Letters: In support of Chesbro, Dodd and Measure A

As past president of the Redwood Coast Regional Board of Directors and the statewide past president of the Association of Regional Center Agencies, I have enjoyed the privilege of working with and on behalf of over 216,000 developmentally disabled infants, children, and adults including a budget of $3.6 billion. This opportunity has given me a better understanding of the needs of our communities, families, and supporting agencies. In this election, there are critical issues on the ballot affecting our local community as a whole.

First, I encourage you to vote for Wes Chesbro as our representative in the state Assembly. As our state senator, Wes Chesbro was our leader on behalf of the developmentally disabled and others with special needs. Consistently, Wes Chesbro advanced and protected gains made on behalf of the most vulnerable citizens of our state. The governor is considering additional cuts to resources supporting our families. Continuing reductions will push many families over the edge. We need Chesbro's voice in the legislature to prevent further erosion in our resources.

Second, I am supporting Mark Dodd as our representative for School Board. I believe we have an opportunity to change the dynamics between the school board, administration and our community with Mark Dodd as a member of the School Board.

In the past, I have reached out to the other two candidates through meetings with the school district. I personally asked one candidate to meet with the president of the Redwood Coast Regional Center in an effort to gain a better understanding of the realities facing our families and to open a meaningful dialogue with our community. To date there has been no contact. I have had an opportunity to know Mark Dodd. He is approachable, friendly and a respectful person. Mark Dodd will be a breath of fresh air on the school board.

Finally, I am asking you to support Measure A. As new advances are made in adaptive devices that assist developmentally disabled children, we need a school infrastructure that can support all types of learning devices. Improvements to the existing physical school structures will benefit all citizens with disabilities, including our children. The health and safety of all children is a critical necessity. Measure A is a first step to upgrading our facilities and enhancing the education experience for all children.

Steven V. Perez

Crescent City