Firestone to stay and aide to decide
Putting
aside rumors that he plans to retire early, 3rd District Supervisor Brooks
Firestone said Jan. 7 that he intends to finish out his term in office. Reached
at his office late in the afternoon, Firestone said he has no intention of
leaving his job before the term ends.
“My
goal as of right now is to complete my term,” he insisted.
Meanwhile,
a possible fourth candidate for the position, David Smyser,
said he expects to decide Jan. 10 whether or not to enter the race.
Smyser served as chief of staff for
Firestone in 2005, focusing on problems in Isla Vista.
In
2006, Smyser was appointed by Firestone to serve on
the Santa Barbara County Planning Commission. He also was applauded at that
time for two years of service on the county’s Air Pollution Control District.
He
resigned from the planning commission in September, indicating he planned to
resume his law practice. Later that same month, Firestone said he did not plan
to seek re-election when his term expired at the end of 2008.
A
former city councilman in Solvang, Smyser currently
is an attorney in Solvang and mediator for the Superior Court of California.
“I’ve
clearly had personal concerns,” Smyser said Jan. 7
when contacted by telephone.
“I’ve
had to weigh these against support from residents in the district and other
political decisions.
“There
has been much speculation about my intentions and I hope to make a decision
this week,” he said.
Speculation
has come from numerous political allies, including former county supervisor
Mike Stoker, and Firestone, who said he wasn’t sure what Smyser
would announce this week, but that he had attended an event with Smyser at his Buellton offices in early December at which
the possibility of a Smyser candidacy was discussed.
Others
vying for the seat include Steve Pappas of Los Olivos,
Doreen Farr of Solvang, and Dr. David Bearman, a
Santa Barbara physician known as a medical marijuana activist.
Candidates have until Mar. 7 to file.