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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – County officials have confirmed that a recently implemented state prison early release program has resulted in three COVID-19 positive inmates being returned to Lake County.

Lake County Public Health Officer Dr. Gary Pace on Thursday confirmed the release of the three inmates to Lake County from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

“They were not released to jail, but into the community,” Sheriff Brian Martin told Lake County News.

In response to a COVID-19 outbreak across the state prison system, CDCR said it was implementing a community supervision program meant to increase capacity and space to help with inmate movement, physical distancing and isolation efforts.

The program releases eligible inmates who have 180 days or less to serve on their sentences and are not currently serving time for domestic violence, or a violent or serious crime as defined by law, or are a person required to register as a sex offender, CDCR reported.

The program began on July 1.

CDCR said inmates set for release are offered testing for COVID-19 within seven days of their anticipated release.

“For those who test positive, CDCR will work with state and local public health and law enforcement officials to find housing where the incarcerated person can be safely isolated and monitored,” the agency said.

Inmates who are released are given five reusable cloth barrier masks provided by the department with appropriate precautionary measures taken during transportation.

As of Thursday night, CDCR reported that there were approximately 5,747 state prison inmates with COVID-19, of which 2,269 were active, 3,324 were resolved and 31 have died.

CDCR’s COVID-19 dashboard also noted that 123 inmates with active COVID-19 infection were released.

Pace said that all three inmates received by Lake County were COVID-19 positive. However, at the same time, he said two of the individuals had completed their isolation prior to CDCR release and the other was released into the community prior to completing the self-isolation protocol. That third individual’s isolation period has now been completed.

“These three cases are attributed to the county where the correctional facility that previously housed these inmates is located. To avoid double-counting, they are not added to Lake County’s totals,” Pace said.

“Contact with these people has been minimal due to various logistical problems. These miscommunications carry risk to public health, and meetings are ongoing with CDCR officials to ensure more effective communication in the future,” said Pace.

Sheriff Martin said the names of the three individuals are confidential but the sheriff’s office has them flagged in its system in the event law enforcement or the Probation Department comes in contact with them.

Martin said his office received prior notification of early releases from CDCR but the medical information is only shared with Public Health.

“Public Health now shares it with us when they get the information,” he said.

That’s different from what occurred earlier this year, when CDCR had similarly implemented an early release program that resulted in a COVID-19 positive male prisoner from the California Institution for Men in Chino being released back to Lake County on April 6, as Lake County News has reported.

Public Health had been notified but didn’t inform the sheriff’s office until Martin pressed Pace on whether any inmates set for early release had tested positive for the virus.

“I’m not too happy about the practice of early releasing prisoners, particularly COVID-positive ones,” Martin said.

Adding to the frustration for Martin is the fact that the state has stopped accepting people from county jails who are sentenced to prison, such as Alan Ashmore, the Clearlake Oaks man sentenced on Tuesday to 140 years in prison for an October 2017 shooting spree that killed two people and wounded two others.

It’s not just Ashmore who is awaiting transfer to the state prison system. Lt. Corey Paulich told Lake County News that 18 inmates at the Lake County Jail are waiting to be transported to CDCR.

CDCR said that, between the suspension of county jail intake as well as the expedited parole of approximately 3,500 incarcerated persons in April, it has reduced the incarcerated population by more than 8,000 since mid-March.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
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The former Bank of America branch building in Lakeport, California, was named the City of Lakeport Silveira Community Center in honor of retiring Lakeport City Manager Margaret Silveira at a Lakeport City Council meeting on Tuesday, July 7, 2020. The building features a mural completed following the donation of the building to the city and one of several murals that now grace downtown Lakeport. Photo by Elizabeth Larson/Lake County News.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – As Lakeport City Manager Margaret Silveira enters her final weeks on the job, the city council on Tuesday took action to give her a lasting honor.

In a unanimous vote, the council honored Silveira by naming the community center building – which she had worked more than a year to acquire for the city – in her honor.

Silveira, who has been Lakeport’s city manager for 10 years, will retire as of July 31. On Tuesday night, ahead of the community center naming discussion, the council approved the final contract with Silveira’s successor, Assistant City Manager Kevin Ingram.

At the council’s June 16 meeting, Councilmember Stacey Mattina had asked that a proposal for renaming the new community center be brought back for consideration and her colleagues agreed.

The community center, located at 500 N. Main St., formerly served as the Bank of America building.

In late 2017, the company announced it was planning to close the branch. Following the announcement, Administrative Services Director Kelly Buendia said Silveira went to work to try to secure the donation of the building from Bank of America.

Silveira’s diligence paid off, with the company agreeing. The council passed a resolution at its meeting on Jan. 15, 2019, to accept the property and held a ribbon-cutting ceremony and celebration on June 7, 2019.

Buendia offered a menu of potential naming ideas provided by staff: Silveira Center, Silveira Event Center, or SEC; City of Lakeport Silveira Center; Silveira Community Center of Lakeport; Silveira Training And Recreation Center, or STAR Center; Margaret Silveira Community Center; and Margaret Silveira Center.

“If it weren’t for Margaret, we would not have a community center,” said Mattina.

Silveira spent countless hours trying to find the right person in Bank of America to get the building donation approved, Mattina said. “She kept going until they said yes.”

Mattina added, “We’re just so lucky that she had the idea to begin with” and was willing to take the time to go after it.

Mattina said Silveira’s exceptional work for the city over the past decade has been “transforming.” She listed numerous accomplishments, from spearheading regional economic development to building partnerships, leading the city to have a lakefront plan and hotel feasibility study, the grant funding the new lakeside park and art in the city, along with ensuring a balanced budget and a surplus.

Silveira also has overseen the updating of the city’s sewer and water infrastructure, a new sales tax for police services and road repairs, goal setting and succession planning, Mattina said.

Councilwoman Mireya Turner agreed, noting Silveira’s ability to bring together jurisdictions and teams. Turner, who works for the city of Ukiah, said the city manager there was telling her the other day about work Silveira did to bring Ukiah and Lakeport closer together.

Silveira’s efforts, Turner added, will benefit the city of Lakeport for years to come.

The council briefly debated different naming options, with Councilman Tim Barnes noting he liked the STAR Center.

However, Councilman Kenny Parlet said he was opposed to names with acronyms because he was concerned that, over time, Silveira’s name would get lost and people would forget her efforts. He said he liked the Silveira Center because it was short and snappy.

“I think you make a compelling point,” said Turner.

Mattina said she thinks people will shorten it to Silveira Center anyway, and Barnes suggested they go with that name. However, Mattina wanted the word “community” included in the title.

The council agreed to support Mattina’s proposal of naming the building the City of Lakeport Silveira Community Center, which Turner seconded and was approved 4-0.

“There couldn’t be a better person to have their name on that building in perpetuity,” said Parlet.

In brief comments at the end of the meeting, an emotional Silveira thanked the council for the honor.

“I’m so humbled and overwhelmed by what you’ve done, your gesture,” she said.

Silveira said she loves the community and the people she’s worked with during her time with the city.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
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LAKEPORT, Calif. – On Tuesday night, the Lakeport City Council approved the contract with Kevin Ingram to serve as Lakeport’s new city manager.

Ingram, named assistant city manager in January as part of the city succession plan, previously served as the city’s Community Development director.

The council’s approval of his contract formalized his hire as of Aug. 1, the day after retiring City Manager Margaret Silveira’s last official day on the job.

City Attorney David Ruderman presented the contract negotiated with Ingram to the council at its virtual Tuesday night meeting.

Ruderman went over the key points of the contract, which runs for an initial term of two years and eight months, from Aug. 1, 2020, to March 31, 2023. The contract automatically renews in additional one-year increments thereafter, unless the city council provides advanced notice of nonrenewal.

The base salary is $140,844, with an annual performance bonus of up to $1,500 and cost of living adjustments that match other at-will city employees, Ruderman reported.

The contract’s terms give Ingram regular CalPERS retirement benefits, life insurance and long-term disability insurance that is equal to that provided to the city’s management employees, 20 days per year of vacation leave, one sick leave day per month, 80 hours of administrative leave each year, a monthly car allowance of $400, a cell phone stipend and technology allowance.

“I’m so pleased that we did the succession planning that we did and we have such a great candidate to take over,” said Councilwoman Stacey Mattina.

Mayor Pro Tem Kenny Parlet, who ran the meeting in the absence of Mayor George Spurr, said he couldn’t agree more with Mattina’s sentiments.

There was no public comment before Councilwoman Mireya Turner moved to approve the contract, which was seconded by Mattina and approved 4-0.

Also on Tuesday night, during its consent agenda items, the council approved a retirement incentive for Silveira, which Ruderman explained was a cash-out of 822 hours of salary that will create salary savings because Silveira is retiring 18 months ahead of the end of her contract term.

Silveira told Lake County News last month that she decided to retire early in an effort to save money for the city – which is facing revenue challenges due to COVID-19 – while at the same time taking the opportunity to spend more time with family.

Ingram told the council that he’s honored to be the next city manager, adding it’s been a privilege to work with Silveira.

“She’s been a fantastic mentor from day one,” he said, adding she’s left big shoes to fill but also has provided the tools to do the work.

Parlet said Ingram has a huge job to do to catch up to Silveira’s accomplishments, wishing him luck in doing so.

In other business on Tuesday, the council voted to rename the city’s community center in Silveira’s honor and directed staff to start the process of changing the name of Westside Park Road to “Charlie Jolin’s Way,” in honor of the man who played a key role in envisioning and creating the park.

The council also held a public hearing for the adoption of the housing element update of the general plan, continued a protest hearing regarding vegetation abatement to the Aug. 4 meeting, directed the preparation of a report detailing properties that are delinquent in water and sewer charges, approved an amendment to the franchise agreement with Lakeport Disposal Inc. and awarded a $567,141 construction contract to Team Ghilotti Inc. for the Second Street Sidewalk Improvement Project.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
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LAKEPORT, Calif. – Local businesses are facing challenges not just in trying to avoid COVID-19 but also in adjusting when a case impacts their operations.

This week Rainbow Ag’s Lakeport store, located at 1975 Argonaut Road, enacted a brief closure in order to sanitize the facility after a member of an employee’s household tested positive.

Also this week, the owners of the Lakeport McDonald’s said the restaurant closed temporarily after finding out one of its employees had tested positive for COVID-19. Following cleaning, the restaurant has reportedly reopened.

Rainbow Ag reported that the employee whose family member tested positive had last worked on Monday, loading hay and feed. He was masked and distanced during his work time. He’s now in isolation and getting tested.

Rainbow Ag’s procedures ensure that high touch surfaces have been sanitized multiple times per day and all staff members have passed a health check before working.

Out of an abundance of caution, Rainbow Ag owner Jim Mayfield told Lake County News that they chose to close the Lakeport store on Wednesday afternoon and hired West Coast Fire & Water to professionally sanitize the entire store facility. That work was completed on Thursday.

At the same time, he said all 20 Lakeport store staffers are on paid leave, isolated and getting tested – with up to a seven-day wait for results – and won’t return to work until they have been cleared.

He said his staff at the Middletown and Ukiah stores are rallying to send team members over to help cover the Lakeport store, which will reopen on Friday, with slightly reduced hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Creating a plan for moving forward

Before COVID-19, Mayfield said Rainbow Ag has had to make adjustments to closures due to wildland fires – such as what occurred in the summer of 2018 – and purchased a generator in order to remain open during the public safety power shutoffs in the fall.

Since the pandemic started, Mayfield said work has continued at his five stores in Lake, Mendocino and Sonoma counties.

“We’ve been essential so we’ve never been closed,” he said.

While the stores’ hours initially were reduced, over the last month they’ve turned to regular hours, he said.

Mayfield said that over the last several months he’s tried to stay ahead of the situation, with his company writing the procedure for keeping his staff and customers safe as they went along. Mayfield said he told his staff they were practicing a three-month fire drill.

Outside of those efforts, “there is no playbook,” Mayfield said. “The state doesn’t tell you what to do, the county doesn’t tell you what to do,” and even the industry is vague on protocols.

He said his “team behind the masks” has done a phenomenal job of maintaining heightened awareness, developing a protocol for giving people masks or, if they won’t take them, asking them to social distance or offering to load up their vehicles.

So when the COVID-19 test in his employee’s household was reported, Mayfield said he had a plan for what to do.

He said he called Lake County Public Health about the case.

“They didn’t have a clue,” he said. “It was a very disappointing phone call, to tell the truth.”

He said all that Public Health could do was refer him to the public testing site. As for contact tracing of cases, he said on Thursday that Public Health hadn’t contacted his company.

At the same time, Mayfield – an early adopter of social media – used Facebook to communicate the situation with customers and the community.

“I was almost in tears at the response,” said Mayfield, calling it “incredibly supportive.”

He said it’s a great testament to the people he works with in his company.

When the Lakeport store reopens on Friday morning, Mayfield said the store will be sanitized, the staff will be masked and customers will meet a crew they haven’t seen before.

“We have to be more diligent now than we have ever,” Mayfield said.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
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Alan Leroy Ashmore, 64, of Clearlake Oaks, Calif., was sentenced on Tuesday, July 7, 2020, to 140 years in prison for an October 2017 shooting spree in Clearlake Oaks, California. Lake County Jail photo.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The man who went on an October 2017 shooting spree in which he killed his elderly father and a friend, shot and injured a California Highway Patrol officer and a woman, and set wildland fires as he tried to escape authorities was sentenced to 140 years to life in prison on Tuesday.

Judge J. David Markham handed down the sentence to 64-year-old Alan Leroy Ashmore, who reached a plea agreement with the District Attorney’s Office the day before his trial was to have begun in March, as Lake County News has reported.

The plea agreement had Ashmore plead no contest to first-degree murder for the killing of his 85-year-old father, Douglas Ashmore, as well as the killing of his friend, Richard Braden, 64, and the attempted first-degree murder of CHP Officer Steven Patrick, while also admitting to the personal discharge of a firearm that resulted in death and great bodily injury for all three of those charges.

In exchange for those pleas, the District Attorney’s Office dismissed another 18 counts that included assault with a deadly weapon, felon in possession of guns and ammunition, and hit and run. The charges were dismissed with a “Harvey waiver,” which means they can still be considered in the sentencing and victims have the opportunity to pursue restitution.

“I am happy that we were able to resolve this without a jury trial,” Ashmore’s attorney, Andrea Sullivan, told Lake County News. “I think that this is the best outcome for all parties involved because they do not have to relive this trauma of that day.”

Ashmore could eventually be considered eligible for the Elderly Parole Program, which allows for a parole suitability hearing once a prisoner is both age 60 and has served 25 years of continuous incarceration. By the time he could be considered, he would be 89 years old.

Shooting spree followed argument

Ashmore’s shooting spree began on Oct. 23, 2017. On that day, authorities said he was at his home in Clearlake Oaks when he argued with a young woman who refused to have sex with him.

That confrontation set in motion a violent response, beginning with him shooting the woman in the foot. She escaped through a window and went to a neighbor for help.

He then turned on his 85-year-old father, Douglas Ashmore, who had tried to intervene in the argument, and shot him in the face, killing him instantly.

Taking a shotgun and his father’s vehicle, Alan Ashmore began shooting at three nearby homes. One neighbor escaped injury when a pistol Ashmore was using misfired.

Ashmore killed Braden with the shotgun after finding him in a vehicle parked on the street in Anchor Village.

He confronted Officer Patrick a short time later in the area as Patrick was responding to a call about a shooting. Ashmore shot several shotgun rounds at Patrick, with the rounds hitting the officer’s vehicle and his ballistic safety vest. Patrick would continue to participate in the pursuit of Ashmore despite his injuries.

Ashmore went on to rob two gas station stores, shooting at a beer vendor while at the first store and discharging several shots while leaving the second, before heading up High Valley Road, lighting several small fires along the way.

He then drove into Brassfield Winery where he brandished a firearm at a man in the parking lot and attempted to take the man’s vehicle. The man escaped from Ashmore during a chase.

It was at a roadblock on High Valley Road that Ashmore ultimately surrendered to authorities without incident.

COVID-19 impacts on the case

In March, when Ashmore reached the plea agreement with the District Attorney’s Office, he originally was set for sentencing on April 14.

But halfway through March, the impacts of COVID-19 caused the courts to temporarily suspend proceedings at the same time as the county was put under a shelter in place order.

With courts allowed to begin reopening more services beginning in June, Ashmore’s case was rescheduled for sentencing this week.

District Attorney Susan Krones said she appeared in person in court on Tuesday morning, while Ashmore appeared via Zoom video conference from the Lake County Jail, where he has been held since his arrest.

Krones said she read five victim impact statements, one from a family member for Douglas Ashmore and the four others for Braden.

With the Lake County Probation Department in support of following the stipulated sentence that was the result of the plea agreement, Judge Markham handed down the 140-years-to-life sentence, Krones said.

Normally after such sentences to state prison are handed down, inmates are quickly transported to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for processing and to begin serving their sentences.

“San Quentin is our normal place where we transport them,” said Krones.

However, San Quentin currently is closed for transport for new inmates, she said.

That’s because of a COVID-19 outbreak at the prison. CDCR reported Wednesday that 200 staff members and 1,635 inmates have tested positive for the virus.

The state’s prison dashboard for COVID-19 shows that as of late Wednesday, 1,309 inmate cases were active, 20 were released while active, 299 were resolved and seven inmates have died.

“We’re kind of in a holding pattern,” Krones said. “He might not be transferred for a while.”

Krones added that COVID-19 “creeps into everything we do – or can’t do.”

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Firefighters contained two wildland fires on Tuesday that began less than an hour apart on different sides of the county.

The Sleeper fire burned near Upper Lake while the Mart fire prompted limited evacuations in Clearlake.

The Sleeper fire was first reported shortly before 2:30 p.m. in the area of Highway 20 and Highway 29 near Upper Lake.

Northshore Fire and Cal Fire were among the agencies responding, according to radio traffic.

Northshore Fire Chief Mike Ciancio reported over the radio just before 3 p.m. that forward progress had been stopped on the fire, with line all around it.

Units were reported to have remained on the scene until evening for mop up.

Cal Fire spokesman Will Powers said the fire burned 4.3 acres.

Shortly after 3 p.m., the Mart fire was reported near the Clearlake Walmart store on Dam Road.

Lake County Fire, Cal Fire and Clearlake Police were on scene, with police assisting with evacuations along Dam Road while firefighters dealt with spot fires and downed power lines that caused a power outage to hundreds of customers.

Firefighters stopped the fire’s forward progress at around 5 p.m, with police lifting evacuations shortly afterward.

Powers said the Mart fire burned approximately 2.4 acres.

The Clearlake Police Department said an initial fire assessment showed one residence was partially burned and two other structures destroyed.

Officials on Tuesday did not release information on the causes of the fires.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
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LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Police Department is advising community members to be aware of a recurring scam that has surfaced relating to utility billings in the city of Lakeport.

The scam, which recently resurfaced, consists of a robo-style telephone call advising that it represents the city of Lakeport and references a late utility payment.

The "caller" directs the unwitting resident to either return a call to a 1-800 number or directs them to an online payment option.

Police ask community members to be cautious if they receive this call as it may be a scam.

The city of Lakeport does utilize a third party online payment collector, officials said.

If you have any doubt as to the credibility of any payment you are going to make on your utility service, the trusted online payment collection service can always be accessed directly from the city of Lakeport website. Look for "Online Bill Pay" on the big blue toolbar.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County’s COVID-19 cases have continued to climb in recent days, reaching 100 on Wednesday.

Lake County Public Health posted the latest numbers on its COVID-19 dashboard.

Of those 100 confirmed cases in Lake County, 18 are active and 81 have recovered. On Friday, Lake County Public Health reported one death attributed to the virus.

As of Wednesday, two patients were hospitalized. So far, Public Health said nine people have been hospitalized during the course of treatment.

County public health departments statewide reported more than 290,000 COVID-19 cases and more than 6,700 deaths as of Wednesday night.

Case totals for neighboring counties are Colusa, 98; Glenn, 153; Mendocino, 107; Napa, 453; Sonoma, 1,519; and Yolo, 760.

Public Health said 5,272 tests have so far been conducted in Lake County.

Overall in California, 4,996,175 tests have been conducted in California, the California Department of Public Health said on Wednesday. That represents an increase of 99,805 tests over the prior 24-hour reporting period.

As testing capacity continues to increase across the state, an increase in the number of positive cases has been expected, increasing the importance of positivity rates to find signs of community spread, state officials said.

The state said local health departments have reported 16,629 confirmed positive cases in health care workers and 95 deaths statewide to date.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
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The “Nail fire” on the Grindstone Ranger District of the Mendocino National Forest in Northern California on Tuesday, July 7, 2020. Photo courtesy of the Mendocino National Forest.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Fire crews and aircraft were quickly dispatched to a wildland fire on the Grindstone Ranger District of the Mendocino National Forest Tuesday afternoon.

The Nail Fire is located approximately 30 miles west of Willows near Fouts Springs and estimated at 25 acres, forest officials reported.

Resources assigned to the incident include several overhead – or supervisory – personnel, along with four engines, four water tenders, one dozer, three air tankers and air attack, which officials said are planes used to coordinate aerial firefighting aircraft over wildland fires.

In addition, two crews have been ordered, officials said.

The cause of the fire is being investigated.
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MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST, Calif. – Firefighters on Thursday continued work to contain a fire on the Mendocino National Forest’s Grindstone Ranger District.

Forest officials said the Nail fire was up to 75 percent containment as of Thursday.

The fire started on Tuesday, approximately 30 miles west of Willows near Fouts Springs.

The size of the fire has been adjusted to 13 acres.

There are two crews, two engines, two water tenders and several overhead – or supervisory personnel – assigned to the fire.

On Thursday, firefighters continued to reinforce firelines and extinguish hot spots.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Forest officials said the primary wildfire response strategy for 2020 is aggressive initial attack and rapid containment to minimize the number of large wildfires.
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LAKEPORT, Calif. – Beginning on Monday, July 13, official nomination papers will be available for candidates who are interested in running for the office of city council member for the city of Lakeport.

There are three seats available, each for a four-year term, on the November ballot.

The seats which will be up for election in November currently are held by Tim Barnes, Kenny Parlet and George Spurr.

Interested candidates must be registered to vote and reside within the city limits of the city of Lakeport.

The deadline to file nomination papers for the seats will be Thursday, August 6, at 5 p.m., or by appointment only on Friday, Aug. 7.

Each candidate must be nominated by not less than 20 nor more than 30 registered voters; therefore, it is recommended that you pick up your nomination papers well in advance of the deadline for filing to allow time to gather signatures.

If you are interested in running for Lakeport City Council, please contact City Clerk Kelly Buendia at 707-263-5615, Extension 101, or Deputy City Clerk Hilary Britton at 707-263-5615, Extension 102, for further information and to set up an appointment to pick up and review the nomination packet.

Due to Covid-19 restrictions, the city asks that candidates call ahead for an appointment with the clerk’s office during the nomination period.

Regular business hours for Lakeport City Hall are Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

The clerk’s office will be available, with 24 hours’ notice, on Fridays by appointment only, to assist candidates with filing their nomination papers.
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Michael V. Drake. Courtesy photo.

The University of California Board of Regents announced on Tuesday the appointment of Michael V. Drake, M.D., as the 21st president of UC’s world-renowned system of 10 campuses, five medical centers, three nationally affiliated labs, more than 280,000 students and 230,000 faculty and staff.

Drake has a long and distinguished career in higher education, most recently as president of The Ohio State University, or OSU, from 2014 until this past week.

Prior to his six years at OSU, his entire academic career has been at UC, including as chancellor of UC Irvine for nine years from 2005 to 2014 and as the systemwide vice president for health affairs from 2000 to 2005.

“I am delighted to welcome back Dr. Michael Drake to the University of California as president, and I am confident that Dr. Drake is the leader we need to guide our world-class higher education system through this time of unprecedented challenge,” said Gov. Gavin Newsom.

“Throughout his nearly four decades of service in higher education in California and around the nation, Dr. Drake has distinguished himself as a visionary for how universities can be dynamic institutions of growth and opportunity while remaining agile in a changing environment,” Newsom said. “It is more imperative than ever that our institutions of higher education remain open, accessible and inclusive, and emerge from this moment even more equitable than before. Dr. Drake possesses the demonstrated insight, experience and commitment it takes to help us continue to grow the next generation of extraordinary California leaders.”

“I want to congratulate Dr. Drake on his appointment as president of the University of California and welcome him back to California,” said California Community Colleges Chancellor Eloy Ortiz Oakley. “These are unprecedented times in higher education and Californians need access to our institutions more than ever. I look forward to working with Dr. Drake to make the UC more accessible to California Community College transfer students and to ensure that California leads the nation in creating economic and social mobility for students of every background.”

A reputation for leadership

Drake received his A.B. from Stanford University and his residency, M.D., and fellowship in ophthalmology from UCSF. He subsequently spent more than two decades on the faculty of the UCSF School of Medicine, including as the Steven P. Shearing Professor of Ophthalmology.

Under his leadership, Drake greatly enhanced UC Irvine’s reputation as a premier university. UC Irvine rose to join the top 10 public universities in U.S. News & World Report’s annual list and was ranked by Times Higher Education as the No. 1 university in the U.S. under 50 years old. During his tenure at the campus, the four-year graduation rate increased by more than 18 percent, while undergraduate enrollment and diversity significantly increased. In addition, Drake oversaw the establishment of new schools of law and education as well as programs in public health, nursing and pharmacy.

Drake’s tenure at OSU was marked by record-high applications and graduation rates, groundbreaking research and strong donor support. He established several successful programs to increase student access and affordability, including a tuition guarantee program; enhanced scholarships covering the cost of attendance; and increased grants to support middle- and lower-income students. In fact, OSU’s need-based financial aid increased by more than $200 million between 2015 and 2020.

“Much has changed in the 15 years since I was given the privilege of becoming chancellor at UC Irvine, but not my absolute belief in this great University and its time-honored mission,” Drake said. “I look forward to working with the regents, chancellors, students, faculty, staff, alumni, and our broader community as we, together, guide the University through the challenging times ahead. Brenda and I are thrilled to be back. Fiat Lux!”

Drake has published numerous articles and co-authored six books. He served as a reviewer for several medical journals, including the Journal of the American Medical Association, Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science and the American Journal of Ophthalmology. Drake is a member of several national scientific and scholarly societies, and has received various awards for teaching, public service, mentoring and research.

He is a member of the National Academy of Medicine and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He received the UCSF School of Medicine’s Clinical Teaching Award, the Hogan Award for Laboratory Research, the Chancellor’s Award for Public Service, the Martin Luther King Jr. Award for University Service, the UC Irvine Medal, and the University of California Presidential Medal in recognition of his exemplary service to the University.

“Dr. Drake personifies the qualities we looked for in selecting a new president: He is committed to seeing the whole student and to supporting all our students. He recognizes the incalculable value of faculty and staff to the University’s mission, and he understands the importance of the public and private partnerships that help us achieve that mission,” said John A. Pérez, chair of the UC Board of Regents. “As the first person of color to serve as UC president, Dr. Drake returns to UC at an important point in the University’s journey. This is a homecoming the University of California is very excited to be celebrating early.”

Drake’s extensive public service experience includes various roles for the American Medical Association, the National Eye Institute, the Association of American Medical Colleges, and multiple commissions on health in the state of California.

He is a former chair of the board of directors of the Association of American Universities and currently serves as a member of the board of directors for the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities. He is also the chair of the board of governors of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, a member of the American Talent Initiative Steering Committee, and a member of the board of directors of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

“Stepping down as president of the University of California is bittersweet, especially after seven wonderful, dynamic years, but I depart knowing Dr. Michael Drake will lead with experience and integrity, with the critical support and guidance of the UC Board of Regents,” said current UC President Janet Napolitano. “Michael has my full confidence, and I am excited to see how his fresh infusion of ideas and new perspectives will shape the University in the months and years ahead.”

A rigorous search

The 10-month long search for the University’s next systemwide leader began in September after Napolitano announced she would leave UC in August 2020. The regents approved rigorous criteria to guide their search.

“UC faculty, staff and students repeatedly told us they want a president who will prioritize issues of equity and fairness and be a powerful advocate at the state and national level,” said Regent Gareth Elliott, chair of the Special Committee in charge of the presidential search. “When we needed the right person to steward UC’s global reputation, it turns out we didn't have to look too far from home. I am very proud of this thorough and inclusive search, and I’m delighted it resulted in such a great match with Dr. Drake.”

“We are thrilled that Dr. Drake has chosen to return to UC at this pivotal moment in the midst of profound global and national change,” said professor Kum-Kum Bhavnani, chair of UC’s Faculty Academic Senate and the Academic Advisory Committee. “President-designate Drake’s demonstrated commitment to undergraduate and graduate students and the work of faculty, understanding of the needs of UC employees, his commitment to social mobility, and his intimate insights into diversity, policing and inclusion ensure UC will continue to be a leader in higher education nationally and internationally as the world enters a bold new era.”

“Participating in the search for the next UC president was a privilege that I did not take lightly,” said Student Regent Hayley Weddle, who also served on the Special Committee. “The top three qualities I was looking for in a new president were a proven record of success in promoting equity and access in higher education, a commitment to working closely with students as partners to address pressing issues such as basic needs and sexual harassment, and a clear vision to advance UC’s public service mission. President-designate Drake has all of these qualities and more, and I am excited to welcome him back to the University of California.”

The board approved Drake’s salary at $890,000.

Pending an academic personnel review, Drake will be appointed as a tenured professor at UCSF.

Drake, 69, and his wife, Brenda, have two grown sons and four grandchildren.

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