Open and Effective Governance

In 1953, the California Legislature passed the Ralph M. Brown Act to govern open meetings for local governments.  The Brown Act has become synonymous with government transparency, public accessibility, and civic engagement. Adhering to both the letter and the spirit of this law is a minimum requirement for good governance, and our county is failing in both regards.  I will be a knowledgeable and effective proponent of Brown Act compliance, and I will promote the spirit of the law by maximizing opportunities for public comment, creating policies that hold the board accountable to being respectful and responsive to public communications and comments, and proactively meeting residents “where they are” with the use of technology and community spaces for expanded outreach, town hall meetings, and making myself accessible to all.

Another key authority of the Board of Supervisor is to craft and approve the county budget, and they have a responsibility to provide total budget transparency and oversight. The intent of statutes related to the county budget process is to inform citizens, allow dialogue and allow residents a voice before Board approval. During the County budget process, we need to do a better job of engaging with the community and reflecting their priorities in the budget process.  We need to have public budget hearings with open and welcome participation of department leaders and staff, as well as the public, and in keeping with statutory requirements.

As part of budget priorities, I will be vigilant about performing a comprehensive salary survey across the entire county organization in pursuit of competitive compensation and benefits packages for county employees.  This is a necessity in order to recruit and retain stable and qualified county workforce that will in turn support a strong and stable county organization, able to contribute to the local economy.  Along the same lines, I will work hard to fill vacancies on our county boards and commissions with qualified and engaged community members who can play a key role in bringing constituent voices into the policy making process.