The San Miguel Community Services District (CSD) board has been unable to fill a vacant seat since board member John Green passed away in December 2025, leaving the five-member board with one open position.
During the district’s annual reorganization in December, the board selected its officers for 2026, reelecting Ashley Sangster as president and appointing Brendin Beatty as vice president, District Manager Kelly Dodds told New Times in January. The board then began the process of filling Green’s seat, receiving letters of interest from multiple residents. Four candidates were ultimately selected for interviews in January.
On Jan. 22, the board interviewed the candidates but failed to reach agreement and a proposal was made to request county intervention.
“Normally when it comes back to the Board of Supervisors, there is a consensus candidate that comes from a CSD board,” 1st District Supervisor John Peschong told New Times. “In this particular instance, I understand they interviewed four people and could not come to a consensus.”
The deadlock continued at a Feb. 26 follow-up meeting, during which three of the original four candidates were present. Board members were asked to submit additional questions to better inform their decision. Again, motions for appointment failed.
“There obviously is a divide difference in what we think is best in terms of assisting the community or doing things to keep it operating the way it should,” Sangster said. “I know that we have some bridges to gap. I just don’t know that those can be bridged today.”
Former board member Raynette Gregory, who served from July 2019 to November 2024—including as president and vice president—received nine letters of community support and one letter of opposition; however, the board was reluctant to elect her.
Gregory has allegedly faced harassment and sexism from the board, according to resident Jay Brown, who sent a letter backing her candidacy.
“Say no to sexism, stabilize the CSD. … I support Raynette Gregory for the board,” Brown wrote, citing harassment Gregory had faced from former board member Green on Facebook.
Supervisor Peschong confirmed that the county will not intervene in filling the vacancy, leaving the board with a choice: appoint someone themselves or leave the seat open. Given the board’s persistent divisions, members have decided to wait for voters to fill the seat during the November 2026 general election. That election will also include three board seats.
The board still has time to unite around a candidate, Peschong added but warned of the consequences of a prolonged deadlock.
“There’s plenty of time for them to be able to work together, to come together with somebody that they would like to see,” Peschong said. “I hope that that’s the case where they build a coalition of support around somebody, and it’s good for the community. Because these divided boards like this. … It’s not healthy for the community; so let’s see if they can come together.”
New Times contacted Gregory, and board members Rod Smiley and Brendin Beatty but did not receive comment before publication. ∆
This article appears in March 12-19, 2026.