Announcement

Zack Scrivner, a Bakersfield City Councilmember, is going to run for the Kern County Board of Supervisors in the 2010 elections.

Vice mayor and City Councilmember Scrivner made his announcement outside of the Board of Supervisors chambers in downtown Bakersfield, where he announced that he will be running for the Kern County Board of Supervisors in the next election.

Scrivner said he would be running for the 2nd District seat, which covers southeastern areas of Bakersfield, Tehachapi, Rosamond and surrounding areas of eastern Kern County.

He said he will continue to bring fiscal responsibility to local government and prioritize tax dollars to maximize service to local communities. He plans to also focus on regional transportation projects, enhance economic development in Kern County, enhance eastern Kern’s military defense installations and promote renewable energy technology.

Scrivner has a B.A. in English Literature from U.C. Santa Barbara, is currently the District Director for California State Assemblymember Jean Fuller (R-Bakersfield).

Scrivner has worked as a District Representative for U.S. Rep. Kevin McCarthy, who is House Whip and the Congressman for the 22nd District. That was during McCarthy’s tenure in the State Assembly. Scrivner also worked for a 2002 McCarthy campaign.

Scriver feels his past seat will help him as a Supervisor. He said he knows the economy is bad but that may also help him in running for office as he wants to bring more jobs to the 2nd district.

http://www.bakersfield.com/news/local/x1590001370/Pension-ballot-arguments-are-in

Texts of the supporting and opposing ballot arguments for the city of Bakersfield’s pension measure have been turned in. City residents will vote Nov. 2 on whether to reduce pension benefits for future police and firefighters hired starting in 2011. The arguments will appear in voter pamphlets before the election.Each side also gets to write a rebuttal, and those texts will be released next week.The measure hasn’t yet been named by county elections officials, so it’s left blank, but here’s how the arguments read:

Argument in support, written by Bakersfield City Councilmen Zack Scrivner, David Couch and Ken Weir

Zack Scrivner has received the personal endorsements of eight Greater Tehachapi Chamber of Commerce Directors. Endorsing Scrivner’s campaign for 2nd Supervisorial District are Chairperson Tim Kielpinski, Chair-Elect Marty Pay, Treasurer Lorraine Berry, Past Chairperson Lara Berard, Ed Duggan, Carl Gehricke, Brian Johnson and Tammy Wallace. Because the Greater Tehachapi Chamber of Commerce is unable to endorse as a body, the endorsements are made as individuals.

The Tehachapi News reports:

On Tuesday, Sept. 21, the Chamber hosted a candidates forum for the Kern County Supervisor, Second District race at Don Juan’s in Tehachapi. More than 60 local business leaders attended the forum. Both candidates were given the opportunity to speak and answer questions.

“I am honored to receive the endorsement of so many of Tehachapi’s Chamber of Commerce and business leaders,” Scrivner said.

“In a race with great candidates, Zack shines above the rest. His fiscal conservatism is desperately needed in our present economy,” said Chamber Chair-Elect Marty Pay.

Zack is running for the Kern County 2nd District Supervisor seat being vacated by Don Maben.  To learn more about Zack Scrivner, check out his Biography page.

While taking part in a candidate forum hosted by the Greater Tehachapi Chamber of Commerce, Zack shared his vision for enhancing the business climate in Tehachapi and eastern Kern.  During the forum, Zack spoke about several topics including upgrades and changes to Highway 58.  From the Tehachapi News:

“What would help us is getting Highway 58 changed to Interstate 40,” said candidate Zack Scrivner, the Vice Mayor of Bakersfield. “It would put our area on the map and lead to upgrading the infrastructure.”

With the increasing load of intermodal transport and distribution centers in the region, he said, “We need to fight for our share of state and federal transport dollars to expand the capacity of existing roadways.”

Scrivner also railed against over-burdensome regulations which stifle job growth in Eastern Kern.

“The biggest issue is jobs in East Kern,” said Scrivner, who is active in Republican politics. “We need to focus on streamlining the permitting process in renewable, wind, solar, geothermal. Our job as a county is to be a customer-oriented entity.”

Scrivner also advocated establishing an Enterprise Zone in East Kern.

Where Scrivner really differentiated himself from the other candidate, however, was over the issue of public pension reform.

The issue of public sector pensions is what sets the candidates apart and is the big elephant in the room.

Scrivner has made it a keystone issue, saying that the “skyrocketing retirement costs in Kern” are what’s driving the $37.5 million county budget shortfall.

“What was 60 percent at 30 (60 percent of the salary at 30 years) is now 100… 105… 110 percent” of  when the employee worked.

The fire chief gets 50 percent more in retirement than when he worked, Scrivener said., and employees haven’t paid into their pension and health plans.

Be sure to read the entire article.