Newly appointed San Benito County Planning Commissioner Mike
Smith said he wants to use the position to promote economic
development.
Hollister – Newly appointed San Benito County Planning Commissioner Mike Smith said he wants to use the position to promote economic development.
“I’m interested in the community – economic development and growth issues,” Smith said.
County supervisors voted Tuesday to appoint Smith as the District 5 planning commissioner. Smith was nominated by Supervisor Jaime De La Cruz, who represents that district.
The planning commission is an advisory committee to the board of supervisors. It reviews plans for buildings and land-use ordinances and then makes recommendations to the supervisors before they vote on those issues.
Upon taking office, each new supervisor nominates a person from his or her district to be a commissioner. The Board of Supervisors then votes whether to confirm the appointment. In January, the board approved De La Cruz’s nomination of Albert Araujo as the District 5 planning commissioner.
Araujo recently moved out of that district, requiring De La Cruz to nominate a replacement.
De La Cruz said that he nominated Smith because he has a strong interest and understanding of water issues, and he also shares De La Cruz’s pro-business ideas and his desire to bring jobs into the county.
“He brings a wealth of experience to the role,” De La Cruz said.
Smith, who works for Salinas-based California Water Service Company, said he supported De La Cruz during his campaign. Since then the two have formed a relationship.
When the District 5 planning commissioner spot opened up, De La Cruz asked Smith if he was interested, according to Smith.
“I’m interested primarily in economic development and job creation, looking at strategies to change zoning to be more amenable to businesses” Smith said. His term will end when De La Cruz’s term as county supervisor ends in 2009.
Smith and his family moved to Hollister from San Jose a decade ago. His wife, Lynda Pettibone-Smith, is the program coordinator for Leadership San Benito County. Their daughter Danielle, 18, recently graduated from San Benito High School and is an intern at the Hollister Free Lance. Their son Greg, 16, attends SBHS.
Luke Roney covers politics and the environment for the Free Lance. Reach him at 831-637-5566 ext. 335 or at
lr****@fr***********.com
