Candidate for
Board Member; Alpine Community Planning Area

This is where Cheryl stands on the issues:

Subject #1) On Wright's Field

The educational opportunities to all who visit Wright's Field are abundant. Local schools have already recognized the value of this passive park through lesson plans and field trips in accordance with state curriculum standards . Opportunities for hands-on, field-based scientific research are also there.

I have walked the trails of Wright's Field located in the heart of Alpine. I have seen the stone wall that was built by Alpine's ancestors. I have experienced the peacefulness and appreciated the opportunity to "unwind" from a hectic and busy week on these tranquil trails.

Visitors from other areas of the County will be drawn to the walking, hiking, bicycling, and horse riding trails that abound through the park. Afterwards, stopping at the businesses in Alpine to purchase food and refreshments. The existence of this passive park in Alpine is a benefit to all Alpiners.

Three active parks currently exist in Alpine, and two of them are adjacent to Wright's Field. They offer areas for basketball and more, and are already being used by the children.

Our country-based rural way of life can only benefit from both types of parks being available to us. Diversity makes life interesting and affords unique experiences.

Subject #2) On Ewiiaapaayp/Viejas Joint Tribal Gaming

There will be no off-reservation second casino in Alpine. Now how can that not be good news to all Alpiners?

My thanks go to the Viejas Tribal Council for this innovative solution and for their generosity in extending the arm of welcome to their brothers in the Ewiiaappaayp tribe. The Viejas Tribal Council has tentatively provided the means for the Ewiiaappaayp Tribe to enter the gaming industry presumably without the help of a high paid east coast entertainment management company.

The Viejas Tribe began reaching-out to its adjoining neighborhoods last year by hosting events facilitated by Supervisor Dianne Jacob. I have attended several of these events where real issues of mitigation have been identified that real people care about. Hopefully the Ewiiaappaayp Tribe will join the Viejas Tribe in their on-going efforts to help resolve the local impacts inherent with casinos.

As a reminder, during the recent Cedar Fire, the Viejas Tribe opened their Reservation to all for a fire fighting base camp. It became a much needed staging area with supporting infrastructure for hundreds of fire trucks, dozens of aerial equipment and many hundreds of fire fighters. Everyone's help was needed during this terrible time + and our neighbor, the Viejas Tribe, was there for Alpine. More recently, Viejas donated in excess of $4,000,000 for a rural emergency and firefighting helicopter.

In the future, Alpine most likely will be considered by the rest of the county as the Gateway to country villages. We will be the geographic Gateway to the back country, the mountains and deserts. But most important, we will be the cultural Gateway to history, tradition and Native American heritage. All this will be anchored by our good neighbor, the Viejas Tribe.