LAKE COUNTY >> For the sake of avoiding an appearance of bias, District 3 Supervisor elect Jim Steele is in search of a new candidate a little farther from his heart to fill the District 3 Planning Commission seat, a position that is currently held by his wife, Olga Steele.
There”s no law against Olga maintaining her position, according to Jim, and county code only specifies commissioners” length and expiration of term. But the double teaming on the Board of Supervisors and Planning Commission could create some complications down the road and Jim Steele admits it wouldn”t necessarily look good either.
“The problem is, if someone doesn”t like a Planning Commission decision and goes to appeal the Board (of Supervisors), I would have to recuse myself each time and that”s why we”re looking for someone else,” Jim said.
Jim expects the search for a replacement to be tough though, and plans to keep Olga on the commission as an interim director until the right prospect is found, he said.
From Jim”s prospective, the position requires someone who is up-to-date on the county”s general plan, understands the rules and regulations of the commission and, above all, sincerely wants to be part of the commission and participate in carrying its responsibilities.
“I want someone that will really benefit the county from the point of being interested and doing it right,” he said. “The plan has a certain vision to it and I want to make sure we achieve that vision.”
Olga also recommends prospective commissioners look over the California Environmental Quality Act, which helps inform commissioners on many decisions, she said.
“This is a really important position and as we look to growing our economy, it”s important the land use decisions we make are made in a way that will protect the lake,” she said.
Olga also suggest candidates attend Planning Commission meetings and call Community Development Director Richard Coel at 263-2221 or herself at 998-1302 to discuss the position.
For her part, Olga will be taking the extra time and spending it with her family, maintaining her position on the board of KPFZ, getting more involved with the Soroptimist International of Clear Lake club and working with the Save the Lake committee if they continue efforts to protect the lake, she said.
