Round and round they went in Joshua Tree last night with the four sitting directors at the Joshua Basin Water District interviewing and deliberating on four contenders for the open, at-large board seat left by the death of Mickey Luckman last month. Reporter Mike Lipsitz offers a peek into what board president Bob Johnson understatedly called an “arduous and painful process”…
Up for the seat was Joshua Tree business owner and Citizen Advisory Committee member Gayle Austin, area newcomer Wes Bausmith, twice-elected and once-appointed board member Paul Coate, and former director and Citizen Advisory member Tom Floen. Following interviews, the board squared off with directors Geary Hund and Rebecca Unger for Austin, President Bob Johnson and Director Mike Reynolds against. More discussion and it was Johnson and Reynolds for Coate, Hund and Unger against.
Next, Hund and Unger rally for Floen, but Johnson and Reynolds oppose; then again Hund and Unger go for Bausmith; Johnson and Reynolds vote no. More discussion, an appeal for compromise from Director Hund, and another stalemate. Hours later the board agrees to table the matter to the end of the meeting. So following regular business and reports, there was a last vote with Hund, Johnson, and Unger voting for Tom Floen, and Director Reynolds still digging in his heals against.
Tomorrow, in part two of this report, Reporter Mike Lipsitz will cover the other board business from last night’s meeting.
