District 3 Supervisor Doug Verboon seeks third term on Kings County Board

Can you give me your full name and age and marital status, children?

My name is Doug Verboon, and I am 55 years old. I've been married to my wife Jill for 33 years; we have four adult children.

 Where are you from originally? Schools attended, including high school, college, post-graduate law degrees, etc.?

I was born in Yuba City, California during my father's term in the US Air Force.  We moved back to Hanford when I was 4, and my father went to work for my grandparents on the family farm.  I attended Pioneer Elementary and graduated from Hanford High in 1981.

Your career, including your jobs. How long have you been an elected official? Elected when, how many times, and where? Jobs you’ve held, other vocations?

I have been working on the family farm, Gold Top Ranch since I was a teenager and now I am the sole owner and operator of the business.

In 2005, I bought and finished building and leasing out Cinnamon Square Shopping Center in Lemoore. During the recession, this shopping center was the only center to be fully occupied in the State of California with no vacancies.  I managed to keep it full for the last 13 years, bringing Deli Delicious to Lemoore, when Quiznos went out of business.

This will be my 25th year as an elected official. The first 16 years of my elected career were with the Pioneer School Board.  During that time, Pioneer became the first charter school in the State of California. Also, during my tenure, we built two brand new schools funded by a state bond.

In 2010, I was elected to the Kings County Board of Supervisors, District 3. I have held this position for two terms.

Why are you running for the Kings County Board of Supervisors?

The government has a lot of moving parts and having done this job for eight years I have developed relationships working with local, state and the Federal Government.

Keeping open lines of communication with the cities of Hanford and Lemoore, to minimize the challenges and permitting processes put on potential businesses wanting to bring business to our County.

During my lifetime I have worn many hats, from chopping cotton to testifying in front of Congress.   I have worked for and with family, own four businesses, I understand the struggles Kings County residents face and want to make sure all residents are represented equally.

Achievements? Awards or honors?

In 2008, I partnered with UC Davis on a research project called "Clonal Propagation of Walnut Rootstock Genotypes for Genetic Improvement," this was a ten year very successful project.

I have been awarded Diamond Foods high-quality award twice, since taking over the family walnut farm.

In 2009 I was awarded the Kings County Golden Apple Award for my leadership and dedication as a Pioneer School Board Trustee.

In 2013, I was awarded the Agriculturist of the Year award by the Lemoore Chamber of Commerce.

When the Community of Hardwick's well went dry, I personally delivered and helped install a water tank and worked with the State of California Self Help Enterprises to make sure a new well would be drilled in a timely manner.

Working with our Kings County Sheriff, we have been able to expand our jail facility, opening 252 more beds, with no early release in the last two years. In the prior 15 years, hundreds received early release each year. Approved school resources deputy.

Worked with Deputy Sheriff's Association and successfully broke impasse stalemate in Deputy Sheriff's Association Contract on the eve of fact-finding, which would have prolonged getting raises to our hardworking deputy sheriffs.

Worked with Kings County Fire Chief to get 2-man fire stations approved.

Worked with the City of Hanford for an automatic aid agreement allowing the residents on Furlong Drive to have their homeowner's insurance decreased. This agreement was eventually extended to include all residents of Hanford

Worked with the sheriff and county counsel to get the marijuana ordinance written, which we currently use.

Since becoming Supervisor, I have led the fight against California High-Speed Rail, making sure it follows voter-approved Prop 1A language.  I personally have an open line of communication with high-speed rail, Chairman Dan Richard, to ensure our county's residents in the alignment are impacted minimally.

Currently working on an ordinance regarding groundwater mining and how to protect water in Kings County, so it not sold outside the County and is available for our future generations.

What in your opinion are the major issues facing Kings County residents now and in the future? What must be done to ensure Kings County is successful and meets the demands of the next few years?

Groundwater mining and making sure it's not exported out of Kings County, and I am currently working on an ordinance to handle this issue, and it should be done by the end of this year. Keep working with the San Joaquin Valley Water Infrastructure Authority to find funding for Temperance Flat Dam.

High Speed Rail and doing everything we can to minimize its impact on our residents, by holding them accountable to Prop 1A, and their continued fiscal abuse of tax payer's money.

Working on Amtrak San Joaquin’s Board to ensure Kings County keeps all its stations, which have the most substantial ridership for Amtrak.

Drugs, homelessness, mental health problems all impact our county tremendously, from business owners, homeowners, our jail, and hospital, these three issues seem to go hand in hand.  We as community leaders need to streamline the process of making sure individuals wanting to get help do not fall through the cracks of our programs and system.

My opinion is that bringing businesses will bring jobs to our county. It is key.   This will happen to all local governments keeping open lines of communication to make sure the processes and hoops new businesses must go through are streamlined.

Final thoughts? Is there anything you want to say that hasn’t been asked?

I have been endorsed by Congressman David Valadao, Senator Andy Vidak, Kings County Sheriff David Robinson, the Kings County Republican Central Committee and the Kings County Farm Bureau. I am honored to serve Kings County as District 3, Supervisor.