LAKEPORT >> The Board of Supervisors appointed three new Planning Commission members, bringing the body back up to five. Joining remaining commission members Bob Malley and Eddie Crandell will be John Hess, Matt Levesque and Daniel Suenram.
The move was made necessary following the November election. Lake County voters sent two commission members, Jose “Moke” Simon and Tina Scott, to the Board of Supervisors. Simon now represents District 1 and Scott District 4.
With the retirement of Gil Schoux from the commission, the supervisors were forced to name a third appointee. That means a majority of the commission is changing over.
Supervisor Rob Brown of District 5 said Schoux served 19 years on the Planning Commission, which is the longest anyone has served in the State of California.
“I’m glad to see Dan Suenram apply,” Brown said. “I actually had three good applicants, it was tough, but in the end I decided to go with Dan.”
The Planning Commission in Lake County is the general advisory board in regards to land use and decisions and acts that is delegated to them by the Board of Supervisors or the State. Each member is appointed for a two-year term and can be reappointed by the supervisors.
Hess is a retiree who lives in Hidden Valley Lake and has been active in the recent fires. Levesque lives in Lakeport and worked as an educator and is the former assistant principal at Clear Lake High School. Suenram is a vineyard owner and manager and has been a part of the Lake County Farm Bureau Board since 2007.
“I do want to thank Joe Sullivan who is the current District 1 Planning Commissioner. Thank him for his service and for our area,” Simon said.
With the new appointments, Malley is now made the senior member of the Planning Commission.
