Bonnie Neely

By Bonnie Neely

Introduction to Bonnie Neely

I was born and raised in Eureka and graduated from Eureka High School and HSU. After studying and working abroad in Europe, I returned to my hometown of Eureka to make a difference in my community. As your 4th District Supervisor, I'm proud to say I've built a reputation as an independent leader who has never been beholden to special interests.

As a social advocate, I've always championed the rights of working people, families, seniors, children and marriage equality. My many accomplishments in this area include working on the committee to pass Measures S and T for Eureka City Schools, co-chairing the Children's Health Initiative to provide health insurance for more than 4,000 children, and working with the county's Human Rights Commission to form the Law Enforcement Liaison Committee. I also supported the initial funding for the MAC center, as well as its transformation to serve families rather than being closed. By partnering with the county's Headwaters Fund, I helped secure funds for tele-medicine at the Open Door Clinics and St. Joseph Hospital as well as job training programs.

I've also always put the environment first and believe we can have balanced sustainability between the environment and job creation. I'm a smart growth candidate who seeks positive solutions to multifaceted questions.

Our quality life here on the North Coast depends upon two things: Creating economic opportunities and living in balance with our beautiful, natural setting. I am the only candidate with a proven track record of success in these two areas.

I have always stood up for jobs that pay a prevailing wage, and am proud to list several labor unions as my endorsers. The County has paid prevailing wages for projects such as the library, animal shelter and the Health and Human Services building. During my tenure as Supervisor, the county recently received millions of dollars in federal funding for the support and creation of sustainable, green jobs and I look forward to turning these jobs into a reality with your vote on June 8th. I also support short sea shipping, which is scale appropriate for Humboldt Bay.

While the position of supervisor is indeed local, it also requires strong relationships with state and federal governments to ensure Humboldt County receives its fair share. I have worked tirelessly to cultivate these partnerships, and I am the only candidate endorsed by those holding higher office, including Congressman Mike Thompson and Assemblymember Wes Chesbro.

For 14 years, I have held statewide offices, including serving on the California Board of Forestry and the California Coastal Commission. Currently, I am serving my second term as chair of the Coastal Commission, and during my time there I have always opposed offshore oil drilling. Humboldt County has vast resources and a unique environment that are statewide and natural treasures. It comes as no surprise my candidacy has also been supported by those from outside of the county who wish to see all that we have to offer protected and maintained.

Our area is not only rich in natural beauty, but also in another commodity we should value and be proud of- The Arts. I was a founding board member of North Coast Repertory Theatre, and along with Assemblymember Patty Berg co-founded two great local festivals, the Redwood Coast Jazz Festival and Blues by the Bay, which are now among the most respected and successful small festivals in the nation. These two events infuse our local economy with millions of dollars each year, and proceeds go toward local senior programs and youth activities. Currently, I am the board president of Dell'Arte International in Blue Lake, which has an annual operating budget of $1.3 million and is the largest arts employer between San Francisco and Ashland.

It has been a tremendous privilege to serve the people of Humboldt County, and I will be honored to receive you support on June 8th. With your help, I can continue putting the people first. Thank you.