I have been reading letters lately that show support for the reelection of our current District 5 supervisor. I would like to offer a unique perspective, as someone who served in that position for 20 years. Much of what has been stated is just political blah blah, and most voters are familiar with the disingenuous political tactic of taking credit for the hard work of others.

Supporters of the status quo speak of the relationships with state and federal officials that are essential for this position, and while it is true that those relationships are important, they would not suddenly vanish if Boone Bridges were elected.

I have worked closely with all of those state and federal officials, and I have found them to be very responsive when the right questions are asked. I am absolutely certain that these officials would continue to be supportive of Lake County regardless of who wins the election.

I’ve watched the incumbent take credit for grant funding when she should be giving credit to the hard-working employees, department heads and outside nonprofit agencies that requested those grant funds long before she ever took office. Not one single grant has been applied for by our current District 5 supervisor.

Supporters of the status quo speak of her “valued” experience and I am puzzled by the illusion of that experience. Four years ago, her experience as a volunteer at the elementary school garden somehow seemed to be enough.

For good or bad, the job of county supervisor is the only managerial type job in the county that requires no formal education or experience. What it reasonably requires is common sense and the intestinal fortitude to ask the tough questions about where and how taxpayer money is being spent.

The job requires a strong willed person who will hold the county administrator accountable and not rubber stamp every “free cheese” project that comes along and then rubber stamp a 40% pay raise as a payoff for that blind loyalty.

I am unable to find one instance of the incumbent standing in opposition to any project recommended by the county administrator. I can assure you that millions of dollars have been thrown away and wasted during her years in office.

I have spoken with Boone Bridges and have listened to his vision, as someone who has lived in Lake County his entire life. He has worked hard to build and sustain a business while raising a family and he should be given credit for that above all else.

I am equally impressed with the things that he will NOT do and those things put him in sharp contrast to the incumbent.

He has vowed NOT to give himself a 40% pay increase. He has vowed NOT to reward the fiscal incompetence of political supporters, such as the self-serving director of Kelseyville Senior Center Inc., by giving them taxpayer funds without accountability.

He has made it clear that he will NOT ignore the major issue of widespread cancellation of homeowners insurance.

He has promised NOT to divert millions of dollars from a countywide road budget and away from badly needed road repairs, only to use them to rebuild and repave the roads in his own immediate neighborhood.

These are just a few of the things that I have observed over the last three years and it’s time for it to stop.

Boone Bridges is a good person with common sense and will work hard for District 5 and Lake County.

He understands the requirements for this job include more than handing out proclamations, attending political pasta feeds and jumping at social media photo opportunities.

This is why I will be voting for Boone Bridges for district 5 Supervisor, he has the right experience.

Rob Brown is the former supervisor for District 5. He lives in Kelseyville, California.