Certain candidates have offered frequent reminders that their campaign is “non-partisan.”

And, it IS important to remember that political party support for a candidate does not apply to the role of the office they seek.

Judgeships, sheriff, city councils, treasurer, assessor-recorder, school board trustees and county Board of Supervisor are all public service roles which are non-partisan.

This important distinction allows voters to select the candidate best qualified for each county position regardless of their individual political party loyalty.

A person with experience together with fresh ideas.

Someone with a clear understanding of the job’s scope.

A person with established contacts and connections in order to form important partnerships, so that Lake County’s government can function better.

Someone with excellent communication skills, and a promise of transparency.

The candidate who pledges to represent the needs and desires of all constituents.

In District 1, this area includes Middletown, and then south to the Napa border, Anderson Springs, Hidden Valley Lake, Lower Lake proper and east along Spruce Grove Road and Jerusalem Valley, and a sliver of south city of Clearlake.

Given this understanding, the clear choice for District 1 Supervisor is John Hess. His campaign slogan says it all: Better together.

Kate Schmidt-Hopper lives in Hidden Valley Lake, California.