PUBLIC COMMENT PRESENTED AT THE
YOUNTVILLE TOWN COUNCIL MEETING AND FOR THE RECORD
OCTOBER 6, 2026
Good afternoon. My name is Jill Turner, and I have two public comments I'd like to make here today.
First, I appreciate the Town acknowledging my questions regarding the severance package of former Town Manager Brad Raulston. Thank you.
However, the response to my California Public Records Act request is due on or before October 30. That information may or may not affect voters views. But voters deserve adequate time to review relevant public information before casting their ballots. So it is unfortunate that Yountville voters may have only a few days to consider that information before the election ends on November 3.
Second, I want to raise an issue the Town Council does not control, but which significantly affects Yountville - namely, candidate access to members of the Veterans Home.
I - and many others - have requested a nonpartisan forum at the Home where ALL Town Council candidates could introduce themselves, discuss their priorities, and answer members' questions. However, I've been told that the Home Administration and/or CalVet will not allow this.
This has been confirmed by Home Administrator Holly Holtzen in an email to me, responding to my email to Public Information Officer Jena Kaeppeli requesting such a forum. My follow-up email did not receive a response.
However, Ms. Holtzen has stated that "Political and campaign activity at the Veterans Home is prohibited. Door-to-door campaigning, solicitation, or distribution of political or campaign literature within the Veterans Home are also prohibited." I understand the need for reasonable rules protecting members from unwanted political activity. But a voluntary, nonpartisan forum featuring ALL candidates is not the same as door-to-door campaigning or solicitation.
I understand that the September 28 Candidates Forum will be replayed on KVET. That's great.
But watching a recording is not the same as participating in a forum designed specifically for Veterans Home members -- where they can ask candidates their own questions, hear their answers firsthand, and make their own judgments. Furthermore, an on-site forum is especially important for members who have difficulty leaving the campus.
There is also an issue of equal access. Campaign literature from Mayor Marjorie Mohler was apparently distributed by a member at the Home regarding her September 30 event -- and members were directed to Councilmember Pam Reeves for additional information.
It is NOT that I necessarily begrudge that this information was shared - but rather that ALL candidates do not have the same advantage. The rest of us would just like equal opportunity with members at the Veterans Home. That seems only fair.
Furthermore, candidates' access to the Veterans Home campus is tightly restricted.
Candidates cannot visit members, share their views, or discuss campaign issues with them without prior review and approval from CalVet headquarters.
This is unfortunate - and wrong. Our Yountville members are brave men and women who sacrificed time, energy, and more on behalf of America -- and now they must be shielded from ideas from ALL candidates?
They are also members of the Yountville community. They deserve every reasonable opportunity to hear from the candidates seeking to represent them -- and to question us directly.
Moreover, don't we candidates have First Amendment rights to share our points-of-view at the Veterans Home that, ultimately, we taxpayers pay for? I find this situation disturbing on many levels.
As a Town Council candidate, my campaign theme is "Rethink what's possible." I believe the Veterans Home administration and CalVet should do some rethinking, too.
Rethink what's possible for civic participation at the Veterans Home. Rethink whether protecting members requires isolating them from candidates. And rethink how an all- candidate forum can -- and should -- be conducted fairly and appropriately to benefit all members.
l've previously said our Veterans Home members need advocates-and, when necessary, NOISY advocates. And on this issue, I'm happy to make some noise.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Jill Turner
Jillforyountville.com
[email protected]