Although Gonzales said he expects that “people will disagree with me as a Councilperson, as a Mayor, they have disagreed with me before” as an SPPD Officer and Chief. “We have to move forward, there’s no room for the personal stuff.”Procter said that although he was disturbed by the action of “my colleagues,” including Mayor Ray Luna, who supported Gonzales, “there was a “real silver lining in all this. I’ve never had such an outpouring of support like I’ve had in the last few days from various Santa Paula community leaders, city workers and others who have confidentially expressed their shock and disappointment to me.”Such an outpouring has also included that from county elected officials, who are “in disbelief at what happened here. I even had a complete stranger yell out ‘Hey John!’ from across the street as she waved and smiled... I’ve never felt so appreciated in my life.”After the December 3 vote for Mayor and Vice Mayor, it was business as usual. “Shortly thereafter, there was an issue on the agenda we worked together on,” said Gonzales. “John was a gentleman about it, then we moved on to business.”Ultimately, it’s Santa Paula and the community that matter, said Procter. “We’ve got a lot of decisions coming up,” he noted. “City business and the betterment of Santa Paula have been and will always be my top priority.”
Bob Gonzales, John Procter vow to move forward despite Mayor selection
December 12, 2007
Santa Paula City Council
Both Bob Gonzales and John Procter vow to move forward, despite the tension over the selection of Gonzales as Mayor over Vice Mayor Procter that occurred at the December 3 meeting.
By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesBoth Bob Gonzales and John Procter vow to move forward, despite the tension over the selection of Gonzales as Mayor over Vice Mayor Procter that occurred at the December 3 meeting. Gonzales, a former 33-year city employee and former police chief who was elected to the Council a year ago, was selected Mayor on a 3-2 vote.Procter and Councilman Dr. Gabino Aguirre voted against Gonzales, as well as against Councilman Ralph Fernandez - also elected a year ago - when it came to filling Procter’s former seat of Vice Mayor. After the roll call vote, Procter called the action a “blatant” show of disrespect.“We’re going to move forward,” Gonzales said in an interview Wednesday. “This is not about the individual; although some people will take it personally, there’s something bigger at stake... the city as a whole.”When also interviewed on Wednesday, Procter said that he had always “respected Gonzalez” and considered him a friend as well as a Council colleague, and was surprised - and wonders - why the vote went the way it did.Gonzales acknowledged that the Council has had “some disagreements in the past,” but they must be put aside. “In the history of the city there has been Council members who have not agreed with certain actions, and more recently this Council has not agreed on issues,” but the Council will continue to move the city forward. “We have to,” said Gonzales. “There’s no option.”
