SLO County supervisors recognize career of ‘polarizing’ COLAB lobbyist
The San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors recognized the career of a longtime lobbyist who has been both praised for pursuing accountability and vilified as a peddler of misinformation.
But not without some spirited debate and a tie-breaking vote.
Mike Brown, who served as the executive director of the SLO County Coalition of Labor, Agriculture and Business — or COLAB — for 14 years, was honored Tuesday with a resolution that commended him for working “tirelessly to bring greater accountability and transparency to government agencies throughout San Luis Obispo County.”
Over his career, he routinely spoke in front of the board on topics ranging from cannabis to elections to county permitting, before he retired in April and was succeeded by Greg Haskin.
However, the resolution was not a slam dunk, and the supervisors disagreed over whether his impact was something to be celebrated or criticized. The proposal sparking a political debate over the value of civility, free speech and respecting different opinions.
Brown was not present at the meeting.
2 supervisors, residents oppose honoring Mike Brown
Supervisor Bruce Gibson kicked off the conversation with a frank lament.
“It’s a sad day that we find this item on the agenda,” he said.
Gibson called Brown a “one of the most consistently partisan and divisive commenters that has ever appeared in this chambers,” who “violates our Rules of Civility regularly,” and has “a long history of providing misinformation, and frankly, false information that enabled election fraud conspiracists and climate science deniers.”
Gibson wasn’t the only person to hold that opinion. The board received dozens of constituent emails ahead of Tuesday’s meeting, the vast majority of which were in opposition to the resolution.
At least eight people criticized Brown for promoting “aggressive gerrymandering,” in reference to COLAB’s support of the county’s previously adopted and then later thrown out supervisor district map that favored Republican voters.
Some accused him of perpetuating “hate speech” and being racist toward former county Clerk-Recorder Tommy Gong. Others wrote in about the “mean-spirited and nonconstructive” nature of his commentary that “usually consists of half-truths, quarter-truths, and outright falsehoods.”
“I am concerned about your values and judgment if you believe Mike Brown deserves to be commended for his time leading COLAB,” Sharon Rippner wrote. “He has been a divisive presence in this county and as such has done great damage to it.”
Only one person out of nearly 50 who wrote in supported recognizing Brown. Two people attended Tuesday’s meeting and spoke in support of the resolution.
As an example of what he called “toxic commentary,” Gibson quoted a Jan. 12 COLAB newsletter sent by Brown, written in all caps.
“FOR DECADES THE PALISADES, MALIBU, BRENTWOOD & SANTA MONICA HAVE VOTED 70% FOR LEFTIST UNACCOUNTABLE REGIMES AND CANDIDATES – NO FIRE BREAKS, NO BRUSH CONTROL, NO SALT WATER CISTERNS CONNECTED TO HIGH VOLUME MARINE PUMPS — INSTEAD ANTI-NUCLEAR, PRO MARINE SANCTURY, CLIMATIST, DEI EXTOLLING, MASS TRANSIT LOVING (BUT NOT FOR THEM), HIGH CO2 FOOTPRINT ELITES,” the newsletter reads.
“MEANWHILE THE MAIDS, NANNYS, GARDENERS, POOL GUYS, WAITERS & WAITRESSES, TRUCK DRIVERS, DELIVERY GUYS AND EVERYONE ELSE LIVES DOWN ON THE FLATS IN $3,300 PER MONTH 75 YEAR OLD CRUMBLING 2 BEDROOM APARTMENTS, MANY IN GANG INFESTED, GRAFFITI COVERED, AND HOMELESS LITTERED DYSTOPIAN DECAY. YOU CAN FLEE THE NEXT FIRE IN THE DARK IN YOUR MANDATORY UNCHARGED ELECTRIC PRIUS.”
“The question of our support or opposition to this really speaks to the question of what we value in public discourse,” Gibson said.
Conservative supervisors support resolution, Ortiz-Legg breaks the tie
Supervisor John Peschong, who submitted the resolution, responded with an excerpt from the board’s Code of Civility.
“Respect different opinions,” the code reads. “We will invite and consider different perspectives, allowing space for ideas to be expressed, opposed and clarified in a constructive manner.”
Peschong argued that Brown “rendered a service to this county” that should not be overlooked just because his opinions were sometimes unpopular with the members of the board.
“I don’t always agree with everything that Mike Brown has said, but I do agree with a lot of it,” Peschong said.
Supervisor Jimmy Paulding agreed about the importance of civility but said “trying to lift up a member of the community who has engaged in incredibly divisive politics is different than promoting civility.”
Paulding also said he “wasn’t sure it was a good precedent” for the board to honor paid lobbyists, and there was some disagreement over whether Brown did in fact merit that label, as COLAB is a nonprofit.
Ultimately, the board generally concluded that he was paid as a representative to lobby the board.
“I understand that Mike Brown can be a polarizing figure,” Supervisor Heather Moreno said. “He’s a watchdog, and he has come and he has criticized this board on many occasions, and he’s also come and been complimentary when (we’ve) done things that he thinks we’re doing well.”
With the other four supervisors opposed on partisan lines, the vote ultimately came down to Supervisor Dawn Ortiz-Legg, who crossed to vote alongside the board’s two conservatives.
“I value democracy, and I value free speech, even if that speech is difficult to hear,” Ortiz-Legg said. “And in our Code of Civility, we pledge to make an honest effort to understand views and reasoning of others by trying to understand them.”
“We do try to debate the policy and not the person,” she continued. “And while I often disagree with Mike Brown, there are times when I get to agree. He shows up and he presents his case, and I know he represents a coalition of constituents. And If one ignores the segment of the county because I don’t agree, or someone doesn’t agree, with their politics, that is a danger.”
“As a matter of fact, this is the approach that our president now takes,” Ortiz-Legg said, referencing President Donald Trump. “They do not want to hear from those who disagree. They do not want the participation of those who think differently, and that’s exactly what you would like me to do.”
“In my opinion, this foments more hatred, and I won’t do it,” she said.
The resolution passed 3-2, with Moreno, Peschong and Ortiz-Legg voting in favor and Gibson and Paulding voting against.
