Paso Robles city manager retires with settlement after filing conspiracy claim
Paso Robles city manager Ty Lewis has retired after reaching a settlement agreement with the city, ending one chapter in the months of turmoil that unfolded after he filed a $2.275 million complaint against the city accusing Councilman Chris Bausch of harassment and creating a hostile workplace.
City attorney Elizabeth Hull made the announcement at the conclusion of a closed session City Council meeting Monday night.
“This agreement resolves all outstanding issues relating to a claim Mr. Lewis previously filed against the city,” Hull said. “Under the terms of the settlement, neither party will pursue litigation related to this claim in accordance with state law.“
Lewis’ departure ends what was a 23-year career with the city that included also serving as police chief.
The announcement comes after months of controversy following Lewis’ claim against the city in August. The claim alleged that Bausch harassed Lewis to the point that he suffered medical complications. Lewis’ claim was denied in September.
Lewis’ last day of work was Sunday. Assistant city manager Chris Huot will take over as interim city manager in Lewis’ absence, Hull said.
“I’m happy that the city and I were able to come to resolution that helps the community move forward,” Lewis told The Tribune.
Lewis described the decision as “bittersweet.”
“During my tenure with the city we’ve accomplished so much. We’ve been through so much and we have lots to be proud of. Hopefully I left the city in better condition than when I found it,” Lewis said. “I’m proud of my career. I’m proud of the people that I’ve worked with and I look forward to a new chapter.”
No terms of the settlement were released Monday. The settlement will be shared no earlier than Feb. 4 to comply with state law, according to Hull.
Lewis retires amid controversy
Lewis’ $2.275 million claim sparked acrimony within the community that has lingered for months. But now, Lewis said, he hopes to move on.
“I’m looking forward to spending more time with my family and experiencing some new opportunities outside of government work,” he told The Tribune. “Most immediately, I’m just going to take some time and kind of rejuvenate and figure out my long-term next steps.”
Lewis’ original claim and an addendum document outlined allegations that Bausch worked with Cal Coast News reporter Karen Velie to spread lies about Lewis, and that the two had conspired with other community members to attempt to oust him from his position.
According to the claim, Bausch allegedly spread personal and professional rumors about Lewis to Velie, shared false stories that the city manager participated in “sex parties” and harassed Lewis based on his religious and political beliefs.
Lewis experienced sleep distress, stomach and gastrointestinal issues, and severe anxiety leading up to a May 7 City Council meeting, where he fainted, the claim said. Lewis was subsequently diagnosed with extreme hypertension by his primary care physician, who said, according to the claim, that the medical issues were due in part, if not fully, to stressors in the workplace.
Lewis went on medical leave in August at the advice of his doctor. He returned to work in November.
An addendum document further outlined allegations of a conspiracy against Lewis involving former City Council candidates Linda George and Michael Rivera and community members Gary Lehrer and Glenn O’Hagan.
Following the news of Lewis’ claim, Paso Robles Mayor John Hamon took to the Paso Robles Daily News to condemn what he labeled a “nefarious” plot at City Hall, citing a conspiracy to oust Lewis.
All of those accused in Lewis’ claim denied any involvement in a conspiracy, with the exception of Bausch, who declined to comment.
In December, George filed a claim against the city calling for Lewis’ termination over alleged misconduct. George alleged that Lewis and a “cabal” of community members and journalists engaged in an effort to sabotage her and Rivera’s campaigns for City Council.
Both lost their races for seats on the council.
Lewis’ claim and the ongoing controversy surrounding it have also been the subject of several episodes of Velie’s KPRL show “Sound Off,” as well as a three-part series on Cal Coast News.
Most recently, Velie published a photo of Lewis in a hot tub with a woman he was dating at the time, appearing to link the photo to the 2012 scandal involving then-Paso Robles Police Chief Lisa Solomon, who was accused of sexually harassing a former officer in a hot tub.
Velie accused the woman in the photo of being topless, which the woman told The Tribune was not true.
Velie also appeared to claim that Lewis’ involvement with the woman in the photo resulted in charges being dropped in a dirtbike theft case involving her son. The woman told The Tribune that the allegations were false and provided text messages and emails that showed the charges were dropped after the woman agreed to pay for the cost of repairs.
The case was out of Santa Margarita and was in the Sheriff’s Office jurisdiction.
Lewis told The Tribune he had no involvement in the case.
Retirement marks end of decades-long career
Lewis has worked for the city of Paso Robles for more than two decades.
He got his start as a commander for the Paso Robles Police Department in 2002. After 16 years of service, he was promoted to police chief in 2018.
During his time leading the department, Lewis helped respond to a two-day-long active shooter manhunt for Mason Lira, who ultimately died during a police shootout in June 2020.
He also steered the department through racial justice protests during the summer of 2020. The city recognized that accomplishment in 2021, when Lewis was promoted to city manager.
His tenure as the city’s top administrator has seen some controversy.
Within the past year, Lewis received backlash over the implementation of a now-repealed paid parking program, and since October, Lewis has been subject to widespread speculation over his claim against the city.
“I think there are very few people that enjoy walking into a room and having a spotlight shine on them,” Lewis said. “That’s difficult for anybody, whether it’s positive or negative. Just being the center and focus of attention can be challenging.”
Still, Lewis told The Tribune he loves his city. He described Paso Robles as “one of the most resilient, giving, inspirational communities that I’ve ever been a part of.”
“I’ve achieved everything that I think I could have hoped for in my career,” Lewis said. “This community, Paso Robles, has been so good to me. They’ve given me every opportunity that I ever could have asked for, been supportive of me every step of the way. The City Council, my coworkers, the community, we’ve been through a lot of hard times together, and we’ve had a lot of successes together.”
In retirement, Lewis hopes to look to the future rather than focus on the past or his critics.
“I’m not going to be able to change their opinion one way or the other,” Lewis said. “All I can focus on is the future moving forward.”
This story was originally published January 27, 2025 at 6:59 PM.
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