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SLOCOG turns on Hill and picks Mecham for president

January 9, 2013
San Luis Obispo County Supervisor Adam Hill

Adam Hill

County Supervisor Adam Hill overwhelmingly lost his bid to become the next president of the San Luis Obispo Council of Governments on a day he did not attend the regional board meeting.

Supervisor Bruce Gibson nominated Hill for the presidency Wednesday, but later withdrew his nomination after the SLOCOG board supported Supervisor Frank Mecham instead. Of the 11 board members present, only Gibson and San Luis Obispo Mayor Jan Marx backed Hill.

Hill did not attend due to the flu despite being present at Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting.

Four people spoke against Hill during public comment, including former Congresswoman Andrea Seastrand.

“Hill’s history of bullying does not make him an appropriate choice for SLOCOG president,” Seastrand said.

In the past two months, Hill sent out disparaging emails attacking state parks officials and a San Luis Obispo business owner. In a November 16 email, Hill accused state park officials of engaging in science denial, and threatened to fence off part of the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area. On December 18, he lashed out against Thoma Electric owner Bill Thoma for distributing a flyer that raised concerns about a proposed homeless shelter’s proximity to local businesses.

The SLOCOG board voted 9-2 in favor of Mecham, and then voted 9-2 to make Pismo Beach Mayor Shelly Higginbotham vice president.

Gibson nominated Marx for vice president, but withdrew that nomination as well when it lacked support. Marx initially seconded her own nomination, and she pled her case to become vice president of the regional body. The San Luis Obispo mayor argued her city often gets passed over in board leadership appointments.

In response to the public comments about Hill, Gibson said the speakers had political axes to grind. Outgoing chair Fred Strong warned speakers to address the board in a respectful manner. Higginbotham, however, said she had just completed an ethics class and that members of the board were the ones who needed to change their behavior.

Despite the lack of support from the SLOCOG board, Hill may still pursue the presidency of the Air Pollution Control District.

 


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Lets us all observe how the ‘new and improved’ Adam Hill handles this snub. In his well publisized ‘apology’ to Mr. Thoma, Hill professed that he had gone to far, but that he had seen the light and would do much better in the future. Time will soon tell.


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What amazes me most about this is how out of touch Gibson is with the politics of the situation. Clearly there was not going to be any support for putting a hot head like Hill in charge of SLOCOC.


If there was one thing most people would agree about Bruce is he is very politically astute. This has been a very bad few month for Bruce. I think the trajectory of his political career has started the long decline.


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Too few people with too much power!


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And by the way, who helped conceal chief soloman’s indiscretions that residents of Paso are now paying for in numerous lawsuits against the City of Paso Robles. When he left Paso it fell apart, why. Because he rode the economic boom and when it collapsed nothing was in place for long term financial sustainability


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I will agree w/you about Mr. Mecham on one point–he DID support Lisa’s ill-fated appointment as police chief and that definitely WAS wrong.


I wouldn’t blame him for Paso “falling apart”, though. The mastermind behind Paso’s demise is Jim “Phat Bald Guy” App, city manager non-extraordinaire. He’s been arrogant, incompetent, AND Lisa Chitty’s #1 supporter. That guy has to GO.


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Mr. Mecham can not be exonerated from all blame (or credi) t for the demise of Paso Robles.

He was instrumental in the hiring of “T.B P.B.G.” and Chitty and must accept some to the

consequences of those actions.


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The lesser of two weavils


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lol, probably not fair, but very clever.


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Hill is the last person we need as pres of the air board, what an antagonistic jerk he would be there.


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