Letter to the Editor - Leaving the Planning Commission Was an Independent Decision

Letter to the Editor: Re Beyond the Purges - How Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen is Building Her Elk Grove Political Machine

I was forwarded your recent opinion piece regarding Mayor Singh-Allen’s influence on the Planning Commission.  

First, I want to thank you for your kind words upon my stepping down from the Planning Commission and my commitment to advocating for the rural area.  Secondly, the current makeup of the Planning Commission (like it or not) is a direct result of the public’s decision to directly elect a mayor and elect council members by district.  That decision, which I didn’t support, placed the selection and appointment of committee and commission members at the discretion of the mayor.  

As to my stepping down, there was never any pressure or suggestion by the mayor that I consider that option.  In fact, Mayor Singh-Allen asked if I would continue my service more than once.  Yes, there was a major change in Commission membership.  As a long serving commission member, I felt I had an obligation to help any and all new appointees “get up to speed.”  

“Getting up to speed” meant advising on staff reports, what was to be expected at hearings, advising who to call with questions and providing historical context, among other intangibles.  It was my pleasure and honor to be entrusted to provide that mentorship.

Leaving the Planning Commission was my decision, independent of any request or suggestion by Mayor Singh-Allen.  Sometimes it is “just time”.  I respect Mayor Singh-Allen’s support of my decision as to when I would choose to leave the commission. By extension, I believe her support also reflects her support of the rural area.  Many times she would ask my opinion or interpretation of various project’s impacts on the rural area.  Asking for my thoughts showed me she wasn’t making decisions in a vacuum but cared for how a community may be affected by her decisions.

It’s not for me to say why someone is chosen to serve.  As a community, we can only hope those who are appointed to serve do so with integrity.  I chose not to allow serving on the Planning Commission to be the sword I would die on.  If that were the case, I couldn’t have served.  I made that clear to Gary Davis before my appointment. 

George Murphey, Elk Grove, Calif.