SLO County board selects new chair to lead meetings — over one supervisor’s objections
The San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors has a new chair to lead meetings — over the objections of community members who claimed he’s a poor choice for the job.
The board elected Supervisor Bruce Gibson to the chair position in a 4-1 vote. Supervisor Debbie Arnold cast the sole dissenting vote. The chair position turns over every year, and the supervisor who occupies the role keeps proceedings on track by mediating discussions, recognizing commenters and giving staff direction.
Gibson became chair in accordance with a rotation the board established in 2019. Supervisors created a set order for the chair role, which started with District 5 Supervisor Arnold and continued with District 3 Supervisor Adam Hill in 2020 and District 4 Supervisor Lynn Compton in 2021.
District 2 Supervisor Gibson was due to assume the chair position in 2022, and District 1 Supervisor John Peschong will take on the role in 2023.
The supervisor next in line to become chair serves as vice-chair. Peschong will act as the 2022 vice-chair before assuming the chair position next year. The rotation will restart in 2024 with District 5.
Compton’s tenure as board chair lasted longer than normal because Hill resigned from the role in April 2020 to devote more time to his recovery from a suicide attempt. Hill later died in August 2020, and Compton retained the position through her normal 2021 rotation year.
Arnold opposes Gibson becoming board chair
Gibson started the Tuesday meeting as board chair, although supervisors officially elected him to the position later in the meeting.
Arnold pulled the board chair and vice-chair selection item from the consent agenda and expressed her desire to see the role go to Peschong, instead of Gibson. Although Arnold voted for the rotation in 2019, she no longer supports it, she said.
She cited two commenters who called into the virtual meeting to say they didn’t think Gibson should become chair, as well as a group of residents who sent emails expressing the same sentiments.
“I, myself, have been disappointed by the treatment of some of the public commenters and the disruption of our board process,” Arnold said. “I would prefer allowing discussion on this item to ensure election of a chair who would be respectful of the public, respectful of each other and someone who would foster civil discourse at our board meetings. So to that end, I would really like this board to consider nominating Supervisor Peschong as board chair for the 2022 term.”
Arnold’s comments echoed those of the callers and email-writers, who said Gibson “lacks the civility, leadership and integrity needed for this position” in very similarly worded messages.
“He has been verbally abusive to both Supervisors Lynn Compton and Debbie Arnold,” said Mike Stewart in one such email. “He is demeaning, rude and disrespectful of not only members of the Board of Supervisors, but to his constituents in the county. He divides people on issues through twisting the truth and outright lies on social media rather than working together to create viable solutions.”
Redistricting hearing spurs campaign against Gibson
The campaign to keep Gibson out of the chair position began after the Nov. 30 redistricting hearing, when he tried to read into the record a partisan analysis showing the new map favored by the board majority increased Republicans’ advantage over Democrats.
The board repeatedly refused to ask for such a study, and Compton wouldn’t let Gibson read the analysis, instead calling for a vote. But Gibson wouldn’t cast his vote until after he read it into the record, angering those who falsely claimed supervisors weren’t allowed to consider partisan data during the redistricting process.
During the next meeting on Dec. 7, several residents began expressing their opposition to Gibson becoming chair during public comment, saying his behavior was inappropriate and that he should not lead the board.
On Tuesday, the board didn’t go along with Arnold and residents against Gibson.
Supervisor Dawn Ortiz-Legg made a motion to follow the rotation and make Gibson chair, and Peschong seconded it. Arnold was ultimately the only supervisor to vote against Gibson assuming the chair role.
