Hear from both candidates running for Kern County 2nd District Supervisor race
Bakersfield, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) — Kelly Carden from Rosamond, says he thinks what makes him qualified to serve as the 2nd District Supervisor for Kern County is he is a blue collar worker, a family man and suffers the consequences from the actions and non actions of elected officials.
"I've been in Rosamond, my families' been here since 1965. I've lived in Kern County my whole life," Carden, said. "I believe in the greatness of Kern County and I believe in the small rural communities of Southeastern Kern that really drive the character of who we are."
The Libertarian and former hospitality manager wants to lower water prices for homeowners and help small businesses.
"So, I think that the key is to focus on small businesses to recover the economy," Carden, said. "What I'd like to do is I would like to see us expand the microgrant programs that are available for first time entrepreneurs as well as those who lost their business due to COVID."
The incumbent in the 2nd district Kern County Supervisor race, and chair of the Kern County Supervisors, Republican Zack Scrivner, says he has a firm grasp of the needs and desires of the people in the district, which span from Boron and Rosamond in the east to Taft and Frazier Park in the west.
Chair Scrivner says right now he's working on the recruitment and retention of police officers as well as addressing homelessness.
"We've tackled the homelessness issue, with a new ordinance, that makes it unlawful to camp in public spaces, as well as opening up the Navigation Center for our homeless population on M street, so, those folks that do come into the Navigation Center have wrap around services," Supervisor Scrivner, said.
Scrivner also stresses oil production in the county, saying the oil revenue in property taxes gives one hundred and eight million dollars to our schools, 80 million a year to the County of Kern and pays for sheriff deputies, the fire department, libraries animal services and our parks.
"I think one of the most important things that we need to do, not just as elected officials in Kern County, but as a community in general, is to continue to push back hard against this misguided effort from Governor Newsom to destroy our oil and gas industry," Scrivner, said.
Eyewitness News reached out to third candidate in this race, Pete Graff, a former police officer, who was fired by the Tehachapi Police Police Department in 2016, but did not hear back.
