Majority of Siskiyou voters are opposed to dam removal 

By LEE JUILLERAT

H&N Regional Editor

November 5, 2010

   Ballot Measure G asked voters, “Should the Klamath River dams (Iron Gate, Copco 1 and Copco 2) and associated hydroelectric facilities be removed?”

   The final tally was 11,229 against dam removal and 2,977 in favor. The advisory measure was placed on the ballot by Siskiyou County supervisors, who have consistently opposed the Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement and dam removal.  

   The KBRA is an agreement negotiated by various stakeholder groups along the Klamath River Basin. If it receives Congressional funding and authorization, it outlines a plan to improve river quality and fish habitat through a series of projects. As a key element, the KBRA calls for the removal of four Klamath River dams. Because Measure G was an advisory measure, it has no legal force but was proposed by supervisors to show public opposition to the KBRA, especially proposals to remove the three Siskiyou County dams. A fourth dam proposed for removal is the John C. Boyle in Klamath County.  

   Siskiyou sheriff

   Jon Lopey, a retired California Highway Patrol manager, won election as the new Siskiyou County Sheriff by defeating Jim Betts, the sheriff ’s department’s captain and operation commander. Lopey collected 9,138 votes and Betts had 5,414.

   Siskiyou County voters strongly supported Republican candidates, including Wally Herger for re-election as a U.S. representative, Doug La Malfa for state senator, and Jim Nielsen for state assembly. Along with taking Siskiyou County, Nielsen and Herger won re-election in their respective districts.     

   La Malfa, a former Assemblyman, won election to his first term as state senator for a large geographic area of Northern California that includes Siskiyou and Modoc counties.

   Final vote tallies in other races involving the Tulelake Basin and Butte Valley had no effect on other races reported Wednesday morning.

   Long-time Tulelake City Clerk Joe Cordonier won re-election over Johnny Crowell, 80 votes to 71, while incumbent city treasurer Elona Bunch, who resigned in October and announced she would not take office if elected, received the most votes, 58. Her resignation and withdrawal came too late to not be included on the ballot. Kim Keiser was second with 48 while Paula Barnhart had 40.

   Tom Cordonier, Joe Cordonier’s brother, topped the field in the Tulelake City Council race with 82 votes, while the other two seats were won by Donald McCloud with 79, and Dar Carroll with 76. Trailing were Richard Marcillac with 74 votes and James Garland with 40.

   On the Tulelake Irrigation District Board, James Havlina defeated Janice Woodhouse, 25 votes to 13.

   Two positions for the Butte Valley Unified School District board were contested. In Area 1, Shannon Struble defeated Ron Criss, 255 votes to 197, and Area 2 incumbent Chet Porterfield of Macdoel defeated Walter Jerde of Macdoel, 327 votes to 131.