Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/474388
But when it comes to conservation, the state has been focused on residents instead of businesses, pressuring Californians to save water by letting their lawns wither and taking shorter showers. Brown called on resi- dents to slash water use by 20 percent when he declared a drought emer- gency last January. He re- leased a separate long- term water plan calling for conservation targets, which members of the business coalition com- mitted to supporting. Other members of the coalition include General Mills, Levi Strauss & Co, Symantec, homebuilder KB Home and Driscoll's, a berry supplier. Some of their representatives said in a conference call Thursday that they are voluntarily conserving water and taking steps such as leak-detection programs and cleaning out bottles with ionized air instead of water. "These actions alone won't solve California's water crisis," said Kirsten James of Ceres. The business mem- bers of the coalition were vague on what specific changes they want to see in how the government manages water. An exception was on protecting groundwa- ter regulations. Driven to action by the drought, the state Legislature last session overhauled the state's largely un- regulated underground wells, a key water source in dry periods. The coali- tion would fight attempts to unravel the changes, James said. Coalition FROMPAGE1 Kaufman was charged with burglary and booked into Tehama County Jail. RanchoTehama A resident on the 16000 block of Longhorn Drive reported a residential burglary that occurred sometime between Feb. 20 and 27. The suspect reportedly cut a chain on a gate to access the property and used more tools to force open locked doors on a building. Among the items sto- len were a Keene brand gold dredge machine, a gold and sand separator machine, multiple min- ing tools, a 5-gallon pro- pane tank, two black tool boxes with tools, three black and purple mo- torcycle helmets, two 17- watt Sunburst brand so- lar panels and a home- made orange and white box-type trailer contain- ing equipment. In total around $10,000 in items were stolen. Gerber Big Foot Recycling re- ported the business on the 87000 block of San Benito Avenue was bur- glarized sometime the night of Feb. 26 or early in the morning Feb. 27. The suspects did no damage to the business but stole a blue Bostich nail gun, assorted coins, a black Gerber hunting knife, a Bline Point Ohm meter, a Shoemaker bat- tery charger, a red Porter Cable air compressor and a Skill saw. Around $1,000 in items were reported stolen. Burglar FROM PAGE 1 The fire was contained about 2:40 p.m., and full extinguishment was ex- pected about 4:40 p.m. A portion of Palermo Avenue was closed to traf- fic as crews worked at the scene. Red Bluff Fire Depart- ment, Tehama County Fire and Pacific Gas & Electric Co. crews assisted at the scene. Fire FROM PAGE 1 By Michael R. Blood TheAssociatedPress LOS ANGELES A two-term Republican legislator who has sought to broaden the appeal of the party with Hispanics launched an up- hill campaign Thursday to become the next U.S. sena- tor from California, a state that hasn't sent a GOP sen- ator to Washington since the 1980s. Assemblyman Rocky Chavez, a retired Marine Corps colonel from San Di- ego County, became the first established Republi- can to enter the 2016 con- test to replace outgoing Sen. Barbara Boxer, a Democrat. Chavez is not well- known statewide, but his candidacy nonetheless changes the dynamics of a contest that had so far at- tracted only a single, major candidate — state Attorney General Kamala Harris, a Democrat. Asked whether he could win in a state where Dem- ocrats hold every statewide office and a 2.7 million edge in voter registration, Chavez said, "I know I can." In a statement released by his campaign, Chavez contrasted his background in the military with the cre- dentials of Harris, a former San Francisco district at- torney. "If things get worse over- seas, who would Califor- nians want representing them in the Senate — a law- yer from San Francisco or a Marine colonel who knows how lives can be protected and understands the im- portance of keeping Amer- ica and her allies safe and secure?" he asked. Chavez's election to the Legislature in 2012 was seen as a success story for the Republican Party, which is often faulted for being too slow to adapt in a di- versifying state. A Hispanic and grandfather, Chavez has been calling for immi- gration reform and has said the national health care overhaul should not be re- pealed by Congress. Chavez could help the party make inroads with Latinos, who now make up about 20 percent of voters in the state. National Re- publicans have made efforts to broaden the party's reach with minorities, a vulnera- bility seen when President Barack Obama ran up large margins with black, His- panic and Asian voters in his 2012 re-election. His candidacy also sets up a north-south rivalry with Harris, who has roots in the San Francisco Bay Area. "You now have somebody running on the Republican side who is a proven vote- getter, who has held of- fice," noted Bill Whalen, a research fellow at the con- servative Hoover Institu- tion at Stanford University. "You also have somebody with a Hispanic surname, and someone from South- ern California." Two former state Repub- lican Party chairmen, Tom Del Beccaro and Duf Sund- heim, are also considering entering the race. GOP leaders concede that a Republican has only an outside chance of winning the Senate con- test. It's been a generation since a Republican carried California in a presiden- tial election: George H.W. Bush, in 1988. "I feel very sad that we're in this position right now," Harmeet Dhillon, vice chair of the California Republican Party, told re- porters last week in Sacra- mento. Chavez has spoken fre- quently about the need to retool the party's message and make it more about family, education and safe communities while ending harsh words about people who entered the U.S. ille- gally. Chavez spent 28 years in the military, later found- ing a charter high school for business and technol- ogy, where he served as director. He was a mem- ber of the Oceanside City Council before being ap- pointed in 2009 by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger as undersecretary for the state Department of Veter- ans Affairs. He later served as acting secretary. In the Legislature, Chavez has denounced the soaring cost of higher ed- ucation and talked of the need to make health care affordable and available for all residents. He also focused on veterans is- sues, including providing tuition assistance. Chavez said he sees him- self as a mainstream Cal- ifornian — he has three children and five grand- children, lives in a tract home and drives a 2002 pickup. He describes him- self as a fighter, willing to take on long odds. Part of that job will be charming members of his own party because Chavez's moderate politics could chaff conservatives in the GOP's right wing, particularly on immigra- tion. And he will face chal- lenges raising money, since donors are likely to be hesi- tant to finance a first-time statewide candidate facing substantial odds. "He has no chance of winning," said Steve Frank, a longtime conservative activist and blogger from Southern California, who described Chavez as "Dem- ocrat-light." "He's going to be the 2016 version of Neel Kash- kari," Frank said, referring to the party's failed 2014 candidate for governor. Associated Press writers Juliet Williams and Fenit Nirappil in Sacramento contributed to this report. POLITICS Lawmaker launches bid for US Senate RICHPEDRONCELLI—THEASSOCIATEDPRESS Assemblyman Rocky Chavez, R-Oceanside, foreground, leaves the state Assembly at the Capitol in Sacramento on Thursday. By Judy Lin The Associated Press SACRAMENTO California did a better job of enrolling more minorities and young people for health care cov- erage during the second year of expansion, but a shortfall in overall en- rollment could lead to in- creased fees in the future, according to new state data released Thursday. Covered California re- leased enrollment fig- ures showing the percent- age of Latinos and Afri- can-American enrollees increased from last year. The state also reported a younger mix of new enroll- ees, which ensures a good risk pool for insurers. Covered California re- ported that Latinos made up 37 percent of new en- rollees, compared to 31 percent last year. The share of new black enroll- ees increased slightly from 3 percent in 2014 to 4 per- cent this year. Young adults ages 18 to 34 gained 5 percentage points from 29 percent of new enrollees last year to 34 percent this year. "This is good news," Ex- ecutive Director Peter Lee told board members Thurs- day. Lee said Covered Cali- fornia's increased advertis- ing and person-to-person outreach has resulted in younger Latinos and Afri- can-American's signing up. Covered California gen- erally has been regarded as a success, but the agency had been criticized for its lackluster sign-up of Latinos the first year. In response, the exchange increased its marketing through Spanish-language media and targeted its sec- ond campaign to reach out to minority communities. California signed up a total of 1.4 million people during the second enroll- ment season from Nov. 15 through Feb. 15. That fig- ure fell 300,000 short of the state's goal to sign up 1.7 million people. Despite strong enroll- ment of new enrollees, the state's overall enrollment was down because fewer people renewed than ex- pected. For example, the agency noted that it saw a lower-than-anticipated number of people who signed up during special enrollment, such as when people lose their jobs or transition out of Medi-Cal, the state's Medicaid pro- gram for the poor. "We are troubled by the low special enrollment," said Beth Capell, a lob- byist with Health Access California. "We do think there's considerably more work to do on transition- ing people from Medi-Cal to Covered California. We think this is one of the challenges the two organi- zations face over the next year or two." The overall enrollment figure is critical to financ- ing Covered California, which can make adjust- ments by reducing spend- ing, tapping reserves or increasing monthly plan fees. The federal govern- ment infused billions of dollars to help states get their health insurance marketplaces up and run- ning, but exchanges are supposed to be self-sus- taining by imposing a fee on the plans they sell. California imposes a monthly surcharge of $13.95 on individual plans and the staff has recom- mended maintaining that rate. However, the ex- change could raise rates in the future in order to main- tain a balanced budget. By law, the state exchange is prevented from tapping the state's general fund, which is supported by taxpayers. Also Thursday, Demo- cratic Gov. Jerry Brown named two administra- tors to replace appoint- ments by former Gov. Ar- nold Schwarzenegger, a Re- publican. Susan Kennedy, a Demo- crat who worked as Schwar- zenegger's chief of staff, and Kimberly Belshe, who served as Schwarzenegger's health and human services secretary, had agreed to stay after their terms ex- pired last year until Brown named replacements to the five-member board. Brown named Genoveva Islas, program director at the Public Health In- stitute's Cultiva La Salud, and Marty Morgenstern, a long-time state official who is currently serving as a se- nior adviser to the gover- nor. Both are Democrats. The Senate has yet to name a replacement for Dr. Robert Ross, president and chief executive officer of The California Endow- ment, who resigned last year due to a heavy work and travel schedule. ACA IN CALIFORNIA Minority, youth sign-ups up, despite lower enrollment SHESNORESMORE THANIDO,BUTISTILL LOVEMYHUMAN. —BANDIT adopted11-26-09 KENNETH"DUANE"LANSDALE September 23, 1948 ~ February 6, 2015 Duane has gone home to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus, after a long illness. He was born to Jesse and Anneliese Lansdale in Waltham, Mass. He leaves behind his wife of 37 years, Bobbi and son Taylor Lansdale both of Red Bluff. Sister's Olivia of Seat- tle, Monica of Redding, brother's Jess of Shingletown, Brian of Anchorage, Tim and Jeff of Redding, and many nieces and nephews. Duane was proceded in death by his parents and four brothers, Steven, Mike, John and Hans. Duane worked as a welder in the shipyards in San Fran- cisco and Seattle, he also logged for many years. He got his contractor's license and was owner/operator of Living Expressions Tree Care. Duane loved the woods, the ocean, fishing and garden- ing. You are truly loved and will be dearly missed. A celebration of life will be held, Saturday, March 14th at 11:00 am at Calvary Chapel, 12375 Paskenta Rd. Red Bluff. GARY ZIMMER 1937 ~ 2015 Gary's death has left a lonely place in our hearts. He is survived by his loving & devoted mate of 21 years, Jeri Ward, sons; Scott, Guy, Greg and Pat, grandchildren: Garry, Chris, Shelby, Miles, Jordan, Dalton, Shane & Grace; great grandchildren; Anthony and London. Obituaries FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015 REDBLUFFDAILYNEWS.COM | NEWS | 7 A