Tolley Gorham has released a statement that he is a candidate for the position of Mariposa County Supervisor for District 3.

Gorham’s statement says, “My family moved to Yosemite National Park in 1955, and in 1959, we moved to Carleton Road. I attended Yosemite Elementary, Mariposa Elementary, and as the president of the senior class, I graduated from Mariposa County High School in 1967. In 1985, I was awarded a bachelor’s of science degree in business administration through California State University, Sacramento. I am a Viet Nam veteran, and spent nearly nine years in the US Navy.”

Gorham sites is qualifications as: “I’ve lived in and visited many very different parts of our world, but Mariposa has always been home. I returned to Mariposa to begin my career as a small business person in 1993. I owned and operated Yosemite Brewing Company, and worked for several years at EdTech Computers. I am a real estate broker and an appraiser. My wife, Sherry, and I own and operate The Rental Network and Mariposa Properties. I have served as the president of two non-profit corporations, as a trustee on the Mariposa County Unified School District Board of Education, and I am a member of the board of directors of the Mariposa County Chamber of Commerce.”

The challenger states, “I believe I can represent all my District 3 constituents while moving our county forward by seeking this office on the following platform:

1. Neither the county, nor any other govern- mental agency should introduce undo hardship or excessive restriction on how a person can enjoy the rights of ownership. The General Plan and accompanying zoning and land use laws should be adapted or revised to ensure individual rights are upheld and balanced against the best interests of our communities.

2. Every person and every group of people should be represented equally. We are a diverse collection of individuals and groups, and each of us should be able to have our ideas and opinions considered. Our county has room for all of our economic interests to flourish, and no one single segment of our economy or nor any organization should be allowed to dominate the agenda for our government.

3. Our employment opportunities fall in to three main categories – government, tourism and privately owned small business. Federal, state and local governments offer well paying, stable and long term jobs. These are important jobs to the welfare of our county but should not be the only opportunities for long term employment. I will work together with the Economic Development Corporation, the Mariposa County Chamber of Commerce, the Mariposa County Economic Development Office, and when appropriate, the Sierra Business Council to put a plan in place to meet the goals of improved economic rewards for everyone who is willing to work.

4. We are a beautiful county, and our scenery is certainly one of the primary reasons that people love to drive our highways and visit our attractions. It is important that the rural nature of our county is preserved. Ag land needs to stay ag land, including the Williamson Act contracts our ranchers and farmers rely on. However, while we preserve ag and open space, we must allow development of residential and commercial/industrial land to move forward in a controlled but less restrictive manner.”