Eric Hart

Healthcare Expands access to behavioral health and substance use treatment. Economy Get away from our historical boom/bust-extraction economy. Healthcare Strengthens the stability of our hospitals, clinics, and emergency services. Environment / Energy Protecting clean air, clean water, and healthy soil as public health infrastructure: These all directly affect asthma rates, cancer risk, drinking water safety, food quality, and long-term healthcare costs. Infrastructure / Transportation Pushing for solid cell coverage (reality should match their coverage maps). Taxes / Budget Improving operational discipline: clear authority, standardized processes, and empowered staff who can resolve issues efficiently. Infrastructure / Transportation Continue to pursue broadband access for all, especially the rural and disadvantaged. Economy Encourage local ownership of business and industry. Environment / Energy Prevent costly damage with proactive management: Environmental damage always becomes a public expense. When watersheds are degraded, forests are mismanaged, or pollution is ignored, the county (and its residents) ultimately pay the price through emergency response, healthcare costs, infrastructure damage, and lost economic opportunity. Environment / Energy Treating environmental protection as economic policy: the environment is one of our strongest economic assets. It enables us to make money through agriculture, tourism, recreation, fishing, and many other fields. Healthcare Supports workforce recruitment and retention, especially in hard-to-fill specialties. Criminal Justice / Public Safety Crime prevention: support as much as possible, default to enforcement when necessary. Crime has no place in our community. We lead with prevention, treatment, early intervention, community-based policing, and a rehabilitative approach for first-time offenses. But when those efforts fail, or when dealing with repeat or violent offenders, we back our Sheriff and District Attorney to act swiftly and decisively to protect the public. Housing Brings existing housing stock back into safe, usable circulation. Healthcare Uses county policy and permitting authority to reduce barriers to care. Environment / Energy Protect what makes Mendocino unique: The beauty of Mendocino County is legendary. Its redwood forests, powerful rivers, jagged coastline, and rolling open oak meadows, aren’t just scenery; they're part of our identity and our well-being. Access to natural beauty reduces stress, improves mental health, strengthens community connection, and gives people a sense of place and belonging. When we protect the land, we protect something less measurable but deeply real: the inspiration, calm, and meaning that make people want to live here, raise families here, and care for this place long-term. Economy Encourage business that brings money into the county, not circulate local money or extract money. Housing Aligns county processes with common-sense housing production. Infrastructure / Transportation Improving the quality and safety of our roads. Housing Basic homelessness services: housing support pathways for those who want to get off the street, prevention services to help those on the verge of going homeless. Taxes / Budget Restoring financial stability: structural budget balance, accurate forecasting, and responsible long-term planning. Housing Encourages small-scale, locally appropriate growth; ADUs, starter homes, and infill. Education Increase local higher education access including 4 year programs, so residents can learn locally, then start businesses locally.