The San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors is looking to hire a new top election official by this October—and is willing to consider just about anybody for the job.
On July 13, the divided board voted 3-2 to finalize a three-month process for appointing an interim clerk-recorder, who will take over for departed former Clerk-Recorder Tommy Gong until his term is over and the position is up for election in 2022.
The board’s conservative majority—Supervisors John Peschong (1st District), Lynn Compton (4th District), and Debbie Arnold (5th District)—voted to move ahead with opening the interim position to the broader public and opted not to set any minimum qualifications for applicants, like having prior election office experience or a record of nonpartisanship.
“This should be an open and transparent process,” Arnold said. “Everyone’s welcome to apply.”
That approach took heat from Supervisors Bruce Gibson (2nd District) and Dawn Ortiz-Legg (3rd District)—as well as the SLO County League of Women Voters—who wanted to see the county set some minimum standards for applicants.
“We owe it to [the public] to set high standards here,” Gibson said. “We are in extraordinary times, and I think we need to make a strong showing to the county that we are looking for quality, qualified people.”
Gibson and Ortiz-Legg also said they preferred to not open the position to the public at large and instead appoint acting Clerk-Recorder Helen Nolan, a former deputy in the department, to the interim position.
Nolan assumed the role of acting clerk-recorder upon Gong’s departure on July 2.
The two supervisors noted the local election office’s “long history of excellence” and underscored that it faces a daunting workload over the next year, with a recall election, redistricting, and two elections coming up in 2022.
They also expressed concern about office morale.
“I’m a little dismayed at this,” Ortiz-Legg said. “I think the trust of the community is at stake. … We have an individual who’s been in the office, who understands the operations of the office.”
But Peschong, Compton, and Arnold all said they wanted to have an “open and transparent process” to replace Gong.
“For the community I represent, they’d like to see this open process,” Peschong said. “It’s not to say that anybody in the Clerk-Recorder’s Office is below par. I think there are exceptional people there.”
Per the process established by the board, SLO County will convene a selection committee made up of five members of the public, appointed by each supervisor, to review clerk-recorder applications and make seven final candidate recommendations to the board.
Then, following background checks, the Board of Supervisors will interview the final candidates and make an appointment decision on Oct. 12 at a special meeting.
“The five of us are capable of choosing someone to do a good job in that office,” Arnold said.
The hired clerk would start work after the Sept. 14 governor recall election but in time to oversee the local redistricting process, Peschong said.
The debate over the vacancy comes just a few months after the Clerk-Recorder’s Office faced a wave of criticism from the local Republican Party over its administration of the November 2020 election—echoing false fraud allegations made by former President Donald Trump.
This article appears in Jul 15-22, 2021.
Thank you Supervisors Lynn Compton, John Peschong, and Debbie Arnold for not compromising our open and transparent PUBLIC (NOT PRIVATE) hiring process for the vacated county office position. SLO County deserves the most qualified County Clerk-Recorder professional to fill this gap. I applaud you for not caving into bureaucratic intimidation from our county’s “Good Ole Boy” (nepotism) hiring process and the vilification of liberal media. We should offer this position to the most qualified person, including minorities and transgender. Again, thank you for not caving into nepotism. Goodbye Gong Show.
It has become abundantly clear that SLO County is not being wisely or fairly represented by the current, right-wing majority on the Board of Supervisors. They do not appear to understand the meaning of the word, “compromise,” but rather, go about their business by arrogantly exerting the “it’s our way or the highway” mentality. (Does the Senate Republican minority leader, Mitch McConnell, come to mind?)
We must place our hopes in the 2022 election when hopefully, the arrogant mindset of the current majority will be overcome. I would urge anyone and everyone who has had enough of this troubling trio, to set their minds on the candidate, Jimmy Paulding. Start offering your support to Mr. Paulding now and during his campaign. We desperately need a competent and fair-minded individual to replace Supervisor Lynn Compton.
Thank you for opening the doors to public service to deserving transgender and minority applicants. Good job SLO County Board of Supervisors.
Contrary to the comments above, there was no intention of ever having a process that was not public, in choosing the next clerk recorder. Thats not the issue. Nobody was pushing to make the appointments non-public. By law, the process has to be public. Once again readers are being manipulated with misinformation and biased propaganda. This is not a so-called transparency issue. Surely Lynn Compton realizes this, regardless of what she says about it.
There was every intention by Bruce Gibson to have a closed appointment to a publicly elected position without oversight. This softball article omitted this fact.
In fact, even an appointment would Leave a public record. That’s the law. There is no way that An appointment to a public office would be carried out on complete privacy. That just would not happen. Doesn’t even make sense. How can a public appointment be private with no oversight? In any case, all five supervisors would have to be in on it. Bruce Gibson isn’t in any position to be able to appoint any Clerk recorder without the other supervisors knowing about it. Comments above suggesting otherwise are ridiculous.
Once again supervisor Lynn Compton is wasting tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars for no good reason. We have the opportunity to appoint someone local who has all the experience we could hope for. But no, Lynn Compton wants to spend untold amounts of taxpayer money to open the application process worldwide, which will in turn create lots of animosity and resentment within the clerk recorders office where we already have numerous qualified candidates for the job. Very typical of the Compton approach. It’s a total betrayal of loyal County employees. Let’s hope voters remember this when they go to the polls in November.
And why does the board majority want Anyone or everyone to apply? Would it not makes sense to narrow the application field to people who have relevant experience? Shouldn’t there be some qualifications? Something is very wrong about the way the board majority is dealing with this.
I AGREE with Clark D’Souza!
It is a no brainer that the SLO County Board of Supervisors should have an open and transparent process for filling the open SLO County Clerk Recorder position. Anyone who suggests that the board just fill the position on a whim is foolish and unwise, their advocacy is undemocratic and suspicious.
Our leftist “friends” try to wrap their liberal preference in logical terms, but I agree that minority and transgender applicants deserve a fair opportunity to apply for the job. The lefties act as though they support LGBQT+, but they always seem to have a reason why they cannot put these marginalized groups on equal footing with others.
I support Supervisor Lynn Compton for standing up to these bullies, and we need solid counsel from our elected politicians. Ms. Compton’s wise decision-,making can be contrasted by that of Little Jimmy Paulding, a so-called “progressive” politician who supports the white liberal elite position of his socialists/communists friends. Paulding and cocaine addict Adam Hill were good friends, and we now know that we cannot trust either one of them, corruption is corruption.
Support Open Government
Support Transparency
Support Supervisor Lynn Compton
Oppose Liberal Hypocrisy
Stop Progressive Communism
No Critical Race Theory Hoisted on Children
What seems to be going on is that Lynn Compton fears that the voting will go against her in the upcoming election. So appointing somebody who is biased or is so inexperienced that there will be chaos will help her claim fraud or a rigged election when the votes go against her. Compton, as we all remember, remained silent as the hate mongers of our community attacked Tommy Gong. Its become obvious that Lyne Compton and her supporters fear a fair election and the democratic process. So it will be more important than ever that all the supporters of Jimmy Paulding make sure they vote and make sure all their friends and acquaintances vote. We cannot be complacent in the face of those who wish to deny voting rights and a fair election. There is no politician on the central coast who has worked harder than Big Jim Paulding to Bring transparency to the political process. Paulding is honest , fair and has a stellar track record as a local politician. His opponent cannot claim the same for herself.
“Gibson and Ortiz-Legg also said they preferred to not open the position to the public at large and instead appoint acting Clerk-Recorder Helen Nolan, a former deputy in the department, to the interim position.” This is an excellent example of structural discrimination by Democrats attempting to fill a publicly elected position with another unqualified and unelected WHITE PERSON – Helen Nolan. How do you think Ortiz-Legg acquired her elected position? She was appointed by Gavin Newsom – mostly because she can carry the Hispanic vote. Gavin sleeps with immature teenage girls, and Gibson sleeps with his assistant. Hill slept with assistant and the county paid for his sexual misconduct. All three White. All three Democrats. All three Predators.
Now the extremist Gestapo is demanding to know who you slept with and when. And if they don’t get an answer they want, they make up one.
In a situation like this, with elections upcoming and terms ending, it is perfectly reasonable to appoint the second in command to be the leader when the elected leader steps down.
One problem: based on past performance, the members of the board majority are not well trusted by the community at large. Therefore, it’s reasonable to suspect that the majority is trying to manipulate the situation for their own ill gotten gains. It’s pretty obvious, really. The board majority is not doing what’s reasonable or cost-effective. They’re trying to hijack the system for their own selfish interests. And why in the world are they not asking that applicants have a certain level of experience in the field before applying? That can’t be a good idea. No sir. This does not pass the smell test. Sorry. I’m voting for Big Jim Paulding to straighten things out and bring balance and honesty to the board
Sleeping with subordinates is not allowed in the military, all publicly traded corporations, most private businesses, and institutions. Trumpy-Weinstein-Cosby predatory behavior should be treated as public misconduct and a liability. We don’t give trophies to men who openly expoilt and prey upon subordinate women in their trusted care, period.
Get off it, Clark. You are implying that specific people in our county are rapists without having a single bit of evidence to back that up. That is sick and just short of domestic terrorism. You have once again crossed a line. You are a menace to our community. Please stop.
No evidence?
Bruce Gibson Affair: https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.sanluisob…
Adam Hill Affair: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.newtimess…
Gavin Newsom Affair: https://www.loscerritosnews.net/2021/03/24…
https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.sacbee.co…
Yes, no evidence. You have made it more clear than ever. You’re a menace, Clark. If you’re making those kind of accusations then you need to go to the police and lodge accusations and suspicions there. In the meantime, stay out of peoples bedrooms and mind your own business. There’s a reason the authorities took your guns away.
Equating a so-called affair with rape is libelous, dishonest and unfair. That is close to domestic terrorism and is certainly cyber-bullying. Please stop it Clark. Go back to telling us how great and educated you are and how you accomplished something once a long time ago that you are proud of and that we should be impressed by. Just quit lying and spreading deplorable and vicious propaganda. Thank you.
LMAO. Rughtword2 get a grip of reality. You are spreading libelous accusations against me hiding behind a troll handle to prevent discomfort from a lawsuit. This is common for Democrat apologist of your caliber. Character counts, you have none.
Which bedtime story would you like me to tell you Rightword2? You mean the time the SLO County Sheriff Commander from Oceano Substation called my former Paramilitary Commander from SAD (Special Activities Division of the CIA Central Intelligence Agency, now known as Special Activity Center SAC)? Yes indeed, my Commander told him to keep his cotton picking hands off the Brown Man. This is true. This is recent.
Rightword2 is a toxic Provocateur. Your Cyber Attack Space is not worth my time. I know my worth. You are worth a therapist’s time. Enjoy your boring life.
Love thy neighbor.
If there is anything that I have written above that is untrue, I welcome anyone to point it out, and provide the correct information. And if there is anything that I have published that is untrue I will issue a retraction and make a public apology for it. Thank you.
You don’t have to issue a retraction to slander you have committed on multiple occasions and you have been informed twice. This sounds precisely like Replogle. Bait someone into arguments where they must defend themselves from endless repeated small-town slander. I won’t waste my time with you anymore. New Times SLO has been cautioned twice.
You can read about us here: https://www.operationmilitarykids.org/cia-…