Valley Springs Train Depot
 

Historic Main Street, San Andreas
 

Welcome to Burson!
 

New Wallace Post Office
 

Beautiful La Contenta
 

Turner Park Entrance, San Andreas
 

North Fork, Calaveras River

 
Along Hwy 12, Wallace

 
Values, leadership, and experience make
Zerrall McDaniel
the most qualified candidate for Supervisor, Calaveras County District One

 Vote for
Zerrall McDaniel for Supervisor
First District, Calaveras County

Issues & Priorities

Many critical challenges are facing Calaveras County and District One. Most are interrelated, in that they are both causes and effects of other problems.  To solve one problem, it turns out to be necessary to address a variety of issues.

Going forward, we need good ideas and positive input from everybody. No one should be left behind, and everybody's opinion deserves respect.  Widespread public participation in good faith is our best hope.

To help solve the tough problems we face, the next District One Supervisor must be experienced and prepared to work hard, reach out, and bring people together to find common ground.  Here are my priorities: note: the issues can be ranked in different ways, so what’s last on this list could actually be the first thing we need to do.

Issue One:  Public Safety

We trust our first responders - our sheriff's deputies and fire departments – to be there for us in an emergency.  This means we must do whatever is necessary to find the funds to make sure all first responders are fully trained and have all necessary equipment.

• The Sheriff’s department must be funded to keep up with population growth
• Our Fire Districts need paid, professional firefighters – County leadership must help find resources and work harder to build trust between citizens and Fire Boards
• Is the County’s ambulance service agreement working for the citizens?  All options should be on the table.

Issue Two:  Jobs, Housing, & the Economy

It’s no secret that these are difficult times.  We must seize this opportunity and plan for prosperity together.

• New Community and General Plans should encourage beneficial light industrial and commercial development that brings good jobs to D1 and Calaveras County
• Our current Housing Element is obsolete and ineffective; it should be updated along with the rest of the General Plan with real-world housing targets for real-world incomes
• Agriculture is crucial to both our economy and our way of life, and must be encouraged

Issue Three:  Planning, Growth, & Development

Without good plans, nothing much good can be accomplished.  District One’s Community Plans are either obsolete or yet to be prepared. County Government needs to keep its promise to help in updating the San Andreas and Valley Springs Community Plans concurrently with the General Plan update.

• County government should encourage more public participation
• New development must fully mitigate the costs to citizens and taxpayers, promote “infill” development, and discourage sprawl.  No “Stockton light” in Calaveras County
• Residential development must pay its full way, including public safety
• New Community & General Plans should encourage preservation of agricultural land

Issue Four:  Infrastructure

Investment in our infrastructure has not kept up.  In D1 public safety, water & sanitation, and roads are all working at or near capacity.  This contributes to a downward economic spiral and reduces our overall quality of life.  Almost none of the our current problems can be really solved without addressing the issues relating to infrastructure.

• Need leadership to encourage cooperation between agencies to address current problems
• Future development should pay for improvements that are needed to grow
• Future development should have higher standards regarding conservation
• All roads need to be built to County standards
• Public transit benefits everyone in Calaveras County

Issue Five:  Government Services

County employees work hard, and are constantly being asked to do more with less.  An engaged, motivated, and appreciated County workforce is vital.

• All County employees deserve to work in a professional environment, pursuing County policies that are in the public interest
• More County Government buildings should be located at government center, not spread around crowding out prime commercial space
• County Government must be conducted openly and honestly, and public documents made available without resistance

Issue Six: The County Budget

With revenues down because of recession, County Government must tighten spending.  Though better late than never, reviewing the County's entire fee structure has been long overdue, and the delay has cost taxpayers.

• No more excuses – County government must do a better job managing the budget in the public interest
• County can and must do a better job of identifying and applying for private, state, and federal grants for a host of projects, including public safety, planning, resource conservation, transportation, and social services
• Supervisors should set an example – repeal the $4,200 per year "car allowance” Supervisors voted themselves years ago

These are some of the critical issues that I will make a priority if elected. Please feel free to call me if you have questions or ideas you'd like to share about these or other issues we face.

 Zerrall McDaniel for Supervisor, 8445 Fricot City Road, San Andreas, CA 95249     736-2725       email: Zerrall@yahoo.com