Christopher Aggers: If you want to protect farmland, support Beekman

Re “Beekman should resign from LAFCO” (Letters, April 26): The writer is way off base stating that Hughson Mayor Matt Beekman should resign because of his vote supporting the higher farmland mitigation fee. Even this higher fee is inadequate, but it is preferable to the fees favored by the building industry.

Other than land developers and home builders, who have paid handsomely for their disproportionate representation with numerous politicians and ballot measures, when was the last time you talked to someone who claimed we need more houses, more people, less farmland and more stress on our limited water supplies?

In a very revealing statement (“Mayors move against ag vote,” Page A1, April 5), Riverbank Mayor Richard O’Brien characterized Beekman’s vote by saying: “It is un-American to vote against the majority.” In my view, it is very scary that an elected official holds such a viewpoint. What arrogance!

If you want a truly independent and critical thinking representative on the LAFCO, then appear on May 13, at 156 S. Broadway Turlock at 6 p.m. in the second floor chambers and voice your support for retaining Matt Beekman.

This story was originally published May 11, 2015 at 1:43 PM with the headline "Christopher Aggers: If you want to protect farmland, support Beekman."