LAKE COUNTY — Lower Lake resident Joey Luiz joined the race for the open District 1 Supervisor seat by filing a petition to gather signatures to offset the cost of a candidate filing fee Feb. 15, according to the Lake County Registrar of Voters Office. The next step is to file a declaration of candidacy and either present the signatures or pay the filing fee.
Candidate Scott Fergusson is the only one of six candidates to officially file, according to deputy registrar of voters Maria Valadez. Valadez said that along with Luiz, James Comstock, Don Dornbush, Scott Fergusson, Susanne La Faver and Robert MacIntyre and have taken out papers with the registrar”s office to gather signatures.
Three seats on the lake County Board of Supervisors will go before voters in the June 3, 2008 Primary election for districts 1, 3 and 5. District 1 includes the communities of Middletown, Hidden Valley, Cobb, Lower Lake and a portion of the City of Clearlake.
“I grew up there (in Lower Lake), and I see a lot of challenges in the future for Lake County, not just in the national climate, but challenges we face locally with our own economy, with our concerns about water. I feel I can get a lot done in the community,” Luiz said.
In his capacity for the past two years as the sales manager at Shannon Ridge Winery in Clearlake Oaks, Luiz said he has promoted Lake County as a destination. Including his employment with Shannon Ridge Winery, Luiz said he has been involved in Lake County”s wine industry since 2002.
“I definitely want to see wineries continue to expand Lake County”s economy. I want to be able to assure that it doesn”t go overboard to put stress our water tables. I don”t want to see them clear-cut everything and turn it into vineyards, but I still think there is some compromise to expand the industry, and in doing that, better Lake County”s chances economically,” Luiz said. Luiz said one of his goals for the county is to build a working relationship between the wine industry and the environmental community. “I have insight on both sides, and I want to try and bridge the lines of communication,” Luiz said.
Another of Luiz”s goals is to provide activities for youth. “I was a big help in getting the Clearlake skateboard park re-opened, and I think we can do a little bit more to give youth more positive things to do,” Luiz said.
For District 1, Luiz said he wants more sustainable business in Lower Lake, Middletown and Clearlake. “I want to work more solidly on outside of the county marketing ? to bring money in by being more specific with our demographics, where we market and try to lure people. We could be more proactive with outside media in really creating a destination here,” Luiz said.
Contact Tiffany Revelle at trevelle@record-bee.com.
