This letter to the editor was published in the VC Star.
Rank-and-file backing Fryhoff
I am the President of the Ventura County Deputy Sheriffs’ Association (VCDSA). The VCDSA represents the rank-and-file members of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office. We, along with all the other employee labor organizations with members who work for the Sheriff’s Office, have endorsed Jim Fryhoff for Sheriff and are not supporting the incumbent. Why?
The incumbent has been the sheriff for about 3 1/2 years. We have seen a lack of leadership from him. Many of our members have not seen him in person during his tenure, despite the VCDSA asking him repeatedly to visit them during briefings. Communication from the incumbent has been poor.
The incumbent even admitted at a recent debate that he does not believe the communities he serves should know his name. Morale among the rank-and-file is the lowest I have seen in my 20-year tenure. Without change, many will be looking to go to another agency. Most recently, the incumbent has resorted to belittling employee organizations because he is not supported by any of them. These are just a few reasons, there are many more.
It’s time for a true leader. Jim Fryhoff has proven law enforcement leadership in Ventura County. As Chief of Police in Ojai and Thousand Oaks, he has been supportive of those working for him, proactive on addressing crime trends, and the type of leader that surrounds himself with a well-rounded team that work collaboratively to ensure public safety issues are addressed. Please join me in voting for Jim Fryhoff.
Nick Odenath, Moorpark
Measures A & B need to pass
Is clean drinking water important to you? Should farmers in Ventura County be able to grow crops with uncontaminated water? A yes vote on Measures A & B will keep our local water supply safe. Oil and gas companies are using scare tactics, claiming that these measures will bring oil and gas drilling to a halt, killing jobs and depriving the county of much needed tax revenue. Not true. Measures A & B will not stop any existing oil drilling. The only thing that will change is the permitting process for new drilling. Any new drilling would have to go through a basic environmental review process.
Now, 5,200 wells are operating under antiquated permits that were issued decades ago. These permits have no expiration date, and oil companies can use any method of extraction, even if it entails injecting hazardous chemicals dangerously close to underground water supplies. Drilling under these antiquated permits would continue, but new drilling permits would be subject to modern environmental review.
The oil and gas industry has spent $6.5 million against these common-sense rules. Local environmental groups and concerned citizens cannot compete with that. What we can do, however, is to vote yes on Measures A & B in June. For more information, visit vcsafe.org.
Kristen Kessler, Ventura