There are several reasons why I'm an unsuitable candidate for the board of supervisors.

It took all of five minutes after a Feb. 12 article on possible candidates came out for readers to ask why my picture was on the front page with photos of current supervisors rather than other likely candidates for office. And while I had no input into the decision, it is a valid question. As publisher of the local newspaper, surely, more questions would arise throughout the possible campaign and if I were elected.

While I've given my word that I'd never meddle in our coverage of county government and other stories the newsroom chooses to pursue, the perception is that I could control, or at least significantly inform, both the media and political arenas. In a society where perception can quickly become reality, those concerns are valid.

The other major problem, at least for me, is that I'd no longer have the bullhorn of the editorial page to highlight issues I think need addressing. In essence, this would stifle my ability to share ideas, thoughts and criticism in the Ledger Dispatch, which is a critical function of a good newspaper. I've been keeping quiet lately because of my possible intention to run, but as I formally recant any political aspirations today, let me offer a few reasons I think we need new leadership.

County supervisors have been arguing for weeks now that it's the state of California and the federal government that placed them in this precarious situation with regard to the proposed Buena Vista casino. In truth, our county signed agreements with the Buena Vista Rancheria, opening the door for another casino in Amador County. Former Gov. Gray Davis signed a letter acknowledging this agreement, one Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger later signed off on. No one on the current board has ever addressed why they chose to sign these agreements.

Instead of coming clean on the error, the board of supervisors then spent money placing a non-binding measure on the ballot that asked Amador County residents whether they wanted another casino. Big surprise, voters said no. Seems to me, if you wanted to gauge the public's appetite for more gaming, you would have done that before signing any agreement. But the supervisors didn't - and offer no explanation.

There are other reasons we need new leadership. After the addition of two new supervisors this past election, Louis Boitano actually told at least one of them that if he had any questions of department heads or county staff, he should run those questions through Boitano. This is a gross misuse of an elected position and prohibits another elected official from serving his constituents.

In discussions with county employees and land use committee members, I have been told that county staffers are being asked to act as a police force for code violations. I always thought the county's role was to address legitimate complaints from constituents, rather than the "anonymous" complaints they pursue. The county should do away with these anonymous complaints. Valid complaints from residents who come forward in name should be pursued.

We are also way past due in revisiting the process by which local businesses are given bidder preference. I have long been a supporter of buying locally, and when the county bids out items like $60,000 in furniture for the new Health and Human Services building, I don't understand the thinking. On Feb. 8, the county spent more than $159,000 on vehicles for the county, all of which were purchased out of market. Too bad we don't have local car dealers to help us out there. Where's the concern for our local business operators, or even just our tax base? The 5 percent local bidder preference is too low and needs to be increased.

When you collect $108,000 in transient occupancy tax and decide to reinvest only $20,000 back into building tourism and commerce, despite the fact that voters agreed the entire amount was to go toward local businesses, it seems county government has once again decided to prop up its own general fund with little concern for their constituents. Some $78,000 went into the general fund this past year and just disappeared.

The lack of a general plan update has created all sorts of problems. Failure to plan is planning to fail, and they have done it brilliantly. And for this failure, the board rewarded themselves with an automatic 38 percent pay increase this past year.

A big part of this job is covering the decisions our elected officials make. For the political candidates hopeful of garnering an elected position, I'd suggest you prepare to answer tough questions with specific answers and plans. I for one, now as a private citizen and business owner, expect real answers and solutions. Good luck to each of you.