Rodrigo Espinoza – candidate for District 1

Livingston Mayor Rodrigo Espinoza said residents of Merced County District 1 have been telling him they are frustrated with the Board of Supervisors and want better representation.

Espinoza is running against incumbent Supervisor John Pedrozo for the seat.

“My district hasn’t been represented correctly,” Espinoza said. “There has to be a better fit for the entire county, not just a few areas of it.”

Espinoza said he is on the June 7 ballot because he wants to bring more projects and county-level opportunities to Livingston and other areas of District 1.

On deputy pay

The Sheriff’s Office has experienced a high turnover rate, with veteran deputies leaving for better-paying jobs.

Espinoza said the county has become a “training ground” of sorts for deputies, and that it needs to hire more deputies with a competitive salary.

“Citizens in Merced County shouldn’t be living in fear,” he said.

Violent and property crimes have risen in Merced County, crime statistics have shown.

Espinoza said the answer is to hire more deputies and decrease response time. He said he is willing to work with the Sheriff’s Office to make that happen.

The topic came up during a Livingston City Council meeting in August, when Espinoza suggested city police handle calls to farms outside of city limits because the response time of sheriff’s deputies, he said, wasn’t adequate.

Espinoza defended his comments, adding that they came from what residents have told him.

On discretionary funds

Supervisors are given $40,000 each fiscal year to use as they see fit. That fund is usually used for community projects or nonprofit organizations.

To Espinoza, giving should be done out of an individual’s own pocket and heart, not from taxpayer funds.

“That money should be used for at least two sheriff’s deputy positions,” Espinoza said.

On economic development

Once public safety is addressed, Espinoza favors focusing on economic development, with more jobs and development of comfortable, new homes.

Espinoza said the key is for the county to work with cities to use existing assets such as the former air base in Atwater to spur economic development.

On a revenue-sharing agreement

Espinoza said it was imperative the county set up revenue-sharing agreements with the cities in the county again.

Those agreements would help cities in annexing land and providing utility services to new developments.

“I called other mayors in the county: They’re frustrated,” Espinoza said, adding that more city-county relationships need to be fostered.

On marijuana

Espinoza said he thinks the county’s policy allowing marijuana growers to have 12 plants is excessive.

“I agree with some people there is a medical use,” he said. “I think six plants is enough.”

Espinoza said he has heard about the studies that suggest marijuana isn’t as bad as alcohol, but he is still against it due to the potential for smoking-while-driving accidents.

On high-speed rail

Espinoza favors the high-speed rail project and supports plans that would have it cross Merced County, a development he believes would help the economy.

“If you ran it through here, it would create a lot of jobs,” he said.

On half-cent sales tax

Espinoza wants assurances that the proposed half-cent tax from the Merced County Association of Governments would help all of District 1 as much as other regions of the county.

“I would support it, but I don’t see that the MCAG has been very supportive to Livingston,” he said.

On water management

Espinoza supports replenishing groundwater sources and working on a sustainability program with the Joint Powers Authority.

Supervisors, so far, have acted slowly, Espinoza said, adding that the county board should be more responsible to taxpayers.

This story was originally published April 27, 2016 at 4:44 PM with the headline "Rodrigo Espinoza – candidate for District 1."