Merced County Board of Supervisors candidates, District 4: Jack Mobley

Jack Mobley is concerned about the state of California and doing business here, so he’s hoping to concentrate his efforts locally to make a positive impact in Merced County.

Mobley, 58, grew up in Tennessee, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Tennessee. He came to Merced County in 1982 while he was in the Air Force and stationed at Castle Air Force Base. During that time, he met his wife, Sandra.

He moved back to Merced County permanently in 1989 and currently lives in Merced.

While attending First Baptist Church of Merced, he met many southeast Asian refugees, prompting a business idea aimed at helping the refugees. The Mobleys bought ServiceMaster Commercial Cleaning, a janitorial service, employing more than 2,000 people over 26 years.

Mobley isn’t new to politics. He ran for California’s 21st State Assembly district four times. He believes he’ll have a greater impact locally as supervisor.

“I can have more of a hands-on (approach) and make a bigger impact here than if I was one of 80 in Sacramento,” he said.

Q: The Merced County Sheriff’s Office is facing a high vacancy rate as veteran deputies leave to better-paying jobs. As supervisor, how would you retain sheriff’s deputies, and what would you consider a fair compensation package?

A: We need to review the pay of all employees from the top to the bottom and recognize we are in competition for these employees. The deputies deserve to be paid a salary and benefit package comparable to the surrounding counties. We also need to ensure we are hiring a sufficient number of deputies so that we are fully staffed and that the equipment they use is the best available.

Q: Each supervisor is allocated $40,000 every fiscal year to use as they please. Typically, supervisors choose to spend the money on community projects or nonprofit organizations. The leftover amount at the end of each fiscal year rolls over to the next. Do you agree with this policy? Why or why not?

A: I don’t agree with the supervisors having a discretionary fund. I’m convinced the supervisors have not used the money for political favors, but I believe all taxpayer money should be budgeted. If the money still is made available when I am elected, I will give it in one lump sum to the Sheriff’s Office since protecting citizens is the first priority of our county government.

Q: Crime statistics show violent and property crimes in Merced County are on the rise. How should the Sheriff’s Office tackle crime in the county?

A: With increasing the number of deputies, I believe there would be more time for proactive policing, rather than just being able to respond from crisis to crisis. The bottom line is the sheriff and his staff are the professionals in law enforcement. It would be inappropriate for me, with no law enforcement experience, to dictate to the sheriff how to do his job best. As a supervisor, I need to ensure he has the tools he needs to do his job with the best result.

Q: What should be done to spur economic development in Merced County?

A: Improved police protection for employees and property and adequate infrastructure are vital to attracting business to our area. I believe we must change our priorities and restructure our budget to fund these two governmental functions first. When that is done, we will see jobs come to our county and people become able to better themselves, and our tax base will increase as people make more money and buy homes.

Q: Merced County has been negotiating a revenue-sharing agreement with city governments for about 10 years. The agreement would help cities win authorization to annex land and provide services such as sewer and water to new developments. In your opinion, what needs to be done to finalize the agreement?

A: It seems if both sides come to the table with realistic expectations and a willingness to work toward a mutually beneficial agreement, much can be accomplished. If reasonable people can’t come to an agreement within a reasonable time, I think an experienced independent arbitrator, acceptable to both entities, should be brought in to settle the matter.

Q: The county allows residents with a medical marijuana card to grow 12 plants per parcel. Do you agree with medical and/or recreational marijuana use? Do you think the county should change its policy on marijuana? If so, what kind of policy would you propose?

A: I’m willing to look at allowing medical marijuana, but only if it is more strictly regulated than it is currently. Twelve plants seems to be a lot for one individual and could lead to recreational use by someone other than the patient. There are other alternatives for appetite enhancement and pain control, which I believe should be investigated first. Medical marijuana cards should only be issued by county medical personnel to avoid lax standards for qualifying, and the use of marijuana by the patients should not be a burden to others.

Q: Do you support high-speed rail coming through the Central Valley, specifically Merced? How do you think the High-Speed Rail Authority’s current proposed plan, which bypasses Merced, will affect the county?

A: I have never been in favor of the high-speed rail. It is a waste of taxpayer money on 60-year-old technology. It won’t fully pay for itself ... and will do much more harm than good. The money would be much better spent bringing the ACE train to Merced County and developing more water storage. I am for the diversion of high-speed rail money to water storage being on the ballot so taxpayers can vote on it.

Q: The Merced County Association of Governments is proposing a half-cent tax to be placed on the November ballot to improve county roads. Would you support this tax? Why, or why not?

A: I do not support more taxes. The tax increase will have a mediocre affect on the quality of our roads, as recognized by county staff, and it’s not just for roads. We need to reprioritize our budget to recognize protection of the citizens and infrastructure as the most important expenditures. ... As a leader of the county, I could not support a vote from the supervisors to put it on the ballot.

Q: California is emerging from a historic, five-year drought that has impacted the Central Valley’s agricultural economy particularly hard. Moving forward, how should Merced County proceed on water-related issues?

A: We need to ensure we have sufficient water for our citizens and for agriculture. We need more above-ground storage and we need to begin recharging aquifers. There also is significant work to be done to change EPA regulations and bring common sense back to the process of allocating water for the environment.

Q: If elected, what would be your top priority?

A: My top priority would be public safety and infrastructure, including water storage. If those two primary functions of government are taken care of then the environment will be created whereby the private sector will respond and businesses will come, creating jobs and giving our people the opportunity to take care of themselves and their families.

This story was originally published April 28, 2016 at 6:04 PM with the headline "Merced County Board of Supervisors candidates, District 4: Jack Mobley."