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Times Standard Endorses Pat Higgins

November 4, 2007 (Links to Times Standard website)

Arcata Eye Endorses Pat Higgins

October 30, 2007 (Links to Arcata Eye website)

KEET Harbor Commissioner Debate

October 24, 2007 Sponsored by the League of Women Voters (Links to KEET website)

 

Higgins receives endorsement of tribal leaders

This article appeared in the Eureka Reporter on 10/28/2007.

Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation and Conservation District Division 5 candidate Pat Higgins has received the endorsement of several tribal leaders, adding further to his support from a number of elected officials.

Hoopa Valley Tribal Council Chairperson Lyle Marshall, Yurok Tribe Chairperson Maria Tripp, former Yurok Tribe Executive Director Troy Fletcher and former Trinidad Rancheria Councilmember Joy Sundberg have all given their backing to Higgins.

“Over the years Pat has worked on Klamath and Trinity rivers issues, I’ve always been impressed with his integrity,” Marshall said. “His practical application of the facts and data in this complex system were of great value in moving restoration efforts forward. I believe his professionalism and insights will be an important asset to the Harbor District.”

Higgins, a fisheries professional with more than 30 years of business experience in Humboldt County, is running for commissioner against a 16-year, four-term incumbent. According to a news release, Higgins seeks to bring a fresh and realistic perspective to the board by promoting realistic and balanced port development that helps create living-wage jobs, as well as the development of a bay trail system and environmental restoration of the bay.

“I am thankful for the support. I enjoy working with the local tribes to revive the health of our rivers and bring restoration jobs to the area,” Higgins said. “I will bring that same energy and experience to the Humboldt Bay commission.”

The endorsements add to Higgins’ support from elected officials in Division 5, including the majority of the city councils of Blue Lake and Trinidad, and the cities’ respective mayors, Sherman Schapiro and Chi-Wei Lin.

Physicians for Pat

This column appeared in the Eureka Reporter on 17 October 2007.

As health care professionals in Humboldt County we believe that we have a unique opportunity to elect a Humboldt Bay Commissioner with a Commitment towards a healthier community. Pat Higgins is the candidate who has placed the Humboldt Bay trails as a priority in his vision of important projects to move forward. He has assured us that when elected he will work hard towards that end.

It is well known and accepted that regular exercise has beneficial effect on most of the diseases of our western civilization. As doctors, nurses, and other health professionals of Humboldt County, we believe it is our responsibility to speak out for the health needs of our entire community. Regular exercise in the beautiful outdoors is a key component towards healthy living. There perhaps isn’t a more important project development than the trails for the public health of our community. Think about the joy our community and tourists alike would have along this trail. This would be visible from the 101-corridor traffic — a great advertisement to entice others to use the trails.

We encourage all our patients to live active lives when we see them in our practices. At the same time, we must take steps to ensure that infrastructure exists to make active lifestyles safe, appealing, and convenient. If we do not, it is as if we are prescribing medicine without providing access to it.

Biking, walking, or other active modes of commuting are a great way for people to incorporate physical exercise into their daily routine. Additionally, active commute modes have other benefits, like lessening our greenhouse gas emissions and dependence on fossil fuels.

Presently many bikers do not feel safe on our existing roads especially the routes between Eureka and Arcata. One of the best immediate steps to make active living safer and more appealing is to construct a Humboldt Bay Trail between Eureka and Arcata. A beautiful scenic route would attract commuters and recreationalists alike to enjoy fresh air, exercise, and public space.

A recent feasibility study commissioned by HCAOG (www.hcaog.net) found that the Humboldt Bay Trail would offer our community millions of dollars per year in health benefits and contribute millions more dollars in direct economic activity per year. Our community gives up these millions of dollars every year we go without the trail, not to mention quality of life advantages. According to the study the cost of building the trail is just a fraction of the return benefits it would offer in only one year.

For the sake of our community’s health and safety, we need this trail built as soon as possible. With the right leadership the Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation, and Conservation District can improve recreational access in and around our bay, coordinate funding for trail projects, and oversee their construction. Therefore, we care a great deal about the priorities and abilities of any candidate for bay district commissioner.

There is only one candidate running for fifth district commissioner who has the vision, passion, and plan to move the Humboldt Bay Trail forward — he is Pat Higgins. Pat has years of experience as a businessman, a fisheries professional and even a bike commuter. He understands how a healthy economy, ecosystem and community are not mutually exclusive. Please join us in supporting Pat Higgins for 5th District Bay Commissioner. We’re all looking forward to a community enjoying walking, jogging and biking on the Humboldt Bay Trail soon.

Signed,

Beth Abels, MD John Albertini, MD William Bonis, MD Erik Burman, MD Shurie Burman, RN Raphaelle Butler, MD William Carlson, MD Chia Chen, MD Stephen Clark, MD Christopher Cody, MD Beverly Copeland, MD Nathan Copple, MD Jeff Corral-Ribordy, MD Timothy Dalsaso, MD Scott Diamond, MD Brian Dorman, MD Elena Furrow, MD John Gambin, MD

Eric Gerdes, DO Alan Glaseroff, MD Hal Grotke, MD Tim Haskett, FNP Robert Headley, MD Joan Hoffman, MD Gregory Holland, MD Willard Hunter, MD Jack Irvine, MD Erik Jansson, MD Douglas Jornlin, RN Robert LaClair, MD Jerome Lengyel, MD Ann Lindsay, MD Join Luh, MD Allen Mathew, MD Melissa McKenzie, DO Sheldon Meshulum, MD

Kenneth Miller, MD Michael Mizoguchi, MD Timothy Paik-Nicely, MD Michael Palmer, MD David Ploss, MD James Quillen, MD Wendy Ring, MD W. Scott Sageman, MD Scott Sattler, MD Marty Smukler, MD Kate Vogelsang, NP, MSN Philip Vogelsang, MD Ellen Weiss, MD Lawrence Wieland, MD Jane Williams, MD Frank Zazueta, MD

Moving Humboldt Bay Forward: Higgins For Bay District

Candidate aims to establish balance with preservation, commerce

September 18, 2007

Thank you for coming out on this beautiful Humboldt County day. Today I am announcing the kick off to my run for the 5th Division seat on the Humboldt Bay Harbor Recreation and Conservation District. I am very fortunate to have lived most of my life in Humboldt County where I have built successful businesses over the last 30 years. This has given me the opportunity to enjoy and appreciate the bounty and beauty of this area, this amazing place we call Humboldt Bay.

I believe in public service. I have served on a number of government agency advisory committees and non-profit organization boards. It is in the spirit of public service that I ask for your confidence to serve as your Commissioner on the Humboldt Bay District.

I believe that it is time for a new voice on the Humboldt Bay District. As your commissioner, I’ll bring a reasoned and practical manner to the Humboldt Bay District. As a business person and fisheries professional I will provide a balancEd approach to the commercial, recreational and conservation elements of the Bay.

I understand the important role our Bay can and does play in our economy. I have been a successful small business owner, a project manager and fisheries professional who has created many living-wage jobs and I will apply that experience when serving on the Bay District. I want to see business around Humboldt Bay grow and I will work hard to make that happen. I will help diversify and strengthen bay commerce and promote realistic and desirable development while protecting the environment and our quality of life.

In my work as a fisheries professional and project manager I have brought millions of restoration dollars to northern California and I will use this experience to assist the District to secure and mange more of this kind of funding for all types of projects around Humboldt Bay that will benefit us all.

When elected I will emphasize greater access to Humboldt Bay to enhance our appreciation for this valuable asset. In particular I will prioritize the development of a Humboldt Bay bike and pedestrian trail system and improved fishing access infrastructure. I believe that we can develop a world class trail system that will attract visitors and that can play an important in our economy. This type of trail system is also important for the health and well being of all of our citizens.

As an avid fisherman, I will work hard to improve recreational fishing access around Humboldt Bay and I will make sure that launching facilities are working and maintained, with fish cleaning stations and clean rest rooms.

I am not only a fisherman, but I am also a seafood consumer. As we all know Humboldt Bay is one of the most productive estuaries on the West Coast. When elected I will actively promote the diversification and enhancement of our productive aquaculture and fishing industries.

In addition, in order to protect this important segment of our economy I believe that the District needs to be more active in addressing pollution issues around our Bay. When elected I will encourage the board to begin to seek solutions to this issue.

Finally, when I am elected I will draw from my experience as a fisheries professional to increase the Bay District’s role in restoring the Bay. By re-connecting watersheds and wetlands to Humboldt Bay, we can improve fish habitat and the Bay’s productivity. Restoration is also another way we can create jobs that pay dividends in fish production long into our future.

In closing I would like to say I, like so many of you, believe that it is time for a new perspective, a reasoned voice and a renewed commitment for the betterment of Humboldt Bay and citizens in the surrounding area. With your vote, together we can move Humboldt Bay forward.