1 8 8 5 After reading Glenn Goodall’s letter published May 25, I would like to offer some facts. Tehama County Sheriff Clay Greg Stevens, Publisher gstevens@redbluffdailynews.com Chip Thompson, Editor editor@redbluffdailynews.com Editorial policy The Daily News opinion is expressed in the editorial. The opinions expressed in columns, letters and cartoons are those of the authors and artists. Letter policy The Daily News welcomes let- ters from its readers on timely topics of public interest. All let- ters must be signed and pro- vide the writer’s home street address and home phone num- ber. Anonymous letters, open letters to others, pen names and petition-style letters will not be allowed. Letters should be typed and cannot exceed two double-spaced pages or 500 words. When several letters address the same issue, a cross section of those submit- ted will be considered for publi- cation. Letters will be edited. Letters are published at the discretion of the editor. Mission Statement We believe that a strong com- munity newspaper is essential to a strong community, creating citizens who are better informed and more involved. The Daily News will be the indispensible guide to life and living in Tehama County. We will be the premier provider of local news, information and advertising through our daily newspaper, online edition and other print and Internet vehi- cles. The Daily News will reflect and support the unique identities of Tehama County and its cities; record the history of its com- munities and their people and make a positive difference in the quality of life for the resi- dents and businesses of Tehama County. How to reach us Main office: 527-2151 Classified: 527-2151 Circulation: 527-2151 News tips: 527-2153 Sports: 527-2153 Obituaries: 527-2151 Photo: 527-2153 On the Web www.redbluffdailynews.com Fax Newsroom: 527-9251 Classified: 527-5774 Retail Adv.: 527-5774 Legal Adv.: 527-5774 Business Office: 527-3719 Address 545 Diamond Ave. Red Bluff, CA 96080, or P.O. Box 220 Red Bluff, CA 96080 Parker is honest, sincere and dedicated to the people in his county. He is a sheriff that is totally involved throughout our county - and addresses all issues before him straight on, fairly and always within the law. Parker tells it like it is and leads by example. He performs his job in the most honorable way possible and welcomes all with a direct, straight forward attitude. He does not isolate our county from the rest of the world, but rather involves Tehama County in state and national issues by participation. He does not sit behind his desk in a uniform every day. He always participates in commu- nity affairs and when he is not attending mandatory court appearances, scheduled meet- ings or local events, most times by invitation, he is in his office answering phone calls with his door wide open. A few days of each year Sheriff Clay Parker is away from Tehama County attending meetings on your behalf. You, Tehama County resident, while he is away, continue to be as safe and secure as his depart- ment can possibly keep you while at home, asleep or awake, at work or school or out and about. His Undersheriff, admin- istrative staff, consisting in part of those captains being con- stantly criticized while on call 24/7, lieutenants and all others ranking down to deputies are there for you. Our sheriff has always served our county with PRIDE. To those of us that really know him well, PRIDE stands for Profes- sionalism, Respect, Integrity, Dedication, Equality. He deserves your vote on June 8. Shirley Wheeler, Mineral Could be worse Editor: Think about it. Sheriff Parker and his supporters say the opposing camp is mud slinging. If that were the case, why hasn't there been a broader spectrum of rumors and innuendos been thrown around? The opposing camp has only focused on one major issue, the alleged abuse of time by two captains and the fact that Sheriff Parker allegedly allowed it. If the opposing camp wanted to run a smear campaign, I think that they could have chosen sub- jects with a little more spice. Instead, they chose one topic, alleged abuse of time and pay that has allegedly been allowed by Sheriff Parker, which caused four to leave the department and one to take an early retirement rather than be associated with the alleged abuse. Jeff Ogden, Red Bluff Concerns about candidate Editor: I have some concerns about William Murphy, a candidate for superior court judge, office two. First of all I believe the photo of him sitting at his desk in his tri-fold mailer is a direct viola- tion of Government Code 8314, which prohibits that type of photo from his office in cam- paign literature. It is not inci- dental and minimal use as stated in this section, but is obvious and is in a mailer that was sent to thousands of homes. Secondly, he has made state- ments at multiple candidates night meetings about how he has chosen not to seek any endorsements for his campaign. I know he attended the Deputy Sheriffs Association and a Police Officer Association can- didates night meetings. Every- body I have talked to stated that he never told them he was not seeking their endorsement. As a former member of the Red Bluff Peace Officers Asso- ciation it was always my under- standing that any candidates who attended our meetings were there specifically to seek our endorsement. His repeated com- ments along the lines that a judicial endorse- ment is improper are absurd, as Canon 5 of the Judicial Canons of Ethics in California specifi- cally states that judges can endorse judicial candidates. Who would be a better judge of who could replace them than those who sit on the bench and see, day in and day out, what skill set someone brings to the court room? Of course, based on Mr. Murphy’s mailer, he has not spent much time in a courtroom for the past 23 years. Mr. Murphy’s comments at candidates nights have insinuat- ed that he has taken the higher road and not sought endorse- ments because he does not want to be beholden to anyone. Based on his comments, I find it con- tradictory and hypocritical that he would then hold fundraisers and seek monetary donations. He will take money but not endorsements? Not beholden to anyone, except those that gave him money. Is there any higher form of endorsement than a monetary donation? It seems pretty conve- nient for him to say he was not seeking any endorsements when they all went to his opponent, Todd Bottke. Scott Curtis, Cottonwood Legal record Editor: William Murphy is cam- paigning for election as a Your Turn court judge. He was one of the attorneys representing the county during the proposed Inentec Medical Waste Plas- ma Disposal project. This project was shoehorned through the County approval process, until the very last step, when it came to the attention of a group of concerned citi- zens and the public during the obscure County Air Resources Control Board’s review and approval. I attended most of the hear- ings and court trials, and watched the antics of the County Counsel and other staff members who appeared, so obviously, to promote this project. The county attorneys and planning people support- ed the Company to the point it was an embarrassment. I had to conclude that if they were not in someone’s pockets, it was hard to believe otherwise. When a final hearing and vote of the Air Board was scheduled, the only medical qualified member called the county in advance of the meeting and requested a post- ponement of the vote because she could not attend. Mr. Murphy told the board that they must vote at that hearing, the vote could not be post- poned until a full board was present. As a result of this misdi- rection by Mr. Murphy, The county was taken to court, costing us taxpayers more money to defend. The judge ruled that the advice of coun- sel was improper. Again, in my opinion, county staff, and in particular, county legal staff was neither neutral nor objective in their actions. I had to conclude they must have some sort of vested interest in the project. John Elko, Red Bluff Your officials STATE ASSEMBLYMAN — Jim Nielsen (R), State Capitol Bldg., Room 4164 P.O. Box 942849, Sacramento 94249; (916) 319-2002; Fax (916) 319- 2102 STATE SENATOR — Sam Aanestad (R), State Capitol Bldg., Room 2054, Sacramen- to, CA 95814. (916) 651-4004; Fax (916) 445-7750 GOVERNOR — Arnold Schwarzenegger (R), State Capitol Bldg., Sacramento, CA 95814; (916) 445-2841; Fax (916) 558-3160; E-mail: gover- nor@governor.ca.gov. U.S. REPRESENTATIVE — Wally Herger (R), 2635 Forest Ave. Ste. 100, Chico, CA 95928; 893-8363. U.S.SENATORS — Dianne Feinstein (D), One Post Street, Suite 2450, San Francisco, CA 94104; (415) 393-0707. Fax (415) 393-0710. Barbara Boxer (D), 1700 Montgomery St., Suite 240, San Francisco, CA 94111; (415) 403-0100. Fax (202) 224- 0454. Tehama County Mentoring Program Commentary An African proverb states that it takes a village to raise a child. For many of us, life in Tehama County is so sweet because we appreciate knowing our neighbors and the vil- lage-like feel of small town and rural living. In 2000, the Tehama County Mentoring program was developed to ensure that each child had access to at least one “villager” for guid- ance and friendship. The concept is rooted in common sense—every child needs the support of caring adults—but is grounded by research. Simply stated: mentoring works. Children with mentors are more likely to stay in school and less likely to engage in risky behaviors. While the Mentoring Program has taken pride in serving children throughout Tehama County, a curi- ous phenomenon is happening in our community: demand for men- tors is higher than ever. In particu- lar, there is a great need for male mentors. If ever there was a time to become a mentor, it is now. When children ask for mentors, they are asking for the village to step in and help. An hour a week in one of Tehama County Mentoring Pro- gram’s six mentoring areas can provide a young Tehama County student with the care and guidance he or she needs to develop into a confident, productive young adult. The benefits to a student are broad. So too are the benefits to the adult mentor. Mentoring is an opportunity to share what you know and pass on the wisdom you’ve accumulated over the years. Matches in the Tehama County Mentoring Program are made by appropriateness of fit. For Corning mentor Carol Scott, this means sharing a love of baking. She recently spent an after- noon baking cookies with her mentee and was surprised to learn that it was the first time the young woman endeavored such an activi- ty. Julie Light has brought out a vast collection of board games to play with her mentee over the winter.Now that spring is here, the two spend time outdoors. Wayne Peterson Guest View Melissa enjoyed the movie Avatar so much that he made sure his mentee got to see it, thereby giving him the excuse to see it twice. Mentors receive training and support once the background checks and application process is complete. The program offers monthly dinners for mentors to meet and share ideas. Group out- ings are offered, which allow par- ticipants to learn and have fun as well as meet others in the pro- gram. A summer standard is a trip to a Chico Outlaws baseball game. Our community is coming together in an unprecedented way Mendonca with the recently debuted Expect More Tehama campaign designed to make sure all of our students are prepared for meaningful careers and higher edu- cation by the time they graduate high school. One of the best ways to make an impact is to spend quality time with a young person helping to develop and achieve goals and dreams. Mentoring through a structured program offers training, support and a cadre of peers to support such an endeavor. To learn more about the Tehama County Mentoring Pro- gram, please call 528-7358 or visit the website and blog www.tehama- mentoring.org, www.tehamamen- toring.wordpress.com. Melissa Mendonca is director of the Tehama County Mentoring Program.