WINNEMUCCA — The field of candidates vying for the open seat on the Humboldt County Board of Commissioners increased in the final days of filing with John Arant, Rich Brown, and Marshall Keller joining Mel Hummel, Jim French, and Bill Douglas in seeking Seat E.  All six are Republicans, there were no Democrats seeking the seat, so the two top vote getters after the June Republican primary will proceed to the general election.

John Arant pointed to the many challenges the Board of Commissioners may face over the next few years as the reason he decided to seek Seat E.  While the county is cash positive right now, he noted, that might change depending on the choices made by the commissioners and state government.  Arant noted his business  successes as contributing a positive perspective to the five-member board. The successes included taking The Martin Hotel from a business that was struggling to one that was thriving. In addition, his previous experience involved government contracts at the state and federal level – experience he feels would give the board an advantage in contract negotiations.  Arant said growth is very important to Humboldt County and commented, “Even though times are tough, we need to make sure we attract the right kinds of new businesses.  I can help with that.”  However, the growth has to be planned carefully and balanced to protect the environment. On the issue of the proposed Jungo Rd. landfill he said, “I don’t think anyone in the county wants California garbage here, but there has to be respect for the process.”  It may be, he said, the whole issue will be resolved by the election. 

Rich Brown pointed to his many years on the Regional Planning Commission as giving him the experience needed for the Board of Commissioners. This experience would allow him to start immediately, with little learning curve, because he already knows the functions of the board and the ordinances.  He added how important is was for commissioners to know the laws – such as the ones governing open meetings – to avoid dragging the county into expensive lawsuits.   But more importantly, his years on the RPC have taught him to work as a team member and to listen carefully and with an open mind to what the other board members and the public have to say.  Brown’s primary issue is growing the local economy in a sustainable way, which will require bringing in new businesses and industry.  He said while the county commission has run a tight ship, the budget needs to be reviewed carefully. As an example he pointed to the TV tax, which was supposed to go towards providing television for local residents, but needs to be reviewed.  He said if there’s money left over it should go back to the citizens, or perhaps to infrastructure, maybe the tax needs to be reduced, but it should not end up in the general fund.

Marshall Keller is a geologist with Newmont who lives with his wife and two little daughters in the southern half of Grass Valley.  He said he decided to run for the Board of Commissioners because of concerns in that area of the county that are not being appropriately addressed.  He pointed to what appeared, at least to him, as haphazard planning and zoning in Grass Valley, which has created water issues as more and more property owners have been allowed to subdivide.  On the county-wide issues Keller said it appeared as though there needed to be more transparency in local government and pointed to the proposed Jungo Rd. landfill as an example.  In addition, his understanding of BLM issues – especially those involving water and grazing – would lend themselves well to interactions between the local and federal government. Keller ranches part-time and said more grazing would impact the county in a positive way because of the reduction of wildland fires.  Keller is also a veteran and serves in the Navy Reserves.

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 Candidate filings continue