Sunday, December 2, 2007 Supes advised to review committee appointment process By: Jim Ruffalo

Sprinting through the notebook while wondering when Hannah Montana became more important than Joe Montana. Sometimes very innocuous items eventually lead to bigger things.

For example, at Tuesday's Board of Supervisors meeting, one item began its agended life as a consent item, but was removed for discussion. And the upshot is, that item probably could lead to a new way for the board to make appointments to the various advisory committees and commissions.

It began with a consent request to appoint Larry Jordan as the Timber Industry's designee for the county's Agricultural Commission. But Third District Supervisor Jim Holmes pulled the item, pointing out that he also had a candidate (Allen Edwards) for the seat.

An interesting dilemma then arose, notwithstanding two extremely qualified candidates were vying for the same position.

Supervisor Bruce Kranz, who chairs the board, pointed out that nowadays timber is of interest only in his Fifth District. His unstated point appeared to be that the board should accept his recommendation because that issue was germane only to his district.

Holmes countered by pointing out that the appointment was an at-large seat.

Then came the oddity of about a half-dozen Edwards fans speaking publicly in praising his attributes, while Jordan was completely unrepresented.

"I didn't know this was supposed to be a contest," Jordan muttered midway through the dog-and-pony show.

No matter, because after the presentation, the board voted 3-2 to appoint Jordan. Robert Weygandt was the only supervisor joining Holmes in supporting Edwards.

However, after the vote, County Counsel Tony La Bouff said that the county probably should better codify the system it uses in both reviewing candidates' qualifications, and the actual process leading up to the vote.

First District Supervisor Rocky Rockholm then admitted his concern over that very process or lack of it, and soon was joined by District Four's Kirk Uhler, who also uttered the pithy comment that if Weygandt's Second District was the lone Placer County area containing rice growing, than Weygandt ought to have the biggest say in who holds that designated seat on the Ag Commission (currently held by the just re-appointed Wayne Vineyard).

Supervisors agreed with La Bouff, who said he'd review matters and bring something to the board probably before year's end. ...