Senior News April, 2002 Vol. 21. No.  4

 

Published by the Humboldt Senior Resource Center in Eureka, California. HSRC is a non-profit community-based organization offering services for senior citizens, multi-generational families and caregivers.

Elderhostel: April program features familiar "house mother"

Commission on Aging to convene rural meeting in Eureka

CSL Election: Attend a forum and vote for your candidate

Senior News: Ad manager says "so long"

Volunteer outreach: Gail Gai has connected people for 25 years

Why I love to volunteer

Through Friday April 12: Tax preparation assistance

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CSL Election
Attend a forum and vote for your candidate
by Chris Martinek

Four individuals are vying for the two local positions on the California Senior Legislature (CSL). Established in 1981, the CSL is a grassroots way of ensuring senior citizen input into the legislative process. CSL elections are coordinated by California's Area Agencies on Aging.

Locally the CSL election will take place the last week in April. The AAA Advisory Council has determined that the 2002 election will be held using the "forum method." Candidate forums will occur at three Humboldt County locations and one in Del Norte County.

The purpose of the forums will be to allow the voting audience to hear the candidate's views prior to completing a ballot. The AAA is partnering with senior centers to host the candidate forums. Those wanting to vote in the local CSL election must attend one of the four forums.
Candidate forums will be held as follows:

* April 29, Monday, 1:30 p.m. at the McKinleyville Senior Center
* April 30, Tuesday 1:30 p.m. at the Humboldt Senior Resource Center, Eureka
* May 1, Wednesday 12:45 p.m. at the Del Norte Senior Center, Crescent City
* May 2, Thursday, 1:15 p.m. at the Healy Senior Center, Redway

The nonpartisan California Senior Legislature is composed of 40 senators and 120 assembly members. Humboldt and Del Norte counties are entitled to one senator and one assembly member.

Mary Dennison and James Garvey are competing for the Senior Senator position. Seeking the Senior Assembly Member position are Thea Gast and Jerry McCrea. The candidates' prepared statements follow.

Dennison, a Eureka resident said in her candidate statement, "I am the incumbent Senior Senator. I have served two consecutive terms in CSL. I have authored four proposals, all of which have passed both houses of the CSL general sessions. I have made periodic visits to my constituency in this large diverse rural Planning and Service Area, listening to their many needs and sharing current legislative action. I have the time, knowledge, energy, commitment, empathy, and both health care and legislative experience to be an effective advocate."

Challenging Dennison is Garvey, a resident of Rio Dell. His candidate statement reads, "As a candidate for Senator in the California Senior Legislature I will be committed in trying to lower the cost for pharmaceutical medications for senior citizens and finding low cost adequate housing for seniors."

Gast, the incumbant, a resident of Arcata, said in her candidate statement "After careful consideration, I've decided that the Senior Legislature is where I would like to continue to put my efforts to make a difference. I have enjoyed meeting new people, working together with several groups and advocating for seniors. Affordable housing, long-term care, nursing homes, health care, exercise, nutrition and transportation are some of the important issues affecting seniors which I would like to address. I would be pleased to serve a second term."

Challenging Gast is McCrea of Eureka. His candidate statement reads, "With more than 30 years of sales, sales management, marketing management, national account and personnel experience, I bring the skills to develop relationships, listen, organize and sell. Health care would be a natural area for me to focus on since my career was primarily in the medical industry, and additionally my wife is a health care administrator. However, most importantly, I would listen to constituents to identify their predominant issues and needs for attention."
The AAA encourages all eligible voters to attend a candidate forum in their area and vote. Eligible voters must be age 60 or older on the day of the forum, live in Humboldt or Del Norte counties, be a registered voter and have listened to the entire forum.

Chris Martinek is Election Coordinator for the Area Agency on Aging. For more information call her at 707-442-3763. Her e-mail is planner@a1aa.org.