Lynn Morgan’s Buckhorn Community Plan Effort and Her Ideological Beliefs

In 2012, at the instance of former Upcountry Council chair Debbie Dunn, the then UCC chair Lynn Morgan leap frogged into designing the Buckhorn Town Center based upon our yet unadopted General Plan. Three UCC meetings were devoted to this project along with questionnaires, emails, etc. While many questionnaires were handed out, few people showed enough interest to actually attend the discussion meetings. But Lynn Morgan wanted to hire a consultant to format the survey data and without consulting with UCC or gaining their approval on the matter she hired one. While perhaps she held the naive notion that members would chip in, she ended up paying for the consultant herself. It certainly seems that her cause over-weighed other concerns. How she ran UCC clearly foreshadows her behavior in other potential offices.

The survey participants wanted a well organized community but were divided about whether the proposed design review committee should enforce a rustic or alpine style. They also had a wish list that favored and promoted certain businesses such as “natural wood products store(s)” rather than have the law of supply and demand prevail. Of course many of these enterprises, as desirable as they may be, would require government subsidy. This key element was left undiscussed. However, factors like those didn’t deter Lynn Morgan from presenting this Town Center Plan to Supervisor Ted Novelli and Planning Commissioner Denise Tober. But she never spoke to the Board of Supervisors about the Upcounty support for the Gravity Supply Line or for fixing the fire hydrants with their inadequate pipes.

I applaud her generosity for paying for the consultant and for her hard work. But this dedication also shows her adherence to a very specific political agenda. As UCC chair she avoided the wild & scenic issue. Perhaps afraid that the members would vote contrary to her liking, no wild & scenic petitions, pro or con, were circulated at UCC. But at the same time she inhibited support for the gravity supply line and favored the Fire Safe Council which refused to support the GSL.

She disallowed circulating a petition against the illegal fire tax because the petition heading denoted a political organization not to her liking. She also stonewalled UCC members’ requests to distribute materials objecting to the fire tax. Later she hemmed and hawed about informing fixed income seniors of their rights when their fire tax bills became due. Her website states: “While the state fire fee makes its way through the courts, push the state to spend the fees that have been collected in Amador County IN Amador County’.” She appears ignorant that the money has already been appropriated elsewhere or could be returned by court order. A firmer leader would oppose an illegal tax and realize that it is just the power of urban areas in the legislature, not in Upcountry’s interest and is a horrid precedent as well. Where is the LA earthquake tax, etc?

While it is common knowledge that Lynn Morgan supports impounded water discharges in drought years for white water rafter thrills and supports the wild & scenic designation for parts of the Mokelumne River, her website vaguely states: “Support continued recreation and increased tourism on the Mokelumne River.” But this statement could even mean the recreation and tourism opportunities of a new dam and lake. She also says: “Protect the county’s water rights and water resources for use by county residents.” What about future residents and businesses? Are we really clear on her position on wild & scenic position now? Other similar statements from her website are: “Direct economic development to town centers including...More retail services” and “Through the general plan update, focus development in towns and existing communities where infrastructure, services, and jobs are available.” This could sound like she supports the Dollar General store in Pine Grove, but we all know she does not.

Her website continues with: “Creating more opportunities for diverse citizen participation in the democratic process by valuing all opinions and points of view.” Anyone can speak at the general comment period before the Board of Supervisors, as I and many others have. There have been screaming matches and harsh words instigated by various vociferous individuals. In other jurisdictions, such behavior has led to arrest. But the Supervisors have always let everyone speak. Ms. Morgan’s words sound nice, but there is no problem to begin with.This is typical of most of her website statements.

Lynn Morgan’s glib positions are like one size fits all clothing which means it tries to fit everyone but in reality fits no one. While she says that she belongs to no “contingent” her belief system is clear. She is a member of the Foothill Conservancy that has a very specific agenda. Her record shows that she is more than willing to bend the rules for her beliefs. Is this what people really want?

I’m asking the undecided voters to ask Lynn Morgan for specific positions and hard answers to the nice, but essentially meaningless pronouncements on her website. Where does the money for the things she wants come from? What are the most pressing priorities for our county? Is turning Buckhorn into a smart growth, high density community that may replicate the European villages our ancestors chose to leave behind one of them?

It’s easy to see, for a newcomer or an outsider to political process, the present Board of Supervisors as “entrenched”. It’s easy to conclude that a fresh new face could be productive. But that is a superficial look. You undecided voters must dig deeper. Lynn Morgan represents an agenda against your self interest and that of our county. Our future depends on your decision.