Best Political Stalemate
LAFCO public member non-appointment
132 W. Gabilan St., 102, Salinas
(831) 754-5838, countyofmonterey.gov
We think tie games are a form of torture – let there be winners and losers. The 3-3 deadlock that’s been going on for months at the Local Agency Formation Commission of Monterey County, however, creates its own weird political drama. This influential (if esoteric) government body makes decisions about things like land annexations and draws service area boundaries for water districts. And they are quite political, the current commissioners are split on who to appoint to a seventh seat reserved for a member of the public. The sitting member, Matt Gourley, reapplied for another term, but only got three votes of support in April. So LAFCO opened up another round of applications, with 13 applicants (Gourley included), but come August, was still split 3-3. Until they appoint someone new, Gourley sticks around in the most awkward possible way, knowing half his fellow-commissioners want anyone but him up there.