Supes scoop

Two very different races on display

Chico’s supervisorial districts are up for grabs next month and both incumbents, Larry Wahl and Maureen Kirk, are seeking re-election. They and their challengers, Andrew Merkel and Bob Evans, respectively, got a chance to share their platforms with the public last Wednesday (May 14) during a forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters.

Those looking for the candidates to distinguish their campaigns were not disappointed by Wahl and Merkel, whose views on most issues are extremely divergent. The same could not be said of Kirk and Evans, who rarely disagreed during their hour-long Q&A session.

Wahl, a staunch conservative and former Chico city councilman, is looking for a second term in his District 2, the westernmost Chico district. He’s facing medical-marijuana advocate and political neophyte Merkel, one of the supporters of an initiative that would preserve a local medi-pot ordinance the Board of Supervisors adopted last year but recently amended in a way that restricts pot-growing.

Wahl made it clear right off the bat that he’s not a fan of medical cannabis. “I’ve fought hard to preserve your right to the peaceful and quiet enjoyment of your property,” he said. “It’s an important issue.”

He also noted that the county is in good shape financially. “Butte County has spent less than it takes in, it lives within its means, and it’s paid down debt. It has a healthy reserve and we do not borrow money to meet our ongoing obligations anymore,” he said.

Merkel went on the offensive immediately, saying the county has deteriorated during Wahl’s term. He pointed to infrastructure in need of work and noted that Butte County is missing out on generating income from a $400 million marijuana industry. “I’m here to create jobs, bring in new businesses,” he said.

When asked about where housing development should occur, Merkel pointed to infill projects. Wahl pointed to the lava-cap foothills outside of District 2 as the ideal spot. As for the Greenline, he said he’s content at this time to leave the ag-land-protecting demarcation where it is, but that he would consider projects to amend it. Merkel, however, called for strict protections. “We do not need to be developing properties on agricultural ground that’s irreplaceable,” he said.

The two mostly remained at odds throughout the forum. For example, Wahl called the Board of Supervisors’ decision to ban fracking in the county as an “emotional response” based on no factual information. He was the lone holdout on that decision. Whereas Merkel supports the prohibition. “It’s a bad practice. … We need to ban fracking now. We need to protect our water,” he said.

Following Wahl and Merkel were incumbent Kirk and challenger Evans. Kirk is looking for a third term representing District 3, the easternmost Chico district, which also includes Forest Ranch and Cohasset. She introduced herself by highlighting her breadth of experience, which includes eight years as a Chico city councilwoman and being a member of the Bidwell Park and Playground Commission before that.

Evans lost a bid for a Chico City Council post in 2010. However, he was appointed a few months later to fill the spot left vacant by Wahl, who unseated longtime Supervisor Jane Dolan. He lost that seat in the 2012 election.

Kirk said her priority is public safety and that maintaining those services requires a healthy budget. She helped to balance the structural deficit the county faced in 2007, she noted.

Evans, a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel, introduced himself as a Midwesterner greatly influenced by his upbringing. He has a degree in economics and two master’s degrees, including an MBA. He touted his experience running Lifetouch, a student portrait photography business, noting his work there also influences how government should run.

Regarding the Greenline, Evans said he doesn’t think minor amendments to the demarcation would open the floodgates to development. He said, however, that he’s not in favor of radical changes. Kirk said there’s a lot of room to grow outside of the county’s prime soil, including in north Chico.

Fracking also came up. Kirk said she supports a prohibition because “there are too many unknowns about it.” Evans agreed that the region’s groundwater needs protection, but he chalked up the ban to being “a political statement.” That’s because he believes no local wells can be fracked, since there’s no shale in the area.

Kirk and Evans both cited water, public safety and marijuana as three of the biggest issues weighing on constituents’ minds. As to the latter, Evans talked about how prevalent pot-smoking is and how harmful it is to health. Kirk said the county needs to live with Proposition 215—the state’s so-called Compassionate Use Act. She’s against the initiative backed by Merkel and is hoping the county can come to a solution that works for everyone.

At one point, each candidate acknowledged the other’s commitment to serving the public.

“Both Maureen and I are trying to do our best for this community,” Evans said. “We’re certainly not in it for the money.”

Kirk concurred: “I actually think Bob and I have a lot in common as far as wanting the best for our county,” she said.