District 1 Questionnaire For October
Q. Please give a basic picture of what you believe a supervisor's goals and responsibilities should be. What traits do you possess that you believe make you the best qualified to be District 1's next supervisor? What is the biggest difference between you and your opponent?
- Serving as supervisor is a major responsibility and the issues coming before us are of profound importance. Supervisors oversee county operations and services, adopt the budget, select department heads, determine land use, set policy, etc., as well as anticipate and plan for future needs.
- Throughout my long career and in public service, I’ve been recognized as a good leader – focused, conscientious and honest – and I’m committed to being a good leader for District 1 and all of Lake County.
- I have the political courage to advocate strongly for citizens. For example, I spoke against the proposed water ski lake to the Planning Commission and for the new GE-free ordinance to the Board of Supervisors. My opponent attended both meetings, but said nothing. Also, I have demonstrated integrity. For example, I met with developers, but declined campaign donations when they were offered.
Fundraising begins to slow in final weeks of District 1 campaign
Written by Elizabeth Larson
Friday, 24 October 2008
SOUTH LAKE COUNTY – As the end of the race for District 1 supervisor comes into sight, the contest's brisk fundraising is beginning to slow.
James Comstock and Susanne La Faver are the candidates in what looks like it will be a close race to succeed Supervisor Ed Robey on the Board of Supervisors. Robey retires at the end of this year, at the completion of his third term.
This latest reporting period is from Oct. 1 through Oct. 18, the shortest reporting period for the year so far. During that time the two candidates raised $4,829 – $2,999 for Comstock, $1,830 for La Faver. That equals about $268 a day for 18 days.
The preceding reporting period saw the two contenders raise $38,859.08 from July 1 through Sept. 30, roughly $422 a day for 92 days.
Last District 1 debate held
By Tiffany Revelle -- Staff reporter
Article Last Updated: 10/22/2008 10:21:50 PM PDT
Lake County Record-Bee
LOWER LAKE The third and final debate was held Wednesday night between District 1 Supervisor candidates Jim Comstock and Susanne La Faver.
The candidates answered questions from an audience of approximately 60 people at the Lower Lake Community Building at Lower Lake County Park about issues concerning the district and the county. Less than two weeks remain until voters will decide Nov. 4, which candidate will fill the open county seat.
Comstock said his first act as District 1 Supervisor would be to rescind the ban on genetically engineered (GE) crops the Lake County Board of Supervisors passed Tuesday. La Faver emphasized the need to bring state and federal money into the county as a priority.
La Faver and Skinner-Martin recognized for outstanding volunteer service
Lake County News
Monday, 20 October 2008
HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE – Hidden Valley Lake residents Susanne La Faver and Valarie Skinner-Martin, Ed.D, were honored recently for outstanding volunteer service to the HVL association as chair and member, respectively, of the first-ever Safety and Security Advisory Committee.
“Susanne and Valarie were instrumental in providing enthusiasm, direction and leadership in the development of this new standing committee,” said Board President Don Dornbush.
According to Charles Russ, chief of HVL Safety and Security, the women spearheaded policy improvements and security and public safety services within the community.
They worked closely with residents, staff, board members, local government officials, and other association volunteers.
The women were presented appreciation plaques and floral bouquets at an HVL association board of directors meeting.
Candidates duel over development
Middletown Times Star
Friday, 10 October 2008
SOUTH LAKE COUNTY – The Calpine visitor center was packed for a candidate forum last Wednesday, and District 1 supervisorial candidates Jim Comtock and Susanne La Faver landed some punches and got some audience response during the hour-long session.
The audience included plenty of known supporters from both camps and some surprisingly specific (some might say loaded) questions about Middletown issues.
Both the audience response and the questions framed what many see as the overriding issue in this race—pro development vs. slow development.
PEG Channel broadcasts District 1 debate
Written by Editor
Wednesday, 08 October 2008
LAKE COUNTY – The PEG Channel, TV Channel 8, is broadcasting a Middletown District 1 supervisorial candidates debate this week.
The debate can be seen from 10:05 p.m. to 11:04 p.m. each day this week.
Supervisorial candidates Susanne La Faver of Hidden Valley Lake and James Comstock of Middletown have debated twice, once on Sept. 17 in Lower Lake and again on Oct. 1 in Middletown. It's the second debate in Middletown being broadcast this week.
Both debates were videotaped by PEG Manager Allen Markowski for rebroadcast on the station.
Comstock and La Faver will appear on the Nov. 4 ballot. Both are vying to succeed Supervisor Ed Robey, who is retiring from the Board of Supervisors.
Modern elections find voters more interested in campaign donations
Middletown Times Star
Friday, 03 October 2008
SOUTH LAKE COUNTY – Endorsements and supporter lists are popular with candidates trying to garner votes, but many voters find information about campaign donations more telling. It's become almost a requirement to "follow the money" in modern campaigns.
In the case of the District I supervisorial race, the money is a mere pittance compared to the obscene sums spent in a presidential race.
Still, it's someone's hard-earned coin, so donors must think electing a certain candidate is worth something to them — either because the candidate shares their ideals or is a good investment for the future, or both.
Fund amounts raised in District 1 race continue to grow
Written by Elizabeth Larson
Thursday, 25 September 2008
SOUTH LAKE COUNTY – As the District 1 supervisorial candidates head into the home stretch for the November election, the most recent report on campaign expenditures and donations shows there was a slight slowdown in fundraising earlier in the summer.
The latest financial report on file for District 1 candidates Susanne La Faver and James Comstock is for May 18 through June 30.
La Faver was the top vote getter in the June 3 primary, receiving 811 votes and 31.8 percent of the vote to Comstock's 800 votes, which accounted for 31.4 percent, according to the Registrar of Voters Office. The two candidates far outpaced the rest of the six-person field.
District 1 candidates get new endorsements
Written by Elizabeth Larson
Friday, 19 September 2008
SOUTH COUNTY – As the final months of the District 1 supervisorial race begin to wind down, the two candidates who will be on the November ballot have received major new endorsements.
James Comstock of Middletown and Susanne La Faver of Hidden Valley Lake will be on the November 4 ballot, each seeking to succeed Ed Robey as supervisor for District 1, which includes Anderson Springs, Hidden Valley Lake, Lower Lake, Middletown and part of Clearlake.
Robey, who has served three terms on the board, is retiring from the board at the end of this year.
La Faver and Comstock were the top vote getters out of a field of six candidates which appeared on the June ballot, as Lake County News has reported.
Both candidates recently announced new endorsements of their supervisorial campaigns; La Faver received the nod from Congressman Mike Thompson, while the Lake County Farm Bureau gave its support to Comstock.
Two vie for supervisor seat
By Tiffany Revelle -- Staff reporter
Article Last Updated: 08/22/2008 10:25:42 PM PDT
LAKE COUNTY -- Candidates James Comstock and Susanne La Faver bring differing philosophies about growth and change to the table as they vie to succeed Ed Robey as Dist. 1 county supervisor in the Nov. 4 election.
Comstock was born in Lake County and operates a ranch on Grange Road in Middletown. He is serving his fifth consecutive term on the Middletown Unified School District Board, and has been its president for six years. He is a Vietnam veteran, having served in the U.S. Navy between 1969 and 1973. Comstock is a financial representative with Beneficial Financial Group in Middletown.
La Faver has lived in Middletown for six years. Her resume details a 25-year history in public relations, and she holds a master's in public administration. She teaches graduate business courses for Golden Gate University, and has been involved in Middletown's senior center and library, South Lake Fire Safe Council and Hidden Valley Lake Safety and Security Committee.
La Faver set for November runoff in District 1
Written by Elizabeth Larson
Wednesday, 04 June 2008
SOUTH LAKE COUNTY – With its packed field, the campaign for District 1 has looked very much like a horse race and, true to form, Tuesday's result was a photo finish.
Susanne La Faver took 31.7 percent of the vote, with James Comstock coming in a hair behind at 30.5 percent of the south county vote.
In the final results Tuesday – which the Elections Office still must officially certify – La Faver took 599 votes, with Comstock edging to within 22 votes of her, with 577.
Don Dornbush, who came close to upsetting Ed Robey in his reelection bid four years ago, placed third, with 232 votes or 12.3 percent of the vote, followed by Scott Fergusson, 208 votes, 11 percent; Robert MacIntyre, 171 votes, 9 percent; and Joey Luiz, 99 votes, 5.2 percent. There also were four write-in candidates which accounted for 0.2 percent of the vote.
As the two frontrunners, La Faver and Comstock will now gear up for the next phase of the race, which will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 4, in concert with the presidential election.
La Faver said Tuesday's results were exactly what she had expected.
“We campaigned against five tough candidates,” she said. “We’re thrilled to be the top choice of District 1 voters. We look forward to discussing the issues with voters and our opponent during the next five months, then going on to win in November.”
Brown elected, District 1 seat goes to runoff
By Tiffany Revelle--Record-Bee staff
Article Last Updated: 06/03/2008 11:18:43 PM PDT
LAKE COUNTY -- Late results Tuesday night showed Susanne La Faver received the most votes in District 1 but will face James Comstock in a November runoff. Incumbent Rob Brown was re-elected District 5 Supervisor.
Earlier in the evening, prior to the final results, six candidates vying for the District 1 Supervisor seat, La Faver led with 356 votes, followed by Comstock with 263 votes. The results as of 9:45 p.m. showed vote-by-mail results only, with votes cast at precincts not yet counted. The two candidates with the most votes will appear on the November ballot.
"It's what we expected," La Faver said. She said she is confident that she will keep the lead.
Lake County supes near runoff
By Glenda Anderson
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Published: Wednesday, June 4, 2008 at 4:30 a.m.
Susanne La Faver and James Comstock led a field of six newcomers late Tuesday in the race for the vacant 1st District Lake County Board of Supervisors seat.
La Faver had 35 percent and Comstock had 26 percent of the vote with two of 10 precincts reporting.
If no one gets more than 50 percent of the vote, the top two candidates will face each other in a runoff election in November.
District 1 Supervisor candidates questionnaires:
Susanne La Faver
(From www.lakeconews.com )
Written by Susanne La Faver
Friday, 30 May 2008
1. What issues do you believe are most central to this year's District 1 supervisorial election?
The primary issue is the state budget deficit and potential impacts on people in rural Lake County. Next are growth, water resources, senior and youth programs, public safety and, as always, roads.
2. What traits make you the best person to represent District 1 on the Board of Supervisors?
I have the dedication, passion, and sense of responsibility, as well as knowledge and skills, to lead. I’m motivated by the highest principles of public service, and have the judgment to make decisions benefiting our community now and in the future. Finally, I have a positive attitude and not self interest.
La Faver Joins Lobbying Effort in Sacramento with National Women’s Political Caucus of California
Hidden Valley Lake (May 11, 2008) – Regional women spoke out in Sacramento last week when members of the National Women’s Political Caucus of California (NWPC-CA) lobbied California Assembly member Patty Berg and Senator Patricia Wiggins.
Hidden Valley Lake resident Susanne La Faver joined NWPC-CA Mendocino Caucus speaking for Assembly Bill 2716 and Senate Bill 1770 and against the state budget cuts as currently devised. The lobbying efforts were the culmination of NWPA-CA’s two-day conference.
Vote SUSANNE LA FAVER for Lake County District 1 Supervisor
Hidden Valley Lake (May 6, 2008) - A passionate desire for the success of District 1 citizens and all of Lake County is what drives candidate Susanne La Faver, 59, of Hidden Valley Lake.
La Faver brings to her candidacy business and management experience covering 25 years in private industry, including PG&E, Kaiser Permanente, Levi Strauss & Co., Bechtel, and others; 11 years owning her own consulting business; and 11 years teaching graduate business students at Golden Gate University.
Her public affairs career was spent making others look good and making sure they did the right things for their organizations, their customers and clients, employees, and members or stockholders. She promises to work even harder for Lake County residents.
La Faver and Turman Join Konocti Senior Support Board
Clearlake, CA. (April 24, 2008) – The board of Konocti Senior Support, Inc., welcomes new directors Susanne La Faver, Hidden Valley Lake, and Elizabeth Turman, Clearlake. The organization provides free peer counseling throughout Lake County and administers the Friendly Visitor Program in South County.
“Recipients of senior peer counseling, mostly home-bound, benefit from talking with people who have experienced life changes and understand their concerns,” said Lawrence Grant, board president.
Book review: The Dispersion of Africans and African Culture Throughout the World: Essays on the African Diaspora
Book review: The Dispersion of Africans and African Culture Throughout the World: Essays on the African Diaspora
Editor: Dr. Lois Moore, University of San Francisco
Publisher: The Edwin Mellen Press
Reviewer: Susanne N. La Faver, MPA, Adjunct Professor, Golden Gate University
Dr. Lois Moore of the University of San Francisco edited this remarkable compilation of scholarly essays on the history and cultures of African descent people around the world. The aim is to educate scholars and contribute to international and multicultural scholarship on African Descent people.
Broad in scope, the nine-chapter text identifies and discusses the decimation of Rwanda; exodus of Ethiopian Jews; experiences of African slaves in Portugal, Ecuador, Belize, the Danish West Indies, Mexico, and the Georgia Sea Islands; and the legacy of the slave trade on the Americas, Canada and the Black Church in the United States.
Supervisor Robey Endorses La Faver for District One
Lower Lake (March 17, 2008) - Candidate for Lake County Supervisor Susanne La Faver was endorsed Saturday by Ed Robey, whose term as district one supervisor ends this year. He will have served as district one supervisor for 12 years. Robey announced the endorsement at a campaign kickoff event held for La Faver at Ployez Winery in Lower Lake.
“Susanne has the know-how and the energy to protect our quality of life while promoting our local economy,” said Robey. "I've watched her working on various community projects for years, and I know she is motivated by the highest principles of public service.
“With so many complex issues facing Lake County and district one, I want a supervisor who I know has the judgment to make decisions which will benefit our community for the long run, for ourselves, our children and our grandchildren,” he said. “That's why I support Susanne La Faver as the best choice for district one.”
La Faver is one of six candidates seeking the district one office. The election is June 3.
Petition Signatures Reduce Filing Fee for District 1 Candidate
Photo by Laura Lamar,
MAX Design Studio, Middletown
Pictured above are Susanne La Faver
for Supervisor volunteers, from left,
Pat Meyer, Cobb; Phil and
Sandy Bayles,
Hidden Valley Lake;
and
Candidate
Susanne La Faver
and her husband,
Lyle, Hidden
Valley Lake.March 8, 2008 – Active citizen involvement helped reduce the filing fee for District 1 Supervisor candidate Susanne La Faver when she submitted her Declaration of Candidacy at the courthouse Friday afternoon, March 7. The candidate and her volunteers collected 635 petition signatures out of a possible 690, reducing her filing fee to just $45.99 from the possible $576.89.
“Each signature validated by the Registrar of Voters as a voter in District 1was worth $0.83607,” said campaign volunteer Sandy Bayles. “We circulated petitions in front of Lower Lake and Middletown post offices and in front of Hidden Valley Lake mailboxes. It was a lot of work, but we enjoyed supporting our candidate.”
Now the campaign moves into the field, walking precincts, raising money for signs and mailings, and participating in candidate forums sponsored by various community groups. District 1 includes a portion of the city of Clearlake, Lower Lake, Hidden Valley Lake, Middletown and Anderson Springs.
The election is June 3.
La Faver honored for 11 years of teaching at Golden Gate University
Sunday, 30 September 2007
HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE – Hidden Valley Lake resident Susanne La Faver was honored recently in San Francisco for her 11 years of teaching at Golden Gate University (GGU).
La Faver teaches public relations to graduate business students. Her course was put on GGU’s CyberCampus when she moved to Lake County six years ago.
Eating Our Water Bill
By Susanne La Faver
Appeared in Lake County News, September 30, 2007
Our recent household water usage was higher than usual, so my husband queried experts at the water district. “Are you eating your water bill?” they asked. Now that’s something we hadn’t heard before. It means water usage usually increases when summer gardens are growing. We felt reassured.
Robey retires, five run for county seat
By Tiffany Revelle, Record-Bee staff
MIDDLETOWN (August 18, 2007) – Dist. 1 Supervisor Ed Robey announced he will not be running for the seat again in the June Primary Election after what will be 12 consecutive years in office.
Five candidates have stepped up, both officially and unofficially, to run for the county seat. With the official nomination period beginning Feb. 11 and running through March 7 for the June primary, one candidate has filed a candidate intention form with the county Registrar of Voters Office.
District 1 Supervisor candidates share goals, experience
Taken from article written by Lake County News Editor Elizabeth Larson, Thursday, August 16, 2007
Meet the candidate: Susanne La Faver, 58, Hidden Valley Lake, teacher, business consultant
La Faver told Lake County News that she has already taken out the paperwork necessary to begin the process of running for supervisor. Registrar of Voters Diane Fridley confirmed that La Faver submitted her Form 501 on August 9, 2007.