CONTROVERSIAL COYOTE SPRINGS RANCH OWNER THERESA CASTALDI WANTS A SEAT ON THE BOARD. The bankrupt developer of Coyote Springs Ranch in Cathey’s Valley, Theresa Castaldi, and local engineer Floyd Davis are both seeking the District 3 board of supervisors position currently held by twoterm Supervisor Janet Bibby.

Both challengers secured Petitions for Signatures in Lieu of Filing Fees paperwork from the county elections office last week, according to elections clerk Courtney Progner. They both now appear as candidates on the County’s elections Web site.

On Oct. 12, 2006 Castaldi filed a Ficticious Name Statement for Coyote Springs Ranch with the county clerk, listing herself as the individual owner. On the same date, she filed another form for Coyote Springs Guest Ranch listing herself and Patricia Oakander as operating under a partnership.

Since that time, Castaldi has locked horns with virtually every County department over a multitude of issues pertaining to developing the ranch property.

Monday morning, the GAZETTE asked Castaldi why she was running. Orignally Castaldi responded to the GAZETTE’S question, but telephoned later in the day to retract her statements.

Last January, Castaldi filed bankruptcy in U.S. District Court. Those documents show a total of $2,289,177 in unsecured debt and $9,154,000 in secured creditors. Many of the unsecured debt holders are Mariposa County residents. As of last Thursday, Castaldi owed Mariposa County a total of $123,633.47 in delinquent property taxes.

For months, foreclosure notices on various parcels have been published naming Castaldi as the real property owner. Just last week, one such publication regarding the ranch property at 2100 Old Highway in Cathey’s Valley was cancelled by the trustee.

Davis, an accomplished local engineer, told the

GAZETTE, “I’m running to provide the constituents of District 3 with another choice for representation. I will be a representative who listens to his constituents and acts on their desires to the greatest extend possible with creative and innovative solutions,” Davis said said on Monday.

“I would like to use my education and experience to make Mariposa County a better place to live, that is fair and equitable to all,” Davis added.

When contacted by the

GAZETTE for reaction to the challengers’ actions, Supervisor Bibby said, “I would hope that people would respect the work I have done on their behalf, and would support me in the upcoming election.” Bibby has previously been named “Best Elected Official” at least twice in the GAZETTE’S annual “Best of the Best” competition.

The primary election will be held on June 8