After a self imposed pay increase flounders because of a referendum.
Nick’s Ad, July 4 Carmel Pine Cone
Bankrupt Mayor Looking For Work
Tag Archives: Nick Smith
Not So Fast For That 130% City Council Pay Increase
We have people acting as if serving on the council is some kind of full time career.
P.G. City Council, led by Mayor Nick Smith, voted 5-2 in favor of an increase based on Senate Bill 329, passed in 2023, which amended state law on compensating councilmembers. The changes allow for a five-percent increase per year since the last increase, in P.G.’s case, 1998. It means councilmembers would see an increase from $420 to $966 per month. In the mayor’s case the increase is $700 to $1,610. In either case, it’s a 130-percent increase.
That pushback came two weeks later in the form of a referendum filed by former councilmember Luke Coletti, representing a group called Transparent Pacific Grove. Citing projected budget challenges in the coming years, Coletti called for the decision to go to the voters in an election or be rescinded by the council.
Opponents of the referendum have suggested that some volunteers were incorrectly telling people that the increase in compensation included health care and future raises. Former mayor Bill Peake brought up the question during a council meeting on June 18. Coletti clapped back, accusing Peake and others of spreading disinformation.
No Cakewalk For Council Seat
Not even a coin flip to fill resigning Debbie Beck’s chair.
The city’s charter allows for the mayor to choose a new councilmember, but newly elected Mayor Nick Smith wisely declined, instead saying that he wanted a majority of the council to choose from a field of applicants.
The applicants include some with previous city experience, including two current members of the Planning Commission (Ross Davison and Donald Murphy), a former councilmember (Cynthia Garfield), the chair of the P.G. Architectural Review Board (Anna Bornstein) and a member of the Economic Development Commission (Michael Gibbs).
The remaining three citizens who applied include a man with an extensive background in the federal government (Melvin Dubee), an entrepreneur with a law degree (Jennifer Kelly) and a software engineer and community volunteer deeply concerned about climate change (Eugene Loh).
2024 Elections
Mayor –
Nick Smith (W) 2,344 votes.
Dan Miller 1,715 votes.
Council –
Luke Coletti 2,490 votes.
Chaps Poduri 2,519 votes.
Paul Walkingstick 1,707 votes.
Tina Rau 2,460 votes.
Carmelita Garcia 1,185 votes.
Chilla Kartalov 798 votes.
Measure B, another school bond wins
Measure Q, The anti-timeshare measure wins.
Measure Z, reduce the size of the city council fails.
School Board President winner is Mike Wachs, a come-here who lost a bid for Mayor in 2022.
Candidate Nick Smith’s Bankruptcy Files
Living large. Lexus SUV.
Mayoral Candidate Nick Smith Files Bankruptcy
From the Messy Mayor Candidate. Looks like the Smith himself is not very balanced budget wise.
Fiscal Sustainability
The City is in good financial health. We have over ten million dollars in reserves and are meeting the reserve policy we set many years ago. We have strong tax revenues which will increase due to new hotel taxes. I believe we must be wise as to our expenditures and use of funds. As Mayor, I’m determined to continue to have a balanced budget and strong reserves.
Mayor Hopefuls Tell Their Stories
Candidates this year are:
- councilmember Nick Smith – Bankrupt.
- former city councilmember Daniel Miller – P.G.s most experienced.
- and business owner Dionne Ybarra – hates Jewish people.
As mayor, Smith contends his highest priority “will always be public safety.” “I’ve worked well with others to reach equitable solutions, sometimes requiring a lot of compromise. ”
Miller said he’s running because “this community is near and dear to me.” In his
campaign statement, he said the experience and knowledge he has gained from attending nearly 1,000 town meetings.Ybarra said she wants to be ‘ ‘a voice for our diverse community” and “I want to plan for a future that’s sustainable
One Person Debate For Mayor
So is there something fishy in the works? Are the other two candidates so sure of winning that the feel no need to attend? Ballot harvesting?
Candidates forum at the Monarch Pines Resort in Pacific Grove Aug. 27 offered a platform for three would-be mayors to express their views on a wide variety of topics that impact the town — but only one, Dan Miller, showed up. Miller is running against Nick Smith and Dionne Ybarra. With about 50 people in the audience, Miller fielded
questions from Peggy Gibbs of Leadership Pacific Grove, which co-sponsored the event, and author and economist Francois Melese.
A lifelong resident of Pacific Grove, Miller served six years as a city councilmember and three years as a planning commissioner. He ran unsuccessfully for mayor against Bill Kampe in 2016. At the forum, he was asked why he’s running again. “I’m running for mayor because I wasn’t wild about the other two people who are running,” Miller said. “We have a dearth of good candidates.”
Election 2024
Don’t think the hateful Dionne will make it.
Pacific Grove Mayor Bill Peake decided not to run for reelection, and those hoping to take his place are former PG. City Councilman Dan Miller, councilman Nick Smith and Dionne Ybarra. Those seeking a council member seat are councilman Luke Coletti, former Mayor Carmelita Garcia, Chilla Kartalov, incumbent Chaps Poduri, Tina Rau and Paul Walkingstick.
City Council Candidates Line Up
Robert Huitt
Jenny McAdams
Nick Smith
Cynthia Garfield
Andrew Kubica
Alan Cohen
The Pacific Grove City Council race includes a lone incumbent and five new candidates, all of whom are vying for three council seats.
All the city council candidates are expected to join mayoral candidates Bill Kampe and Dan Miller in the candidate forum on Sept. 8 at the Pacific Grove Community Center, 515 Junipero Ave.