San Benito County supervisors should do one of their planning commissioners, Anthony Freitas, the courtesy of rescheduling a vote on his potential dismissal from the commission to a meeting he can attend.
The meeting where supervisors will vote on the matter – which is on the board’s consent agenda – is slated for Tuesday. Freitas will be on a long-planned vacation in Alaska on that day.
He’s tried to get the meeting rescheduled but so far has had no luck doing so.
Supervisor Ruth Kesler, who appointed Freitas as the planning commissioner four years ago, asked for the item to be considered because she thinks it’s not appropriate for Freitas to serve on the commission while he is running for a supervisorial seat. She also says that she and Freitas now are far apart on growth issues.
But Freitas feels that Kesler’s move is politically motivated. Freitas beat Kesler for the District 2 supervisor’s seat in March, and he now is in a runoff election with Anthony Botelho to see who ultimately will take a seat on the board.
“What it does hurt is me,” he said. “It’s like a knife was stuck in my heart.”
Whatever the true reason, a vote on a political opponent’s removal while he is on vacation will sour the local political climate further. Accusations of political payback will be exacerbated if Freitas is not allowed to defend himself in public.
The only way to clear the air is to have a public hearing on the matter where both sides can state their case. And what will it cost supervisors – a week? The next meeting is Aug. 3.
Surely, after four years service on the commission, Freitas deserves the courtesy of a chance to defend himself to preserve his job. Kesler should make a motion to continue the item until Freitas can be there in person.
Politics in San Benito County have been too contentious and hostile of late. Voting to remove Freitas while he’s on vacation will only make matters worse.
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