Steve Gregory appointed to Paso Robles City Council

A new face was chosen to finish the last two years of Steve Martin’s term on the Paso Robles City Council, as Martin became the city’s newest elected mayor Tuesday.

Planning Commissioner Steve Gregory — the last-place finisher in the Nov. 4 City Council election — was appointed to fill the vacated council seat in a surprising move by the newly-seated City Council.

Meanwhile, council incumbent John Hamon and newcomer Jim Reed, as well as Martin, were sworn into their new four-year terms Tuesday. Gregory was then appointed by the newly-seated council and sworn in.

Council members had previously told The Tribune individually that they would likely pick the November election’s third-place finisher, former Mayor Duane Picanco, to fill the council seat, saying that was representative of what the voters wanted. However, they also noted that they would keep an open mind on the issue.

A handful of people Tuesday also asked the council to appoint Picanco.

When it came time to vote for someone, Martin chose Picanco, while Reed, Hamon and Councilman Fred Strong picked Gregory.

Picanco wasn’t available for comment after the decision, but his campaign manager, Gwen Erskine, said she was surprised.

“What type of council doesn't go with the vote of the people?” she said. “Kind of scary about what type of council they will be in the future if they don't go with what the people clearly voted on.”

Hamon nominated Gregory, saying: “I’ve known Steve for many, many years. His expertise could be an asset on the council, I believe.”

He said that Gregory’s knowledge of city government, planning and economic development would be an asset to the council. The other council members didn’t state a reason for choosing Gregory, although Strong said that it had “been an extreme honor serving with Duane Picanco” and that he hopes “Picanco enjoys time with his family.”

Gregory, on the city’s Planning Commission since 2009, works as project design consultant for homes and small businesses. He developed and built Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort near Avila Beach, where he worked from 1984 to 2006. He also helps his wife, Dawn Gregory, run her Odyssey World Café restaurant in downtown Paso Robles.

Before the appointment decision, Picanco was honored by the council and expressed his gratitude.

“To Paso Robles, I thank you for the opportunity to serve you,” he said.

During the election season, Picanco said he wanted to serve another four years to focus on city finances and ride out the North County’s water problems. He ran for a council seat instead of seeking another term as mayor, however, saying he wanted more time for family and less time at public events.

In the race for two council seats, the five candidates received between 18 and 22 percent of the vote apiece. As the top two vote-getters, Hamon and Reed were elected. Picanco came in just 14 votes behind Reed.

Behind Picanco by just six votes was newcomer Pam Avila. Gregory was last, garnering 212 fewer votes than Avila.

Picanco, Avila and Gregory all previously told The Tribune that they would like a shot at the midterm seat. This week, Picanco and Avila posted on Facebook asking their supporters to show up at Tuesday’s council meeting to show their support and help them get a seat, respectively.

Losing Picanco on the council also means the city of Paso Robles may lose its voice on the regional board that will eventually oversee the formation of a water district to manage the Paso Robles groundwater basin, the city's main source of water.

Picanco has one more year on his four-year term at the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO). While his term expires in December 2015, he loses his position on LAFCO if he’s not serving on a city council, commission officials previously said. That means his LAFCO position is up for grabs by any city council member among the county's seven cities.

Outgoing Councilman Ed Steinbeck also thanked the city Tuesday for allowing him to serve. He did not seek re-election so he could focus on his real estate business.

This story was originally published December 2, 2014 at 10:10 PM with the headline "Steve Gregory appointed to Paso Robles City Council."