Merced County Board of Supervisors candidate, District 4: Lloyd Pareira

Lloyd Pareira considers Merced County a “hidden jewel” and is hopeful he can help the county realize its full potential by winning a seat on the Board of Supervisors.

Pareira, 53, has lived on his family’s farm off Highway 59 near the Merced River nearly his whole life. He earned his bachelor’s degree from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, in dairy science.

Pareira owned his own dairy in Turlock after college before taking over his family’s farm. He currently works as a salesman for APG Solar. The Pareiras are active at Yosemite Church, and Lloyd also serves as a trustee on the Merced River school board. In the past, he served as a board member for the Merced County Farm Bureau and a delegate for Western United Dairyman.

Pareira has been married to his wife, Babette, for 22 years. They have four children.

Now that his children are grown, he’s eager to serve his community again. “We’re the Gateway to Yosemite, we’re right by the ocean, yet we’re a farming community,” he said. “People travel from all over the world to come to Yosemite or the Bay Area, and here we are right in the middle of it.”

Q: 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: First, we need to provide our sheriff’s deputies with a better compensation package. As far as what is fair, we need to survey the agencies that we compete with and where our deputies have left to and come up with a compensation package that is at least comparable.

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 like what one supervisor has done to create transparency by having ... allocations in writing and available for review. As supervisor, I would personally use these funds on “brick and mortar” projects that will be useful to the community for years and years to come. I think the money should be used in the year it is budgeted.

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: First, bolster the number of deputies and retain our experienced deputies. While providing a short-term fix, we must work on the long term fix, which is economic growth and holding people accountable for their actions. As a school board member, I know if a child can read by the third grade, they are unlikely to steer toward a life of crime and likely be a productive member of society.

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

A: Lowering our crime rate, improving our infrastructure and eliminating bureaucratic red tape will make our community more appealing to people who would like to invest in Merced County. We have two economic jewels in Merced County: UC Merced and agriculture. Among other economic drivers, we need to facilitate their positive impact on our economy. Too many times we rely on government when that can be the impedance.

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: We need to put turf wars aside and reach an equitable agreement that is in the best interest of the people we serve – the residents of Merced County. The lack of a revenue-sharing agreement has cost the residents of this county revenue, which would go a long way in funding our public safety and road improvement issues.

Q: The county currently 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 oppose recreational use of marijuana. As for medical use, the Drug Enforcement Administration has proposed ... allowing for more medical research. We need the research findings before we decide. We need to make sure we know who is growing medical marijuana so our law enforcement knows the situation they are going into before they get to a call site.

Q: Do you support the 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 already had difficulty with the cost of high speed rail, in both price and the damage to family farms in the Central Valley. Since having chosen to bypass Merced, it simply shows it is a tool for use by Bay Area and Los Angeles and being paid for on the backs of those of us in the Valley. This I will not stand for nor support.

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: It is very clear our roads need repair. If projects proposed from the tax are equally distributed so that all parts of the county receive at least some benefit from a tax they are paying for, I can support it. We also need accountability on how and when the money is allocated.

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: The drought is not over. We need to look for ways to continue to conserve and store more water, as well as lobby those in federal and state government to allow for more surface water storage. The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act has given us a July 2017 deadline. As a farmer, I understand how to recharge groundwater and will work with stakeholders to bring a plan to fruition.

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

A: Public safety, fixing our roads and encouraging job growth and creation that is in line with the character of our county. The county has a responsibility to facilitate economic growth. We need to do more to get that done, which will enhance the unique qualities that are Merced County.

This story was originally published April 28, 2016 at 7:36 PM with the headline "Merced County Board of Supervisors candidate, District 4: Lloyd Pareira."