Incorporation forums heat up as election nears

By Denise Aday

(Updated: Monday, January 28, 2008, 12:15 PM)

The Keep Oakhurst Rural Coalition (KORC), displeased with the election events sponsored by the Oakhurst Area Chamber of Commerce, held a public forum Tuesday night at the Oakhurst Community Center.

The majority of the 150 people attending were demonstrably against incorporation.

KORC organizer Lou Aceto made introductions, and Mike Sesto was the emcee. The event featured an open microphone, and audience members were encouraged to ask questions.

A panel of KORC representatives, including Bruce Triebold, Gary Marshall, Joan Madaus, Dennis Adams and Jeanne Aceto, was available to answer questions.

Town council candidates Ron Bucheger, David Linn, Doug Macaulay and Bryce Shears attended the event. Beverly Scott, who was out of town at a real estate conference, and Dave Wolin did not attend.

Chamber president Shelle Abbott and executive director Kathy McCorry were on hand from the chamber, and Madera County Sheriff John Anderson was in the audience.

Tables were set up along one side sporting anti-incorporation literature, cartoons and bumper stickers. No pro-incorporation literature was available.

Madaus said the Local Area Formation Commission (LAFCo) and the Action Committee to Incorporation Oakhurst Now (ACTION) failed to notify the public that the proposed town boundaries had changed from those originally proposed.

"If this is not illegal, it is certainly unethical," she said. "We found out we were inside the boundaries in August when we saw the map in the Sierra Star. Since then, there has been one pep rally by ACTION, one hearing by LAFCo and then a meeting at the board of supervisors."

After presentations by the panel, the microphone was opened up to the public.

Oakhurst resident Elin Nilmeier said her family's sample ballots and absentee ballots were wrong.

"My husband and my sample ballots and my parents' absentee ballots did not have Measure C on them," she said. "But when I came to the Jan. 15 meeting, the big LAFCo map clearly showed us inside the boundaries."

Nilmeier said she called the Madera County Office of Elections and gave them her assessor's parcel number.

"They sent us new ballots, but I have to wonder how many other ballots are wrong," Nilmeier said. "Everyone who is a registered voter inside the proposed area should have a chance to vote on this issue. We would have been missing four votes. How many others are missing?"

Stephanie Sibley of the office of elections confirmed Wednesday that Nilmeier's original ballot was incorrect.

"She did call," Sibley said. "Once we confirmed with LAFCo that her address was inside the boundaries, her registration was corrected."

Sibley said any voter who believes her ballot is incorrect has the option to vote a provisional ballot.

"Everyone will have an opportunity to cast a ballot," she said. "During the canvassing process, we will investigate their address. If the ballot is found to be incorrect, all items will be counted. If their original registration and ballot are found to be correct, all items but the contested item will be counted. No one will be disenfranchised."

Oakhurst businessman Tim Madden asked if people believed the county should continue to do the planning for Oakhurst.

"I've heard several complaints about the county tonight," Madden said. "If you feel the county has not done their job, why would you continue to give them your tax dollars?"

No county representatives were available on the panel and Marshall, a retired CalFire chief, was called on to answer many of the county-related questions to the best of his ability.

Things became contentious when Bucheger, Linn and Macaulay interjected corrections and made comments from the back of the room. Sesto asked audience members to respect the rules of the forum, keep their comments to 30 seconds and then ask their question.

"Let's agree to disagree," he said. "Even if you do not like the answer, let's behave respectfully to one another."

The three candidates in back were eventually denied the microphone, but were asked several times to clarify facts by Marshall.

Oakhurst businessman Bob Hilliard said no matter what the outcome of the election, people should get involved.

"If this passes, we will take over a lot of the county's problems," he said. "If it doesn't, I'd like to see all of the people here get involved at the planning commission and the board. They may not like what you say, but they listen to your voice."

Lou Aceto said he was pleased with the forum.

"This forum isn't perfect, but it is working," he said. "The public has been left out of the incorporation process. For the future, we are hoping for an open forum where people can ask questions."

ACTION PAC was invited to Tuesday's forum, however, Aceto said they were not included in the panel because ACTION PAC placed too many restrictions on their participation.

The event was videotaped by Corky Stanton for YosemiteArea.com and is available as streaming video from its Web site.

The Chamber and the Sierra Star are hosting a voter expo Tuesday, Jan. 29 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Yosemite High School performing arts center.

YosemiteArea.com is hosting an online Measure C discussion Wednesday, Jan. 30 at 7 p.m.

In the interest of public disclosure, town council candidate David Linn is the husband of Sierra Star publisher Betty Linn.