Schrader, Abe tangle in Yuba's 4th

Yuba County Supervisor Don Schrader wants one more term to see projects he's been involved in through to completion, but his opponent says it's time for a change.

Schrader, who has served as county supervisor for 12 years, said it is most important that the Yuba County Water Agency relicense Bullards Bar Reservoir.

"Hopefully in the next four years we'll be far enough along in the process," Schrader said.

In 2016, when the federal license comes up for renewal and the $180 million construction debt is paid off, the Water Agency stands to make a profit of $150 million each year, which can be spent on flood control, power generation, recreation and water throughout Yuba County, Schrader said.

Schrader is being challenged in the June primary by Roger Abe, 52, a walnut farmer from Wheatland.

Schrader said this would be his last term on the board.

District 4 represents Wheatland, Beale Air Force Base, District 10 and Hallwood. Both candidates said Yuba County's commercial growth, in addition to residential growth, is important.

Abe said, if elected, he would like to streamline the process to obtain a building permit.

"There are a number of agencies you have to deal with before getting a permit," he said. "You just get passed around and no one wants to deal with that."

Abe said another way to improve economic growth is to change the attitude of the county.

"If we sit back and say we are poor and not do anything about it, we won't change," he said. "We need to start with a change in attitude."

Schrader said it's not as easy as it looks to recruit industry and retail to the area.

"My opponent painted a rosy picture," Schrader said of Abe's idea to be friendlier to business. "I wish it were that easy."

Schrader said the real problem comes from the state, which he said over-regulates business.

"It's extremely difficult to get people to come here because of all the rules," he said.

Schrader said if re-elected, he would also like to create a Bi-County transit authority that would combine six agencies — Yuba County, Sutter County, Marysville, Yuba City, Live Oak and Wheatland — to lobby for funds from the Sacramento Area Council of Governments.

Schrader said by combining forces rather than have each agency represent itself, the region could be stronger.

"If we form a regional alliance, we'd have a better chance of getting SACOG and Caltrans to accept that we need to help the traffic on highways 65, 70, 20 and 99," Schrader said.

Abe said he can offer a different perspective on all issues that affect Yuba County.

"The ways we've operated in the past has been all right," he said. "But we need to look at things differently and take new approaches, and I'm willing to do that."

Contact Appeal-Democrat Andrea Koskey at 749-4709 or akoskey@appealdemocrat.com