The following is a monthly letter written by Mendocino County’s 3rd District Supervisor John Haschak to constituents:
It is an honor and privilege to be elected Chair of the Board. I have been working on changes to the rules of procedure and a code of ethics for the Board. The desired outcome is that the Board communicates clearly and respectfully with each other, staff, and the public and that processes and expectations are transparent to everyone.
We have eliminated abstentions from voting. Supervisors can recuse themselves from an issue if there is a conflict of interest but, other than that, there is no reason not to vote on an issue. Changes will also streamline the meeting process. The goal of meetings should be to make informed decisions based on the known information. This requires both Supervisors and staff to clearly communicate questions/answers that arise from the agenda summaries. If research is needed, this should be done before the meeting so that all are prepared to share their knowledge.
Another change I am implementing is that for the first time the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors is going to have a workshop on critical issues. This will be held on January 14-15. On the first day we will deal with decorum, the code of ethics, communication, the Strategic Plan and the important issues Supervisors see facing their districts and the County. We will also have panel discussions on public safety and homelessness.
Day 2 will focus on the budget and department priorities. Departments that will present will be Transportation, Planning and Building Services, Environmental Health and Human Resources.
My priorities are economic development, creating safer and healthier communities, and making sure that the County’s finances are stable and sustainable.
Some of the boards that I will be on this year are the County Employee Pension Fund, First 5 Mendocino, the Great Redwood Trail Agency, Sonoma Clean Power, and North Coast Resource Partnership. This year, my responsibilities include other boards and commissions along with the normal duties of being Chair of the Board.
I look forward to working for positive changes in the 3rd District and Mendocino County. Positive change happens when we work together. We are a community and we need to support each other.
I am available by email haschakj@mendocinocounty.gov or 707-972-4214.
John
Relieved to see an adult taking the helm!
Haschak is off to a very bad start as chair. Banning abstentions can be challenged in court as unconstitutional and the county will lose. The 1st amendment to the US constitution forbids compelled speech as a matter of free speech. If you’re free to speak you are also free to not speak. If he’s getting this idea with help from county counsel we need a new county counsel . Who is running this county, our board or the CEO? Why is the chair working with the executive office to make a safe place for people to feel comfortable being bad at their jobs? The CEO isn’t elected. This county is a total mess and the government is a joke here. Incompetence rules. 2025 is going to be a rough year.
Looks like John is try to tamp down The Ted Show, which is probably warranted.
Violating someone’s constitutional rights is ok with you?
the rules of the board are not laws
So the way law works is that local rules or policies are not superior to state laws and state laws are not superior to federal laws. The US constitution is considered the supreme law of the land and no local rule can subvert it. What Haschak did -eliminating abstentions- is unconstitutional. Thank you for playing.
A rule requiring members of a county board of supervisors in California to vote on matters unless they recuse themselves due to a conflict of interest is likely constitutional because it aligns with the principles of transparency, accountability, and the duties of public office. California law supports the idea that public officials have a responsibility to represent their constituents by participating in decisions, barring legal or ethical conflicts, such as those outlined in the Political Reform Act. By allowing recusals for conflicts of interest while prohibiting abstentions without a stated reason, the rule ensures that decisions are made openly and fairly while preventing arbitrary or unexplained non-participation. This approach respects constitutional principles, such as due process and equal protection, by preserving the integrity of governance and ensuring supervisors act in the public’s best interest, while still allowing flexibility for ethical or legal disqualifications. Courts have generally upheld similar policies when they promote effective governance and transparency without infringing on fundamental rights.
Geez – thank you! Could we talk about the wine industry in
Mendo County and perhaps the coast vs inland tax revenue allocation…
Happy to talk anytime.
Sally
Violating multiple laws by preventing and blocking public comment off to a smashing start there. Madeline looks like a deer in the headlights. She’s in her smile, nod, look cute and wave era. It is heartbreaking to watch hours of nothing unfold. They speak but nothing truly cones of it. What BIG, GREAT, IMPRESSIVE results has this board yielded last 10 years??? Whole lotta nada. Name it? Last great sups were Handley and Segi though now most of their impressive works are being misused and dismantled as we speak.
Really sad that some of the first votes by new supervisors were unconstitutional. Removing abstentions is totally unconstitutional. They should be ashamed of themselves for being so ignorant just after swearing their oath to uphold the constitution on their first day on the job.