Failed Paso Robles council candidate files $500,000 claim calling for firing of city manager
Former Paso Robles City Council candidate Linda George filed a $500,000 personal injury claim against the city of Paso Robles, calling for the termination of city manager Ty Lewis over alleged misconduct, according to a document obtained by The Tribune.
George’s claim comes in response to Lewis’ allegation that she was one of several community members involved in an alleged conspiracy to oust him from his position as the city’s top administrator.
George, who finished a distant third in the race for the District 1 council seat, was mentioned in Lewis’ $2.2 million claim against the city, which alleged that Paso Robles City Councilmember Chris Bausch harassed and spread rumors about him to the point that he experienced medical complications due to stress.
Lewis was placed on medical leave in August by his doctor and returned to his post in late November.
George was also named in a supplemental letter to the city, in which Lewis shared the account of two local business owners who detailed an alleged effort involving Bausch, George, Cal Coast News reporter Karen Velie, former council candidate Michael Rivera, Republican Party district chairman Gary Lehrer and Paso Robles resident Glenn O’Hagan to remove Lewis from his job.
Those accused in the letter, including George, denied their involvement in such an effort in interviews with The Tribune. Bausch declined to comment.
Claim alleges city manager led effort to ‘sabotage’ elections
George’s claim — submitted to the city on Dec. 3 — appears to fire back at Lewis’ accusations, alleging instead that Lewis led a conspiracy to “sabotage” George’s campaign for City Council.
Attached to George’s claim form was a document formatted similarly to a court pleading, written on what appears to be a partially incomplete court pleading template.
The document labels itself as a “writ of mandate” — a document typically ordered by a court of law to compel an agency to adhere to the law. However, George has not yet filed in court. She told The Tribune she plans to file if the city rejects her claim.
For now, the document is considered part of an official complaint filed with the city and was signed by George, indicating that she submitted the document herself, rather than through an attorney.
The 18-page document accuses Lewis and a “cabal” of community members and journalists of spreading falsities and interfering in local elections. It claims that Lewis should be terminated based on a laundry list of alleged offenses.
George — who garnered less than 17% of the vote in her losing City Council campaign — names Paso Robles Mayor John Hamon, City Councilmembers Sharon Roden and Steve Gregory, local journalists (“possibly” including Tribune reporter Chloe Jones) and a number of Paso Robles community members, including Lewis’ family members, as being part of an alleged conspiracy led by Lewis to undermine George and former City Council candidate Michael Rivera’s election campaigns.
George claims that the alleged efforts were racially motivated and were enacted in retaliation to opposition against the city’s now-repealed paid parking program.
“Mr. Lewis and named parties have mocked democracy and placed the citizens in constant confusion for months leaving citizens feeling helpless and angry,” George wrote in the document. “Ty Lewis and his Cabal were the only ones who conspired, colluded and implemented a nefarious plan that was in essence approved by Mayor Hamon.”
The claim states that George experienced “daily abuse” from the accused, alleging that Lewis mistreated constituents, staff and councilmembers and is “especially divisive on social media.”
“Mr. Lewis posted on Facebook and Nextdoor ... an ominous messages that scares the citizens,” the document reads. “He files false complaints against the city. He interfered in this recent election. He is willing to physically citizens (sic). He is insubordinate to the Councilor he hates.”
Throughout the document, George also called Lewis’ medical challenges into question, writing that his condition has “never been severe.” She cited his ability to travel and post on social media during his leave as evidence that he was well enough to work.
Lewis previously fainted at a City Council meeting, which George alleges in her claim was a ruse to avoid being placed under arrest. The fainting spell took place at a May council meeting, while Lewis found out about an alleged ploy to place him under citizens arrest — which George’s claim references — in August.
In her filing, George calls for Lewis’ termination and $500,000 in personal injury payouts, though it’s unclear what those injuries are.
In a note at the end of the attached document, George appears to request a total of $2 million from the city — $500,000 paid directly to her, and an additional $1.5 million to purchase a casino building on Black Oak Drive and transform it into a job skills center, thrift store, kitchen and homeless shelter.
She requested that the additional money be diverted from the recently approved funds allocated for improvements at Sherwood Park.
The claim also requests that the named members of the alleged “cabal” be banned from social media for the next five years.
City manager says claim is evidence of ‘trend’ against him
The Tribune reached out to Lewis, Hamon, Gregory and Roden for their reactions to the claim.
Gregory was not immediately available, while Hamon declined to comment.
Roden told The Tribune that she tried to stay out of George’s campaign and the drama that surrounded it. The accusation that she tried to sabotage anyone’s election or conspired with Lewis or other councilmembers, Roden said, is baseless.
“Unfortunately, this is just a waste of valuable time and resources, in my opinion,” Roden told The Tribune. “I don’t know what she’s talking about with the ‘cabal,’ or where she even comes up with a lot of this nonsense.”
Roden told The Tribune that George has previously accused her of being corrupt.
“I can’t begin to understand why somebody does something like this,” she added.
Lewis told The Tribune that George’s claim has no merit.
“She appears angry, is probably misinformed, and it just follows a pattern and a trend that she’s been pursuing for probably the last four or five years against me in particular,” Lewis said. “And I don’t find that there’s any merit to anything that she’s saying.”
To the mention of his family members in the claim, Lewis said George “crossed a lot of lines.”
“(She) probably opened herself up to a defamation lawsuit, but, you know, that’ll be for other folks to determine,” Lewis said. “I think the document speaks for itself and speaks to her character. I think that’s probably all I need to say.”
The Tribune also reached out to George about her claim.
She said the document stands for itself and said that she wants the best for the city.
“My biggest concern has always been the citizens,” George said.
The claim is currently under review, and the city has 45 days to respond, city officials told The Tribune.
This story was originally published December 9, 2024 at 5:00 AM.
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