A very informative and enjoyable evening was held Wednesday at the Cottonwood, CA Town Hall Meeting, hosted by Supervisor Les Baugh. Les, and the Community Committee, chaired by Mary O'Keefe, the Director of the Community Center, had an excellent line up of panelists to deal with many issues and items of interest facing the residents of the South County of  Shasta County. The panel included Shasta County Admin Officer Larry Lees, Sheriff Tom Bosenko, County DA Jerry Benito, County Resources Director Russ Mull, County Public Works Director Pat Minturn, Dan LIttle and Phil Baker from CALTRANS, and Cottonwood Fire Chief Jim Flaherty.

The topics ranged from public safety to subdivisions, from downtown traffic to developments in the planning stage, and from Gas Point Road congestion to expanding the lanes on Interstate 5 into Redding. In addition to the "purely local" concerns, the panel addressed more far reaching questions, such as the status of the local and state economy and how that situation will impact Shasta County. Discussion was held on current public works projects for the south county, and many expressed interest in more parks in this section of the county.

The audience of 150 were encouraged to write down their questions and Supervisor Baugh received them and distributed each question to the panel member that was involved in that issue. And, Baugh also had a number of questions addressed to him that he handled very well.

I was there to ask some questions and observe, for as a candidate for the County Assessor-Recorder office in 2010, I think it is crucial that I become as aware of community concerns and issues as I possibly can. What I found in this Town Hall was a very interested and informed group of citizens that all want to make Cottonwood one of the very best rural residential areas in which to live. Their issues and questions were well presented and received.

This is democracy in action, and it was very encouraging, for even in these difficult economic times, citizens want to do their part to "make things better" knowing that the economy will turn around and when it does, they want to be prepared for the future by planning and considering future issues now.

 Hats off to the organizers; to Supervisor Les Baugh; and to all of the participants, for together they all made it a great night. If the various Teaparty organizations want to see how "citizens participate in local government", just take a look at Cottonwood, CA....a small ranching and farming community in Northern California where the quality of life is about "as good as it can get"....and where the "citizens have a voice and are heard".

I sure am glad I went to the meeting...well worth it, and a refreshing moment in a busy week.

Ron Largent - Candidate for Shasta County Assessor-Recorder     www.largent2010.com