SUPERVISOR HOPEFULS POINT TO PASTS.

Byline: Jim Skeen Staff Writer

ROSAMOND - Six people are vying to replace Steve Perez as supervisor in the 2nd District, with each candidate claiming to have the right background for the job.

Running in the March 5 election are Mac Askari, a state prison business manager; Mary Beth Garrison, a restaurant owner and business consultant; Bernita Jenkins, a schoolteacher and school board member; Louis Litwin, an attorney and hearing officer; Don Maben, Perez's field representative; and Linda White, executive director of the Kern Wind Energy Association.

If no one gets more than 50 percent of the vote, a runoff election with the top two vote-getters will be held in November.

Askari, 45, a Tehachapi resident, is a business manager at California State Prison-Los Angeles County in Lancaster. He said east Kern County's roads, water supply and wastewater treatment facilities are in dire need of improvement.

``I will lobby to obtain funding for public works projects,'' Askari said.

Garrison, 43, also of Tehachapi, owns a restaurant and works as a public relations consultant. She said her experience as a businesswoman will help her with keeping the county budget healthy while her background in journalism, including 20 years in broadcast journalism, will help her communicate with her constituents.

Garrison said that if she is elected she would establish community advisory committees to help her learn what her constituents want.

``My training in communications allows me to listen and learn, and my natural instincts lead me to tackle tough projects with energy and enthusiasm,'' Garrison said.

Jenkins, 43, a Bakersfield resident, is a teacher and Greenfield Union School District board member. Jenkins said being on the school board has given her experience in making major decisions, including budgets and personnel matters.

``I'm the one who has already won an election,'' she said.

Jenkins said she will keep in touch with the needs of the district by going out and talking directly to her constituents.

Litwin, 72, a Caliente resident, is an attorney and a hearing officer for San Gabriel. Litwin said he would be accessible and that he would hold regular meetings with news media, community groups, and advocacy groups and hold town meetings to keep track of what his constituents want.

``You call my office, you're going to talk to me or I'll call you back,'' Litwin said.

Maben, 60, a Tehachapi resident, said he wants to continue to work on such issues as access to public lands and funding for long-sought project such as a new fire station and a park in Rosamond.

Maben points out that as an assistant to Perez he is already working on constituents' concerns. Perez is running for Kern County sheriff rather than seeking re-election to the board of supervisors.

``I've been in government working on your problems,'' Maben said.

White, 40, a Bakersfield resident, formerly worked on constituent problems for former state Sens. Don Rogers, for 13 years, and Phil Wyman, for almost two years.

``I'm not running to be a politician,'' White said. ``I'm running to be a public servant.''

White said the biggest challenge facing the new supervisor will be finding ways to get the most service for 2nd District residents in light of the tight budgets Kern County is facing.

White said she will look for innovative ways to fund needed increases in public safety and for road, water supply and other public works projects.

The 2nd District covers all of southeast Kern County, including Rosamond, Mojave, California City, North Edwards, and Boron. The district also includes Tehachapi and a portion of the city of Bakersfield.

CAPTION(S):

6 photos

Photo:

(1) ASKARI

(2) GARRISON

(3) JENKINS

(4) LITWIN

(5) MABEN

(6) WHITE