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Council appoints former mayor to planning commission amid public complaints about optics
Summary
Council moved forward with a consensus appointment of former Mayor Eric Bruin to a vacant Planning Commission seat after public commenters raised ethics and appearance‑of‑conflict concerns; one councilmember recused from the discussion but legal counsel said no conflict under the law.
The Ridgecrest City Council considered and approved a nomination to fill a vacancy on the Planning Commission during the July 15 meeting, amid vocal public opposition and questions about appearance of impropriety.
Councilmember Rajaratnam recused himself from the discussion because of a working relationship with the nominee, and the staff attorney stated on the record that the recusal was voluntary and that, in counsel’s view, there was no legal conflict that prevented the council from proceeding. Multiple members of the public urged the council not to appoint the nominee, citing perceived conflicts and prior conduct while in office.
One speaker urged the council to avoid appointing the nominee because, she said, the political‑reform act’s "source of income" rules and anti‑kickback laws could apply; another resident said the nominee "took pains to read ... saying he wasn't going to listen to a certain member of the public," describing that as disqualifying. Supporters, including a councilmember and members of the dais, described the nominee’s knowledge of city operations and emergency experience as qualifications for the role.
Council discussion noted the difficulty of finding volunteers to fill commission seats and the customary practice of councilmembers nominating community members to serve; after debate and public comment the council reached consensus to appoint the nominee to the planning commission.
What happens next: The appointment will fill the vacant seat and will last for the remainder of that term; staff will process the appointment administratively. The public record at the meeting contains objections and calls for transparency from opponents, but the council did not take any separate ethics action at this meeting.
