CASTALDI Theresa Castaldi has made her candidacy for Mariposa County Supervisor in District 3 official. She issued a statement on the matter last week.

Castaldi said she has spent the last 11 years working on a project in Cathey’s Valley. “Throughout the past few years I have experienced many obstacles while in business that I feel could be streamlined by the County to make it easier for enterprise to locate in this beautiful county,” she said.

The candidate is a native Californian and advocate for agriculture. “I support agricultural industries such as agri-tourism which has been financially successful and created jobs in other counties,” she said in her statement. For the past several years, she has participated in the “Weekend in the Country,” hosted by the Agri-Nature Trail Association.

After college, Castaldi worked in serveral wholesale and retial industries that served the public. “I learned quickly that you listen to the people, you can learn and respond to what their needs are,” she said.

Castaldi said she was invited by Leroy Radanovich to join the Yosemite-Mariposa County Tourism Board a number of years ago and has learned a great deal from its members. She said their efforts have been very successful.

“This, in turn, will add to the County’s bottom line in tax dollars,” Castaldi said of boosting tourism. “But we need more, and it can be done with controlled growth while still maintaining the quality of life we have here and that we so enjoy.”

Castaldi said she understands county government and wants to a part of it “in doing my best to undo some policies and procedures that I believe to be woefully wrong, and to make them right.” She also said, “common sense must be used in government.”

The candidate would like to see Mariposa not at the mercy of Mother Nature, such as was the case with the Ferguson Rockslide. “With these hard economic times and grant funds dwindling, it is time for Mariposa County to thrive on its own,” she said. “People in business should not lose everything they have worked so hard for. I know what it is like to start over. I can make a difference. It is our constitutional right to earn a living.”

Castaldi said her goal as supervisor “is to bring positive change to our county, to protect people’s property rights, to cut back on wasteful spending, and to continue to portray a positive image of Mariposa County, its citizens and the community.”

She said she has listened to the people in her district. “I will do my very best to represent them, making sure they get their fair share of tax dollars for which they deserve,” Castaldi said.

“With the help fo the people, together we can make this happen,” Castaldi continued. “I ask you to stand up and vote for Theresa Castaldi on June 8 for supervisor for District 3.”