When I first interviewed for a position with Mendocino LAFCO in 1999, I didn’t have the slightest clue about what the agency did. By the time I made the second round of interviews, I had a slightly better understanding. When I was awarded the position to serve as the Executive Officer for that agency, I was still very unaware of what all my position would entail.
I was 25 years old. I was a newly-single mother to an infant boy. When I was offered the job, it meant moving four hours away from my current home to a city where I knew literally no one … except the panel of LAFCO Commissioners who had just hired me. Needless to say, I didn’t know them well.
But I will never forget the kindness and words of Jere Melo, the Chairman of the Commission at the time that I was hired. He took me out to lunch after the decision was made and he looked me square in the eye and said, “you might not know the LAFCO law inside and out. You might not know what you’re walking into. But you are an intelligent young woman. You have the skills necessary to learn the mumbo-jumbo. You had the ability to convince us that you could do this job. Now you just have to believe it.”
So two months later, I packed up my five-month-old son, moved four hours away and went to work. There were countless moments that Jere’s words rang in my ears. Sometimes, they were the only things that kept me from quitting and walking away. His leadership was hands-on and effective. He would always say, “I’m just an old lumber guy. I would rather be in a forest than a boardroom any day of the week. I’m not a politician.” But he was actually the very best kind of a politician. He led by listening and doing what was right. When local issues would get contentious, it was often Jere who could walk into the situation and get it resolved. He was fair. He was honest. He fought for what was right and wouldn’t back down from a bully. He was a wonderful man who was so committed to his family and to his community.
I couldn’t have asked for a better man to be my first LAFCO Chairman. He led by example and ultimately, it was probably Jere who not only convinced me to take my first position as a LAFCO Executive Officer, but to continue to work in this career field for the last twelve years. A lot of things in my life look differently now then they did when I first went to work for Jere. I’m no longer a single mom. I am married to wonderful man. My infant son is now a thriving seventh grader. We have a sassy and adorable almost-four-year-old. I’ve worked for numerous different LAFCOs. I’ve had a lot of LAFCO Chairmans since then.
As for Jere? He was brutally murdered on Saturday, while he was out doing his job . . . the job he loved the best, working in the forest. As of right now, his murderer has not been apprehended, although his identification is known. Though incredibly angered at this senseless loss of a good man’s life, I can only pray for his family. For his community. While all of the online communities are abuzz with talk about how legalizing marijuana would have prevented this death? I can’t see how that will bring Jere back. Let his family mourn. Let the Ft. Bragg and Mendocino communities mourn. Bring justice swiftly. Find and prosecute his killer. Legalizing marijuana and Jere’s death really are separate issues. If they’re not kept as separate issues? Then you could come really close to justifying this man’s murder. And that is simply not an acceptable consideration. Someone killed a good man. A man who was simply out, walking in the forest, doing his job.
Rest in peace, Jere Melo.
