LAKE COUNTY ?Youth program funding and safety resonated in the minds of Measure C supporters and opponents after the Tuesday election.
Voters inside the Lakeport city limits passed Measure C Tuesday with 59.3 percent of 867 votes. The measure will require the city manager to issue permits to sell state fire marshal-approved, safe and sane fireworks to no more than four qualified nonprofits. Before, city officials had the choice whether to sign firework sale permits for fundraising groups. The fire chief did not sign any permits this year, effectively banning firework sales in Lakeport. Tom Jordan, Clear Lake High School Booster Club president, said he was delighted with the results.
“The electorate has spoken,” Jordan said. “It is clear they want to support youth programs, maintain the city”s long tradition of firework displays and hopefully understand that it is an economic opportunity for merchants.”
Chief Ken Wells of the Lakeport Fire Protection District said he wants Lakeport and the county to be safe and youth programs to have funding.
“I just hope there”s a safe Fourth of July,” Wells said. “That”s what this whole thing was about, having a good Fourth of July.” Voters also elected mostly incumbents along with two other candidates in different districts in the county Tuesday. Ballots cast for candidates ranged from about 19 percent to 21 percent of registered voters in the district. Incumbent Janet Chaniot was reelected as trustee for Mendocino-Lake Community College District Area 5 with 73.5 percent of the 3,001 votes cast.
For Upper Lake Union High School District, voters elected Claudine Pedroncelli, a retired nurse, with 28.1 percent of the votes, incumbent Valerie Duncan with 26.7 percent, and incumbent Ronald Raetz with 26.5 percent of the votes.
With 27 percent of the votes, incumbent Marilyn Pivniska was reelected to the Upper Lake Union Elementary School District, for which voters also elected incumbent Joanne Breton with 21.3 percent and incumbent Donnie Meri with 20.1 percent of votes cast. Lucerne Elementary School District voters elected appointed incumbent Bruce Higgins and Mark Sadler, a community integration instructor.
Contact Katy Sweeny at ksweeny@record-bee.com or call her directly at 263-5636, ext. 37.
