Supervisor Askew poised to take gavel
County board headed toward battle for most prized committee
SALINAS >> Two months after she was elected to replace her former boss, new District 4 Supervisor Wendy Root Askew is in line to take over as chairwoman of the Board of Supervisors. And she’s already shaking things up a bit.
After she gets sworn into office with fellow county supervisors Mary Adams and Luis Alejo, who ran unopposed for re-election to represent Districts 5 and 1 respectively, Askew is expected to take the gavel on the board chambers dais as the District 4 turn as lead of the county board. The position is generally awarded on a rotating basis among the five districts. Askew would replace District 3 Supervisor Chris Lopez as chair.
Retired District 4 Supervisor Jane Parker served as board chair twice during her 12-year stint, in 2011 and 2016.
One of Askew’s first orders of business during Tuesday’s inaugural county board meeting will be starting to sort out assignments to various county and area committees, commissions and boards, including some that are more popular than others. While previously such assignments are only announced after behind-the-scenes jockeying for position, Askew as presumed incoming chair has decided to make the selection process more “transparent,” she said.
That means Askew has released
a matrix of preferred assignments, offering a glimpse into which ones are more and less popular. While the incoming board chair recommends such assignments, a majority of the board can vote to approve different assignments.
Final assignments are set to be made during next week’s board meeting.
“I look forward to an open and transparent conversation with my colleagues about the many committee assignments that we represent our community on,” Askew said, adding she believes the board owes it to the public to conduct an open discussion on the issue rather than making “last-minute” assignments. “Committees provide an opportunity for the supervisors to engage in more granular evaluation of issues, which is critical in fulfilling our role as policymakers. The new process allows for an open and transparent conversation, which upholds my values to lead with honesty and accountability.”
However, Alejo said he hopes he and his fellow supervisors can keep their current assignments, adding, “I think we reached a good place there.”
Of the 56 supervisorial assignments to be made, nine include more supervisors requesting the assignment than seats available. Among those are the everpopular Local Agency Formation Commission, which plays an important role in area land-use. LAFCO will be considering the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District’s bid to take over California American Water’s Monterey-area water system. Also, there is a spot on the Monterey One Water board, which last year narrowly voted not to certify the Pure Water Monterey expansion project environmental review document and effectively stalled the proposal.
For LAFCO, four of the five county supervisors are seeking one of two seats on the commission, with only Askew declining. Adams, who is poised to become the county board’s vice- chair, has proposed a rotating assignment for the commission with the board chair and vice chair serving.
And for Monterey One Water, Askew is seeking the assignment, as is current board member District 2 Supervisor John Phillips, who voted against certifying the proposed recycled water expansion environmental review.
Three supervisors are also vying for spots on the prized budget, capital improvement and legislative committees. Askew and Phillips are both seeking to add the budget assignment being vacated by Parker, along with current member Alejo. Phillips is calling the assignment his “top choice.” Askew is also seeking to add a capital improvement spot where Phillips and Adams are currently assigned, and a legislative spot where Alejo and Adams serve.
In addition, Askew and Adams are both vying to replace Parker as primary county representative on the Central Coast Community Energy policy board, with Askew calling it a “high priority.”
Three supervisors are also bidding for a spot on the cannabis standing committee, with Adams seeking to replace either of two current members Lopez or Alejo.
Conversely, some assignments have drawn less interest than spots available, including the Human Resources, Housing Authority tenant commissioner selection, and parks lakes ad hoc committees, along with the County Parks Commission, the Children’s Council of Monterey County, and the Remote Access Network Board.
Two years ago, the assignment process took on a higher profile when then-incoming chair Supervisor Phillips proposed removing Adams from both the Fort Ord Reuse Authority and the county’s Fort Ord Committee, and Parker from LAFCO, prompting an outcry from their supporters and calls for a public assignment process.
Adams ultimately retained her FORA seat but Parker was replaced on LAFCO by Alejo.