Sonoma County 4th District Supervisor Paul Kelley

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nineties with your host rich McGlinchy. How you doing? Everybody. Welcome to you know we can. In the 90 we're gonna be talking to the newly elected member of this and on the County Board of Supervisors. When you're talking to Paul Kelly and Paul started pulled what

we older folks might say. Harry Truman Many, many years ago, President Truman was sort of the bottom of the totem pole. It wasn't supposed to win the election that wasn't supposed to fare Well. It's like they even published a newspaper in New York saying his opponent,

Mr Dewey, had won the election. But next morning, surprising enough. Mr Truman was still president. Well, Paul Kelly was, I guess, about the third person in the race as far as the original prediction for concern. But lo and behold, as Mr Truman had done, Mr Kelly

came out. The elected supervisor, the Force Detrick dumping his two better known rivals. And he will now serve the fourth District for the next four years. And who knows, follows his predecessor, Nick s Pastilles. It may be a lot more years and that it was nice

to have you here really is a pleasure to baby. Did you first, my first visit with you. Um, Paul, while you were running for election, you told people what you're all about, who you were, what you had done. But you're not gonna be serving the entire

county of Sonoma. And I'm sure the people out an audience do not know that much about you. So how about giving us a bit of a rundown on Paul Kelly? Well, I'd love to, and I appreciate the opportunity. Teoh, talk to the folks out there, the

county and let them see who I am and get a little background as well that that's very important. I grew up here in Sonoma County. I grew up off of all of it, Road, actually, right now in a west side of Santa Rosa. I grew up

out in the country. On day I went to the local schools, went to Pine Earlham, all of Ed Elementary School, and eventually went Teoh Comstock Junior High and graduated from Planner High School in 1981. While I grew up, I had the great opportunity to I spend

a lot of time on the farms and ranches out there. Actually, my father has been teaching at the Santa Rosa Junior College for least 30 years now, but I grew up picking prunes and apples and hanging around on the dairy ranches as well. So it was

a good times a zoo As a youngster, after I graduated from finer high school, I went to the Santa Rosa Junior College, graduated from there and then graduated from San Francisco State University with a degree in computer science and a minor in history. And most people

think that's kind of an interesting combination. But when I first started going to school, I wanted to be a math or a history teacher or both. Those were the types of teachers that inspired me when I was in high school, and so that's what I wanted

to do. And, of course, the early eighties computers were just exploding onto the scene, and that's how I got involved in that. I then spent a year working on a vineyard as a book keeper, slash vineyard assistant and doing everything from keeping the books Teoh pounding

posts and putting in irrigation systems, driving tractor and those types of things. And then I worked for a winery for a period of time, short period of time during crush. Then I spent five years in the computer industry and as a computer programmer installer, a swell

as a trainer and, um, troubleshooter and everything. Everything that you could think of. I used to do, and we installed mainly accounting systems for large, uh, companys, property management companies, construction companies, hotels, diversity of businesses. And then now, for the last year and 1/2 I've been

a schoolteacher. I've had a great opportunity to teach at a private school. Last year, I taught junior high taught math and history, which are obviously my two main areas of study. Um, I love athletics and sports. I've also coached and taught P e. And I always

joke. You know, if you can teach junior high, you could probably do just about anything in this world, but especially with those crazy kids. And then this year I've been teaching 5th 6th and seventh grade math and history, as well as some language in P e

eso. That's kind of brings you up to date on a little bit of history. What what prompted to get into the political race? Well, I ever you know, that obviously being interested in history has always kept me interested in the political world and the scene of

what's going on in the world. And even at a young age, I remember getting involved. My mom sat on the Finer elementary school board for over 10 years. 12 years? I believe so. I mean, my mom, you know, kind of showed me a little bit of

public service. Then I got involved in some sheriff's races around here in Sonoma County, and, um so I've just always been a little bit of wear of that. When I moved to Windsor. I got involved in the incorporation of Windsor on. A lot of people were

looking to become a city in a town, and I said, You know, this is an exciting time. I mean, how often do you get to live in a urban area in which you actually incorporate and create a city and in town and identity as well? And

so I got involved in that. I even ran for town council. I didn't didn't successfully make it on the council, but the main thrust of it was to make sure Inc was successful because I've always felt local control. It would be good. I then I sat

on one of the committees That was a transition from county to city control, the Community Development Advisory Committee. I then always have felt, you know, to get involved in the community and served. And so I helped start the Windsor Quanis Club as well and spent many

hours. I was even the charter secretary for a while. Which inequality is out there? No, that's a That's the biggest job, and I've always been involved in serving and helping the community. And very early this year, some friends came to me and said, you know, would

you be interested in serving us on the board of Supervisors? We looking out at the current a group of, you know, elected officials and those that are running And would you be interested in? And as you've seen, I got involved In a way, we went. It's

been it was a world wind of a campaign. And, you know, now that now that I'm the supervisor and really look forward, Teoh this this year, you know, serving the people this year. Well, one of the things to that I don't wanna be mentioned. I think

there might have been two supervisors that I know of that were a little younger than Paul is 31 years old. He was 30 the night of the elected 31. The next day. I do remember Eric Coney. Chauffeur was about 26 or seven, and I think Briancon

was about 29. 30. But this is one of the three youngest men ever elected to hold this important approached. What about the election recap? Why don't you, uh, run that down a little bit for well, obviously like you mentioned as a as a youngster, Really 100

new newcomer and an underdog. I mean, most people live people in Windsor that knew who I was. But I think that, you know, outside of that small area, you know, we really had to get out and make an impact with people. We knew that name recognition

is a big issue. Getting people to know your name, right? You know, put put some positives with your name. As somebody who grew up in the agricultural industry, my grandfather in law's Robert Young, from Robert Young Vineyards up in Alexander Valley, prominent grape grower. You know,

I had a lot of ends with a lot of the unincorporated areas, especially the agricultural industry. But also the fact that I have a young family. I have a wife. I have three young Children, all under the age of 613 and five right now. And so

I you know, I think that a lot of the new young families who is the one year old who is the one Rachel who was the three Campbell is my side, his Ruth. And who is Mrs Kelly? My wife's name is Becky. Yes, way we've got

to get those people. You bet you want people to know what all of you. I go ahead and you know, obviously, in the in the primary, we had to fight very hard to get ourselves out there. But see what I always approached. It was, if I'm

going to vote for somebody, how would I decide? And what would I want to see? I want to see somebody who's straightforward, as honest as they can be and somebody that I have personal contact with. So I spent a lot of time walking neighborhoods knocking on

doors, standing on the doorstep, interrupting people, washing their cars and their boats to just talk to him for a few minutes. And then I spent a lot of time on the phone talking to people as well, and that was that. Those are the type of people

I want to represent me and those of the type of people that I think we're out there looking for that type of representation. We successfully came in second in the June primary. We finished with 25% of the vote. My opponent finished with 42% of the vote.

I must have heard Ah, many many times that Paul, you don't have a chance. There's no no, no, no chance there. And I appreciate your words about Harry Truman. He's one of my favorite history figures, and another one is Winston Churchill. And he once said, Never

never give up and eso that's what we did and in any type of grassroots or, you know, people contact type of campaign. It takes time. It's a slow build. I can't meet everybody in the district on one day, but I could meet two or 300 people

on a Saturday, a few 100 people on a Tuesday and that slowly builds up. And, um, and I think we saw nationally in that election that people were looking to get control of their government, looking to get people that have a new and kind of a

new face, fresh voice and somebody that I think will listen to people. And that's that's what I really think is what happened here. I think people wanted to see that. I think another thing that your opponents, perhaps forgot, is that in America it seems to be

people like the underdog, if that's a decent person, which you certainly are and, uh I don't know why it czar natural nature. And if they think this person is really capable, they tend to just stroll the odds out the window. And they did your case. Now,

what about the agricultural industry? You do it involved in that? What do you thoughts about all that? Well, the agricultural industry is one of the most important industries within this county. You know, it brings in 1.5 $1,000,000,000 a year into this county, and that underlying financial

base is very important to just about every other thing that happens in this county and industry. And I think that that we really need to make sure that we preserve and protect it. We need to make sure that it's recognized for its value. A someone who

grew up. You know, I could said, picking prunes and apples, and I can say my back is still sore from some of those events. Um, and it's someone who's willing who's worked on a vineyard. I can understand some of the issues in which they are confronted

with, and I think that some of the things that that they need to make sure they don't need government for very much, but they do need them to be responsive, to listen and to give the services that they are asking for. And I think that's that's

very true. And obviously it's good to have them is such a strong base in the election. I think that's something else about the election recap. Having such a strong base of agricultural industry backing me really helped as well, not just being, You know, the nice guy

who's who's got some good ideas. But you know, people. People vote for you when they like you, and they know that you're gonna be responsive to them. One of the things that's kind of been hot potato up your ways. Grab of industry on the Russian River

What? What are your feelings about? Well, I've stated throughout the campaign, and, you know, now into my term a supervisor that the gravel industry is an important industry within Sonoma County. You know, the fourth District. We mentioned agriculture, but it's a very natural, resource rich district,

you know, add gravel, geothermal, So that's very rich in that way. And all economy really starts from natural resource is, and so the gravel industry does provide important resource provides aggregate for not only our housing industry, but also for our schools. You know, we have a

growing population that needs, um, education and needs schools to be built. It provides a local and cheap resource for that. It also provides jobs for those that pull it out that, you know, truck it, crush it and then pour it and build on it, as I

have said and I think that's important, Teoh to make sure that there's also a balance between that and the environment, making sure that we have, um, you know, prison preservation of our of our wonderful recreation resource and water resource is well, you know, it seems to

me, and I'm Nicolas Pastilles. It expounding Just philosophy. Your predecessor live and let live seems to be part of the philosophy here, as you said, it is needed. It does provide a lot of jobs. It needs baby control in some ways. But most assuredly has has

offered a NASA to the county in the employment of many, many, many, many people, right, And I think that needs to be recognised and remembered. I think the other thing that happens a lot in industry as well. And it's something that I brought up many times

throughout the campaign, and that is the whole issue of what this country was built on, and that is private property rights, the rights of individuals to do with their property as they can. Now, that doesn't mean that you do with your property and destroy everybody around

your front, their property value. But, you know, if somebody owns ah piece of land and feels like they want to grow grapes on it, good. If they own their piece of land and they feel like they can, uh, remove gravel from the police, a piece of

land and provide a resource for the county, then I think that that's something that they should be able to do as well. And balancing obviously that making sure they're not affecting the people around them adversely. And it has yet, in my mind to be proven that

the gravel industry adversely effects not only the water table, but also the aquifers. All right, we're gonna pause right here and have the station bring the public a public service announcement, after which Paul Kelly, the newly elected supervisor for the fourth district and one of the

three youngest supervisors we've ever elected and also seemingly one of the most capable. And I will be back. And it's just possible that, uh, his predecessor, Nicolas Pastilles, might join us. He was going to try to be here for a few moments of the program. So

far, we haven't seen him. But maybe in the meantime parlor. I'll be back right after this. She'll be all right. Windows were rolled down and will only be gone a few minutes. They'll be fine in the wild. Cats know how to fend for themselves. Every day

in Sonoma County, precious life becomes the target of neglect, abuse or accident. Fortunately, there are people working to stop the silent suffering of animals, but they can't do it alone. They need your help. Find out what you can dio call the Humane Society of Sonoma County

My e o you like here Tuesday and said he couldn't decide whether you should buy literally around around her legs. Welcome back to this. It is enough. Sonoma County in the nineties are very interesting addition. Certainly for me, I'm meeting and talking with the newly elected

supervisor for the fourth District. Paul Kelly. I'll repeat what I said just before we left. Paul not only is elected to serve with our county and for the next four years, and who knows, maybe many more is one of the three younger supervisors we've ever elected

Sonoma County. Personally, I think that's a great idea, because I think it's high time we have young people serving in government, and I don't think we haven't had enough. And on a superficial level, um, my congratulations to you, First of all, for winning the race ball.

Well, thank you very much, and it's a pleasure to have you on the board. Well, I appreciate that. I think just to jump off a little bit of what you said there about having some youth on the board, I think that's a lot of what the

voters responded to when you consider, especially like we talked about in the first segment about how I have three young Children, you know, and obviously a lot of my decisions are gonna be thinking about some of those those kids and their growing up and my wish

to see them at least have an opportunity to stay and live in Soma County. When they grow up now, they might get a little tired of Dad and want to move out, but hopefully they'll they'll want to stay when they grow up. You know, I we

talked about a lot of, uh, things like that in in the campaign. I look forward now as I'm sitting as a supervisor to really work towards, you know, youth education for youth. You services some One of the things we even talked about. It was about ball

fields for kids. You know, I think that you know too often, we we want to see the youth doing something, and yet we don't give them an opportunity to have something to do. It seems to me that, uh, government should be able to help with with

putting ball fields out there for people you know, we have an open space district you have. You know, there's areas in which there's not currently under any agricultural usage, and I think it's a great opportunity for coming and say, Hey, you know, a ball field is

open space. It's green, it's beautiful, and it also provides a place for kids to go and play. And you know, I've played a lot of organized sports that gave me a sense of value importance, and it also gave me something to keep me off the streets.

Now, when I was growing up, there wasn't as much to do out in the rural areas of West Santa Rosa and, uh, toe get in trouble with. I mean, we usually rode our bikes around and play in the mud, but But this is something that we've

seen Maurin Mawr, that kids like to belong to things. That's why they get involved in gangs. Well, why not belong to a sports team? Why not belong to a league? I think those types of things that you know as a young supervisor is somebody who's been

a coach who's coached, you know, basketball and volleyball and soccer and having young kids. I think it's something that I can help work towards because it's son in my mind. One of the things they did, you know, during Nixon term. I think maybe doing last term

was create a little spot city park out there. But what a beautiful baseball diamond. You go with it, you know? Oh, it's an excellent resource for that area. We need more of those presuming that baseball will get back together. Listen, what about growth in the counties

and the cities in the North Bay? How do you feel about that? Well, I've always felt that growth is an important part of economic development and growth as well, as well as just providing a place for people to live. We talk a lot about affordable housing.

Yeah, I think. I think sometimes we may need to get down to realizing that we just it may not be able to provide all the affordable housing that we want to provide, but we should open the opportunity to have that I mentioned before. I grew up

here in the in the Fourth District and ableto live here. Now a lot of people can't, and I think it's important that toe have growth to ah modicum amount that would allow people to grow up here and also be able to stay and live here too

often. What we've seen, if you cut, are slow down growth or stop growth, then the price inflates of of any type of housing. And when that happens, those that live outside of the county or from the Bay Area that can afford to sell their inflated house

and come up here and buy a house. And eventually it pushes a lot of us that grew up here out. Now the county has grown in the last few years, anywhere from 2 to 3 or 4%. Now that's a good rate of growth, something in which

is manageable. See, I've always felt that that you need to make sure that you plan for your growth, make sure there's infrastructure needs or taking care of not only roads and water and sewer, which air commonly thought of his infrastructure needs, but also schools and parks

and other facilities in which the kids can come play and enjoy. And I think that that type of growth within the county is something that's doable and also an important asset to the county. Um, I have a number of things here, and I'm kind of skipping

around, but make sure we have enough time for these things. Um, public safety. And it's important and impact on Sonoma County, where you're talking about well, we talked about, and it's always talked about today how important public safety is something that I found even in the

campaign that was very eye opening to me. And that is that When I knocked on doors in Windsor, people felt safe enough to come out and talk to me and to discuss things and toe, interrupt them, washing the car. They would come and talk. When I

knocked on doors in Santa Rosa, it wasn't as much so it wasn't as open. There weren't as friendly at times because there seems to be a little more, you know, fear of, of, of who's, you know, they don't know at the door. And I think that

there's two things. One. There's fear about who's at the door. But also I think there's a you know, a large city, small city type of thing, too. I think you know the large. The smaller cities like Windsor and Healdsburg and Cloverdale still have that, you know,

small hometown feel to it, and people like to talk and get out and discuss with people. But I think that also ties into what I talked about earlier, and that is about, you know, preventing um things before they happen. You, you know, we talk about gangs

we talk about the problems, we talk about re separatism. We're talking about people that continue to be a part of the system and go back to jail so much. And yet what is it that we do before they ever get there? And I think that that's

part of my desire to see at least some movement in the area of providing things for you. Windsor's a growing town. How much is there for used to do? Well, not that much right now. Great granite. You know, my predecessor, Mr Spots, is an excellent job

of bringing some parks in there and there are used to their utmost. Oh, yeah, But we also I think, need to bring in, you know, Boys and Girls Club. It's the fourth largest city in, uh in Sonoma County now, and it also could serve areas like

Mark West and Lark field areas to for used to have something to go to. We have a great boys and girls club in Healdsburg. Many of us grew up playing basketball or our softball or baseball or little league in some of those type of areas, you

know, and I think that that's important to provide that. And that gives us the prevention for public. Say yes, indeed. You know, the old cliche of announcing prevention is worth a pound of cure in Absolutely, it is true. And it's been true. You just said the

games or the problem for juncture. It goes back to what was done before. Who? Who did the prevention? Nobody, apparently. Right? Uh oh, I think, too, that not only the prevention, but also taking responsibility, I think to in society today we need to make sure that

responsibility is taken for actions. Uh, not 3.5 minutes left tours the airport as an important asset in Sonoma County. How do you feel about that? Well, I think that the airport is a very important asset to our county. I mean, we talk about the great industries

that we have here, the agricultural industry, that geothermal. But we also have ah burgeoning growth in the computer industry and high tech industries within Sonoma County, and that provides a great resource in our jobs. And it provides a great opportunity for us to have clean jobs,

clean industries, but also, you know, some high paying in good jobs and the airport provides a very important asset to that. I know I met. You know, I've met with David Andrews, who's the director of the airport out there. He doesn't excellent job managing that expat

facility, and your Hewlett Packard flies people in and out of there at least three or four times a week. Data three systems does the same. We have Federal Express. You know, a lot of a lot of good industries are going to use that and use that

as a tool to bring in those type of computer companies. It's very important, and I think it's, Ah, it's good for all of us. Uh, being a senior citizen, probably never get that. Ah, uh, like, see your youth at heart. Thank you. That my wife Are

you watching a Senior Services Council on Aging? What are your thoughts about the I've had the great opportunity in last year for 94 for a period of time to sit on the Board of Council on Aging, which is a Countywide service. Teoh senior citizens and I

think it's in a very important aspect to our community. I think too often it's for gotten how much we need Teoh. Serve the people that have served us in the past a little. That is my own upbringing. My mom and dad always taught me to, you

know, honor your senior citizens and to respect what they have to say because of their wisdom is so important. And so I've always felt a real need to give back to them. One of the things I had the opportunity to need to do is a youth

was to go to rest homes and with a group and sing to people. And I think that providing meals, providing transportation, providing entertainment is something that's very important for our senior citizens. Because it will benefit all of us in the community, not only myself as a

youngster, because I think I'm benefited by by being with those people, but everybody as well. Uh, I don't know you, but I would like to come in Mr and Mrs Kelly for the job. You did it pretty obvious. Uh, that's about all the time we've got

pulled. But I tell you what I would like very much. You're you're in office now is the fourth district supervisor, and we'll say after about six months I wish you'd come back and tell us what this is for. Six months have been like and see if

it's as you thought it would be. And if you're able to move in the direction you hoped you would Well, I would love to do. And I look forward to it. And I look forward to working with everybody in the county as well as all the

employees as well as all the citizens of the count. My money. Thank you very much for your taking the time to come down. Paul, talk with us, and I most definitely will. We've been an invitation for you to come back in about six months before ladies

and gentlemen, we're talking to Paul Kelly. The newly elected supervisor forced it to comrade McGlinchey programs and only counting the night. I'll be with you next week. Another member of county government family related agency. Your interesting individual until that. Tonight. Good luck. Good hill. You know,

everyone