Hub Walsh – incumbent for District 2

The Merced County District 2 incumbent said he was part of the effort to guide the area out of the Great Recession and hopes voters agree to keep him on.

Hub Walsh was elected in 2008 and re-elected in 2012. Walsh, 65, first came to Merced as a senior in high school, when his father was stationed at Castle Air Force Base.

He started his college career at UC Berkeley before he was drafted into the Army near the end of 1972 through the end of 1974, around the time the Vietnam War was winding down.

He holds two master’s degrees, one in social science and the other in business administration. He’s worked in child welfare, job training and a number of other positions in Merced County’s Human Services Agency.

After taking a job as the director of Human Services in Madera County, he also was twice elected as a Merced city councilman and twice as the mayor.

“I would hope that the community feels I’ve done a good enough job to continue to serve them,” he said.

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

A: I support sheriff and county efforts to facilitate and streamline recruitment, such as paying for selected candidates to attend basic training. I additionally support negotiation efforts for a total compensation package competitive with regional law enforcement agencies.

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 have supported the process of allocating special district funds where the entire board considers individual board member recommendations. I have been willing to consider and have supported reductions in the budgeted amounts.

District 2 recommendations have included items such as: sidewalk repair for Veterans Memorial Park; a walk-in freezer for the county Food Bank; drought-resistant landscape for the county library; support of one-stop streamlined county permit processing.

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: I support the sheriff’s efforts, which have included: focused patrols and coordinated law enforcement sweeps in designated county areas; the opening of substations in Delhi and Los Banos; participation in the county gang and drug task force; acquisition of additional personnel and additional resources for the Sheriff’s Department’s efforts.

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

A: We must continue to support local businesses and those interested in coming to Merced County through customer service and streamlined planning and permitting; work with local businesses, Merced College and UC Merced on workforce development, identification of needs, and training; support the UC Merced 2020 Plan; enhance and support existing city/county collaboration on pursuing business leads; finalize the Castle Strategic Public/Private Partnership Plan, including parcelization.

Q: Merced County has been negotiating a revenue-sharing agreement with city governments for about 10 years. An 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 an agreement?

A: The city and county need to get back to the negotiations table. It is through this process that an agreement will be reached that will best serve our shared community interests and city and county services needed. The city and county have and do work collaboratively in other areas. That collaboration is needed here. Current proposals appear close to an agreement that would work for both the county and city.

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: Californians approved medical marijuana use. I voted for the county ordinance on medical marijuana use in unincorporated areas, developed in response to community and law enforcement concerns. There may be an initiative on legalizing recreational marijuana use in November. I recommend keeping the ordinance in effect because if that initiative passes, the ordinance will have to be modified. I support efforts between our cities and the county to coordinate regulations.

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: If the high-speed rail is going to be built, why not build it here? We would get the economic benefit and infrastructure investment here, rather than simply paying the bill for that benefit and investment elsewhere.

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: Given the condition of our streets and roads and community concerns for investment in them, I support putting this on the ballot for consideration by voters. The proposed revenue option creates a locally controlled investment which will improve local streets and roads, provide for citizen oversight and make us a self-help community, enabling us to be more competitive for federal and state infrastructure investments in Merced County roads and streets.

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: Conservation and alternatives to use of water will continue to be the norm into the foreseeable future. I participated in the process involving stakeholders and professional experts in developing the county groundwater transfer and well ordinance. The county will continue to be an active participant in planning and development. Collaborative approaches between stakeholders, the county, municipalities and water and irrigation districts and advocacy for surface water will be required.

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

A: My top priority is investment in resources for all elements of public safety including support of our sheriff, district attorney, Probation Department and fire departments closely followed by continued advocacy for local efforts to enhance business and economic development.

This story was originally published April 27, 2016 at 4:47 PM with the headline "Hub Walsh – incumbent for District 2."