Mattos joins in race for supervisor

By Eiji Yamashita
eyamashita@HanfordSentinel.com

Up until last week, two candidates were ready to vie for a supervisor's seat representing east Kings County.

Make it three.

Andrew Mattos -- a former Hanford planning commissioner and a vocal advocate of open-space preservation and environment -- has joined the race at the last minute, confirming a widespread rumor.

The nomination period for supervisor races closed last Friday. Mattos filed his nomination paper right on the filing deadline with the Kings County Elections Office.

"I believe a supervisor should work to preserve and protect open space and farmland, to promote more public participation in decisions affecting our citizens and to ensure that Kings County is able to provide its citizens public safety and other essential services in the most timely and efficient manner," Mattos said in a statement announcing his candidacy.

"As your supervisor, these principles will guide my decision-making."

Mattos, a county employee working as records and microfilm supervisor, is one of two challengers seeking to unseat three-time incumbent Alene Taylor, who seeks re-election to her fourth term as a supervisor.

The other challenger, Richard Fagundes, an east Hanford farmer and a political novice, filed for candidacy two weeks ago.

Each candidate's priorities appear to differ dramatically from others'.

Fagundes is most concerned about informing the public beforehand about money decisions being made. He said he makes no campaign promises.

Taylor said she is running again because she was encouraged by her constituents to do so. The incumbent touts her experience while describing her priority as improving mental health care and prevention of drug addiction in the county.

So far, Mattos seems to be the most organized to relay his campaign platform to the public.

On Thursday, he issued a press release delineating his priorities.

Among these priorities: land preservation and environmental protection; better retention of public safety personnel through "honest, fair and frank negotiations"; promotion of open government by making meetings more accessible to the public; pursuing all available state and federal funds to build a local budget, as well as improving services for seniors, children, the disabled and crime victims.

Mattos, who served as a planning commissioner for Hanford between 1999 and 2002, has played a government watchdog role along with his wife Robin, frequently raising concerns with west Hanford developments.

The reporter can be reached at 583-2429.

(March 18, 2008)

Incumbent faces two challengers

Kings County supervisor is seeking a fourth 4-year term on the board.

By Susie Pakoua Vang / The Fresno Bee

05/17/08 23:24:45

 

HANFORD -- Kings County Supervisor Alene Taylor is hoping for a fourth term on the board, but she will have to vie with a farmer and the county's records manager in the June 3 primary.

For the past 12 years, Taylor has represented about 22,000 residents in District 5, which includes most of Hanford. She, along with four supervisors, manages the county's annual $223 million budget.

"I got into this to serve my community," she said. "I think I'm good at it and I'm not ready to quit."

Challenging Taylor are longtime Kings County residents Richard Fagundes, who has worked as a foreman on a Tulare County ranch for the past 32 years, and Andrew Mattos, the county's records manager who oversees the preservation of court documents, building permits and maps dating as far back as 1891.

Fagundes said he never has held an elected position, but he is confident he can address the concerns of folks in his district, where he was born. His priorities are keeping a balanced budget and providing public safety.

"I'd like to be the voice for this district," he said. "If someone has problems, bring it forth."

A regular at Portuguese celebrations and often the cook of traditional dishes, Fagundes said he wants to make sure residents know about issues in the community.

"When there's money involved ... I believe people need to know where their money is going," he said.

Fagundes said he is thankful for his health and ability to serve, if given the opportunity. "I don't feel that I'm any better than [the other candidates], but I know that if I get in there, I will do 100% plus for the district," he said.

Mattos is selling himself as a "new vision."

"I'm bringing a fresh perspective to the position," said Mattos, chairman of a statewide association of professional records managers from 35 counties. "I want to restore hope to people that they can find solutions in their county government."

A member of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Mattos said he is concerned with the amount of open space and farmland being taken up by development, as well as staffing of the county's fire and sheriff's departments.

"We've got a horrendous turnover rate," he said. "I'm hoping to improve the staffing levels at our fire stations and increase the retention of our deputies."

Another priority is providing more resources for seniors and those with special needs. Last year, he helped start a recycling program that produced jobs for adults with special needs. Prior to the program, the county was sending confidential county documents to Fresno for shredding, giving Fresno credit from the state for recycling.

"When I talked about recouping state dollars and bringing them back to Kings County, this is a classic example," he said.

Taylor said that what sets her apart from her challengers is experience. During her tenure on the board, she said she has forged good relationships with local, state and federal contacts.

She noted the widening project on Highway 198, between Hanford and Highway 198, as one of her greatest accomplishments. For about 20 years, the project sat idle because there wasn't enough funding. Taylor said that she, along with other politicians and community leaders, were able to find enough state funding for the $126 million project. Roadwork is scheduled to begin next year.

"We pay taxes, too, and yet we didn't feel like the state was taking our needs seriously," she said. Taylor said her work isn't over. She wants to provide further direction for the second phase of the new jail. The county just received $30 million in state funding for the project, which would provide more inmate beds to ease crowding. Taylor said she also wants to work on a re-entry facility in Coalinga, a partnership between the city and Kings County to allow prison inmates to transition into society by offering services such as counseling and job placement.

"It's a big, exciting frontier that we're looking at now," she said, "and that's what I want to be a part of."

More information

Who they are

*Richard Fagundes

Age: 66

Occupation: Ranch foreman

Political experience: None, but active member of Portuguese community

Education: Hanford High School graduate

Family: Married with seven children, 11 grandchildren and one great-grandchild

Web site: None listed

*Andrew Mattos

Age: 49

Political experience: Chairman of the statewide County Record Managers Association of California since 2003; former Hanford city planning commissioner and member of 2002 general plan update committee

Education: Military training from U.S. Coast Guard. Attended West Hills College and College of the Sequoias

Family: Married, one daughter

Occupation: Records management

Web site: www.votemattos.com

*Alene Taylor

Age: 59

Occupation: Incumbent supervisor, farmer

Political experience: Three terms as District 5 supervisor

Education: Hanford High graduate, attended College of the Sequoias

Family: Married with four children and three grandchildren

Web site: None listed

Answers on three topics

*Generating jobs

Fagundes: I would begin looking at the county and city planning departments. It is very difficult to come to this county to start a business. Growth in Kings County is very slow compared to neighboring counties.

Mattos: Small business is the key to creating new jobs in our county. We need to make our county friendlier to entrepreneurs wanting to start their own businesses.

Taylor: It is difficult to generate more jobs in California. Our best bet has always been to build on what we have. Agriculture and ag-related business and expansion of the Lemoore Naval Air Station are key job creators.

*Brain drain

Fagundes: First, they will need a job to attract them back to the county and with our restrictions for new businesses coming to the county, it is very unattractive to come here to get employment.

Mattos: By making it easier for existing employers to expand and becoming friendlier for startup small business, we can grow the availability and diversity of jobs in our county.

Taylor: UC Merced will go a long way toward helping with this problem. Our kids can go to a top institution without driving far from home.

*Budgeting

Fagundes: Currently, supervisors are given a generous car allowance. The request for this cut would be my first priority.

Mattos: Generally speaking, hiring freezes, deferred purchases of new equipment, dipping into reserve funds or figuring out a new cheaper way of providing required services are the preferred methods of getting through tough budget times.

Taylor: Cutting services is not an option. Charging higher fees is an option based on our cost to deliver a service. Taxes are established by the Legislature or the voting public, not the county.