Two Candidate Forums Set for Napa DA, County Assessor, Assembly & Sheriff-Coroner

Two Candidate Forums, presenting to all Napa County voters their choices in the June 3 election, will be held May 14 and May 19 sponsored by Napa Valley CanDo.

NV CanDo is the non-profit, non-partisan all-volunteer organization, dedicated to “easing the path from intention to action.”

The May 14 Candidates Forum will feature the three contenders for the position of District Attorney. They are four-term incumbent Gary Lieberstein and two challengers Thomas Kensok and Doug Pharr.

Kensok, a Napa resident, is Chief Deputy District Attorney in Contra Costa County and is a trustee for the Napa Valley Unified School District.

Pharr, also a Napan, is a former gang prosecutor and is currently a criminal defense attorney in Napa.

The two top winners in June will face off in the November election.

This Forum will be an opportunity to hear and ask questions about the candidates’ conflicting views on what citizens should expect from our criminal justice system.

The May 14 Forum will also present the two candidates for the position of Napa County Assessor-Recorder-Registrar of Voters.

They are John Tuteur, now in his fourth term for this office which combines three functions into one position.  Challenging him is Brian Kelly, an independent businessman, former banker and active community volunteer.

Kelly asserts that the office is “broken” and the election office “dysfunctional.” Tuteur vigorously defends his record. The winner in June receives the position.

Listen to their arguments, ask questions, then form your own opinion.

The MAY 14 Forum will be held at the Napa City/County Library, 580 Coombs St., Napa from 6:45 to 8:45 p.m.

The May 19 Forum presents candidates for the State Assembly District 4 and the position of Napa County Sheriff-Coroner.

The May 19 event will be held at the Unitarian-Universalist Fellowship of the North Bay, 1625 Salvador Avenue, Napa from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.

State Assembly has drawn 5 candidates seeking to replace termed-out Mariko Yamada. If no candidate receives more than 50 percent of the vote, the two top contenders in June compete in the November election.

The race has drawn three Democrats and two Republicans.

Democrats are Napa County Supervisor Bill Dodd, together with Davis Mayor Joe Krovoza and Davis councilmember Dan Wolk.

Republican contenders are Dustin Call, legislative aide, and Charlie Schaupp, retired Marine Officer.

Sheriff-Coroner has two contenders, both familiar with the multiple duties of the office.  They are the current appointed Sheriff John Robertson and the recently-retired Deputy Sheriff Brian Banducci.

 This position supervises the Special Investigation Bureau, plus a S.W.A.T. team, a Bomb Squad and a Dive Team. In addition, the Deputy Coroner responsibilities are carried out by the Sheriff’s Deputies and Coroner Investigators.

Citizens are invited to hear each candidate present his qualifications and beliefs, to ask questions and thus have an informed opinion.

Both events are free and open to the public.