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This information is provided by the candidate
Louis R. Calcagno has lived since birth in Moss Landing, CA. He is a self-employed dairyman and farmer in North Monterey County following an 85-year tradition of his family. He attended local schools in Monterey County and majored in Dairy Husbandry and Manufacturing at Cal-Poly San Luis Obispo.
Lou was a State and National dairy leader, whose past service includes; Chairman of the California Milk Advisory Board, Chairman of the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board and is Past Chairman of the California Co-Operative Creamery.
Lou was a Charter member of the Monterey County Agricultural & Land Conservancy as well as the Elkhorn Slough Estuary and Sanctuary Foundation. He has been the recipient of the Foundation's highest honor; the Heritage Award for his long-standing efforts to protect and conserve the Slough and its environs.
Before his election to serve as Monterey County Supervisor in the 3rd District in 1999, Lou previously served 18 years on the Monterey County Planning Commission. As an appointee of the governor, he served on the California Coastal Commission and became the Chairman. In 2002, Lou was elected to the Board of Supervisors for Monterey County, representing the 2nd District. Throughout his term, Lou has served his constituents with an enthusiasm that has led to many achievements. Some of his accomplishments include;
1. Led the strategic planning and lobbying efforts to acquire a State Library Bond Act grant for the construction of the new Castroville Library. Was able to move forward the community's plan to build a new library in conjunction with the Monterey County Free Library System during a time when other communities threatened to close their libraries.
2. Served on the Monterey County and City of Salinas Joint Gang Suppression Task Force to secure much needed federal funding for the task force; worked with the Monterey County Sheriff, the Monterey County Probation Department, The Salinas City Council and Mayor's Office, and the Salinas City Police Department on a collaborative plan to combat gang violence and crime in both the City of Salinas and the unincorporated areas of the County.
3. Brought stability and fiscal oversight to the Natividad Medical Center; retained Hayashi & Wayland to perform financial audit and make recommendations, hired a new CEO, established a Blue Ribbon Committee to devise ways on improving efficiency and accountability; and developed new By-laws for the Board of Trustees.
4. Worked closely with the senior-citizen residents of Monte Del Lago mobilehome park to try and resolve their concerns about the escalating space rents at the park and the predatory business practices of the park's owners, MHC a.k.a. Equity Lifestyles Inc. Engaged the participation of the Housing Authority of Monterey County in a plan to purchase the park from the owners either through a friendly acquisition or eminent domain.
5. Worked closely with the residents of the Aromas Community to plan and develop a future community park.
6. Organized and successfully executed a private fundraiser, and later secured county funding for the benefit of the Prunedale Senior Center, in order to prevent its closure and possible bankruptcy.
7. Served on the formation committee and the Board of Directors of Rancho Cielo which established a non-profit vocational training facility for at-risk youth in Monterey County.
8. Assisted the North Monterey County Marching Band in securing emergency loans for parents of the band members. Due to circumstances beyond the band's control, deposits for travel arrangements for a trip to the Peoples' Republic of China were illegally diverted to other uses by a travel agent and frozen by the District Attorney. As a result, an emergency loan was secured from the Community Bank of Central California to ensure the band's ability to pay for its travel expenses while the District Attorney's office resolved the legal issues.
9. Drove the campaign to bring MST schedule bus service to the Salinas Valley connecting the City of Salinas with King City.
10. Helped to negotiate a housing development which included 15% inclusionary homes on the Meyers-Mills ranch in South County and created a permanent buffer to protect adjacent agricultural farmland.
11. Worked with the county departments to clean up a toxic site on a former mushroom farm located on Live Oak Road in rural North County.
12. Assisted D'Arrigo Brothers of California with the relocation of its sixty-year-old processing facilities to a new site within the Salinas Valley. This move enabled the company to take advantage of improved efficiencies which would keep its operations competitive with other processors and allow the company to keep the facility within Monterey County.
13. Worked with local farmers and the landfill authority to find alternative solutions to landfill needs that will ultimately lead to the closing of the Johnson Canyon Landfill.
Lou Calcagno recently announced his candidacy for re-election to the Monterey County Board of Supervisors in the 2nd District. He has proven himself as a dedicated public servant and will continue to serve in the same way that has helped make Monterey County the envy of many others.
Lou and his wife, Carol, make their living in Moss Landing and are the proud parents of two children.
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