News - Local - Local elections

Tuesday, May. 27, 2008

Q&A with rivals for county supervisor seat: Harry Ovitt and Frank Mecham

Comments (0) |

You both have expressed concern about water resources in the district. How would you ensure adequate long-term water supply and quality for the North County?

Frank Mecham: Protecting the basin from overdraft is critical for the long-term needs of North County. The Nacimiento Water Project will help. But the implementation of reclamation and conservation, along with a sound basin management plan, is essential. Another way to ease the strain on the basin would be to ensure the participation of future development projects for the Water Project. New and innovative means to utilize re-cycled water for irrigation on ag-lands, specifically vineyards, should be aggressively pursued.

Harry Ovitt: Nacimiento water will address the short-term supply issues. Water banking of the county’s unused portion of its State Water allocation could help too, if it can be done at a reasonable cost. For the longer term, we might explore creating a “looped” conveyance system that would allow for the use of all water sources (i.e. groundwater, surface water, and desalinization) depending on the availability and cost of each. Water quality concerns are being addressed through the RWQCB Basin Plan, the County’s Urban Storm Water Management and Non-Point Source Programs.

Do you favor adopting new policies to shape development in the rural areas of the county? Why or why not?

Ovitt: My goal is to maintain the small-town atmosphere of our rural communities and their environmental settings. I favor adopting flexible new “tools,” not rules. In the North County, we have hundreds of legal rural lots within existing antiquated subdivisions. Without the proper “tools,” infrastructure is neglected. A helpful “tool” would be a planned development ordinance that would allow for the reconfiguration and clustering of existing lots, with the remaining lands dedicated to permanent agriculture.

Mecham: Yes. I believe the supervisors must take stronger steps to prevent Los Angeles-style sprawl and preserve the North County’s quality of life. I will work to locate future county housing near universities and places of employment. This common-sense approach will meet our future needs for housing while reducing commuter traffic congestion and protecting our farmland. I will also hold regular public meetings to address the concerns of rural communities.

What would you do to control public employee pension costs that some say are threatening the county’s long-term fiscal soundness?

Mecham:Making certain that the fund is secure, fundable and adequately allocated would require an in-depth review. There are numerous options to approach the long-term planning of the fund, too lengthy to respond to in 75 words. However, my first step would be to request the repeal of the recent pay raise the supervisors voted for themselves. During these times of economic challenge, I believe our leaders should be setting an example of financial sacrifice.

Ovitt:There are several ways to address pension cost: changing from a defined benefit to a defined contribution system, increasing employee retirement contributions, extending the vesting period, establishing a two-tiered system, etc. However, any change is subject to the collective bargaining process as established by the 1973 voter-approved Prevailing Wage Ordinance. Preliminary discussions have begun, but it will take time to find agreement. In this process, my goal continues to be balancing the interests of county employees with those of county taxpayers.

What do you see as the county’s role in helping to create affordable housing? Be specific. Mecham:I don’t believe it should all be achieved via government subsidies. The ability to own one’s home should take into consideration more than just the “bricks and mortar” to build it and the land cost. The distance from where you work and how far one must go to get the necessary services should be part of the equation. Partnering with nonprofits, sweat-equity projects, improving the process and building “age-specific” projects; smaller starter homes as well as smaller retirement houses would allow for more affordability.

Ovitt: Any county role has to focus on providing a “hand up.” I cannot support the proposed Inclusionary Housing Ordinance because it will economically trap buyers under 30- to 50-year restrictions. My first preference for the county would be to revisit its fees and planning processes. I would consider a First Time Home Buyers Program that could assist with a down payment and/or interest rates and would be paid back in the form of a proportional sharing of accumulated equity at the time of sale.