The Placer County Board of Supervisors District 5 race heated up through the summer, with candidate Jennifer Montgomery raising more money in the last filing period than incumbent Bruce Kranz.
Montgomery raised $51,099 from May 19 to June 30 primarily from individuals giving between $100 to $300 while Kranz collected $41,060 during the same time period.
Kranz leads overall in campaign contributions, with a three-year fundraising total of $264,618 compared to Montgomery’s contributions of $142,093 that she raised since January 2007.
Recently former candidate Bob Houston, who ran for the Placer County District seat and lost in the primary, endorsed Montgomery. Houston had 22 percent of the primary vote, while Montgomery received 41 percent and Kranz 37 percent.
Kranz and Montgomery met for a candidate forum in Truckee on Tuesday October 7. TTCTV Channel 24 will rebroadcast this forum on October 12, beginning at noon. Kranz and Montgomery will also participate in two other forums: Wednesday October 15, North Tahoe Conference Center, Kings Beach 5:30 to 9 p.m. and Wednesday October 22, Old Middle School, Colfax (time TBA).
Kranz vs. Montgomery: Where They Stand
Economy in the Lake Tahoe Basin
Kranz believes that the Tahoe area economy needs to be diversified with environmentally friendly enterprises, including biomass energy produced by the woody waste of fuel loads reduced by the maintenance of defensible space. According to Kranz, he has ‘fought for friendly fees, taxes and regulations for small business such as restaurants, wineries, bushwhackers and snowplowers.’ Kranz said he has worked to bring broadband coverage to the Tahoe region by encouraging broadband suppliers to include the west shore in their market. Kranz says that 75 percent of the west shore has broadband capability, and he is also instrumental in hooking up the county libraries broadband capabilities.
Montgomery believes that the community must have a voice in order to stem the tide of retail franchises, tourists and second home- owners. Permanent dollars from permanent residents are permanent, not seasonal. Montgomery believes that reliable high speed Internet will encourage new full-time residents to make this area home, allowing them to telecommute.
Development of the Tahoe Bain
Kranz believes that private property owners have a right to develop their land in accordance with their original entitlements, zoning, etc. He tells all developers and all interested parties in all proposed projects exactly the same thing. Get together, work together, try to solve problems and avoid lawsuits.
Montgomery believes that overdevelopment threatens to destroy the very things that bring people here and will undermine the area’s economic viability and way of life. She is concerned about fractional ownership that is included in many of the Tahoe development plans, believing that single-family ownership invests more into the community.
The Role of the Placer County Supervisor in the Tahoe Basin area
Kranz says that he is accessible by working 10-14 hour days and traveling tens of thousands of miles, by attending Municipal Advisory Council (MACs) meetings, Kranz Coffee Klatches, working on the TRPA, and through my full time Field Representative. Kranz believes that he is perhaps the most accessible Supervisor in Placer history to Tahoe concerns.
Montgomery wants to represent the constituents to the county, not represent the county to the constituents. One issue that concerns Montgomery is that some of the Placer County buildings are moving further west, including the New County Jail and the Justice Center. She wants to see the ‘bottom line’ of property tax/sales tax dollars from the Tahoe basin area – get the facts on hard numbers – how the money is coming in and going out of the area.
Transportation Needs in the Tahoe Basin
Kranz said that he chose the 4-lane alternative in Kings Beach because traffic and public safety agencies said it was the best to keep traffic moving safely. Kranz says that he has worked to improve snow removal by getting new equipment and storing it close by the area. Kranz supports major repairs tot the Interstate 80’s washboard surface. Kranz says that he has supported expansion of public transit where passenger demand warranted it on appropriate routes.
Montgomery has endorsed the Kings Beach three-lane with roundabout proposal, and believes that the county will need to address current issues such as traffic calming. Montgomery believes that the Transit Center in Tahoe City is a great project, but would like to see CalTrans complete the Highway 89/89 bypass completed first. She believes in private/public partnerships in developing a comprehensive regional transportation plan. Montgomery would like resorts to ‘step up more’ for employee transportation. She also supports buses and vans that hold more capacity for bikes.
Policy on Campaign Contributions
Kranz does not conduct background checks on contributors. He accepts contributions from anyone who is not a ‘known malefactor.’ Kranz reserves the right to exercise his judgment on the merits of the situation and vote his conscience, sometimes against a contributor.
Montgomery does not take campaign contributions from ‘big’ developers. She believes that as Placer County Supervisor, she will represent individuals, not just big developers.
How Does the Money Flow? (see chart)
Kranz’s Top 10 Donors:
1. Royal Gorge, LLC, $25,000
2. Squaw Valley Ski Corporation, $10,000
3. Placer Vineyards Property Owners, $10,000
4. JR Conkey – Conkey Real Estate LLC, $6,000
5. East-West Partners, Tahoe Inc, $5,000
6. Homewood Resort LLC, $5,000
7. Alpine Sierra Ventures, $5,000
8. Roger Whittenberg, CEO Boulder Bay, $5,000
9. James Regas, Attorney, $5,000
10. Carole McNeil, Owner McNeil Capital, $5,000
(January 2006 to June 2008)
Montgomery’s Top 10 Donors:
1. Nancy Moyer, retired: $11,000
2. Placer Public Employee PAC: $7,000
3. Peter Cornell, retired: $6,000
4. William Newsom, retired: $5,000
5. Jody Thomspon, retired: $5,000
6. VOICE (PAC): $4,000
7. Victor Hough, physician: $2,500
8. Alex Mourelatos, Mourelatos Resort: $2,000
9. James Thompson, retired $2,000
10. Charles Montgomery, Innkeeper Taos NM and Woosong Language Institute, $2,000
(January 2007 to June 2008)
