Merced County planning commissioner pick raises concern over lack of diversity

A new appointment to the Merced County Planning Commission on Tuesday raised an old concern: lack of diversity on one of the county’s most important commissions.

“I’m sorry to say, but you only see white males, and it’s a concern,” said Supervisor Deidre Kelsey in an interview Tuesday. Kelsey voiced a similar concern at a Board of Supervisors meeting last year. “I’m always concerned when I see the community’s representatives aren’t a reflection of the community.”

County records obtained by the Merced Sun-Star support Kelsey’s criticism. They show just five women served on the Planning Commission since the 1980s, with Kelsey being one of them. The remaining women commissioners were appointed by Kelsey after she was elected supervisor.

The Planning Commission, established in the 1940s, makes decisions on land use development requests and zoning matters. The commission used to have 10 members, but was cut down to five in 1988. Each commissioner is appointed by a member of the Board of Supervisors.

Kelsey said the Planning Commission is one of the county’s most powerful committees because it controls business opportunities and the potential for job development.

On Tuesday, the board unanimously appointed Robert Acheson to represent District 2. Acheson, 69, has a long record of civic service, including eight years on the city of Merced’s Planning Commission.

“I care very much about the county of Merced and just want to make it a better place to live,” said Acheson, who retired from the banking industry. “We obviously need jobs, and we want to do anything we can to enhance that.”

Acheson replaces Lynn Tanner, who stepped down in July after nearly 20 years on the commission.

District 2 Supervisor Hub Walsh said Acheson is his first appointment to the commission, but he has tried selecting people with diverse backgrounds. He interviewed three finalists for the recent vacancy, including one woman. She didn’t make the cut because she lived outside his district, Walsh said.

“I’ve worked real hard to make my appointments be sensitive to the makeup of the community, but I try to choose the most qualified candidate,” Walsh said. Two other county supervisors, John Pedrozo and Jerry O’Banion, could not be reached for comment on their past appointments.

Although Kelsey doesn’t dispute Acheson’s qualifications, she advocated for more diverse voices – women and minorities – on the commission. “I’ve specifically tried to pick females. Being the only female on the commission, I’ve realized my perspective is valuable,” she said. “Diversity makes a big difference, because people have different perspectives.”

The county’s first woman planning commissioner was Hilmar resident Mary Wickstrom. The 79-year-old served on the commission in the 1980s. Although the majority of male commissioners were supportive, she said, it was “intimidating” being the only woman.

Despite one commissioner making sexist comments toward her, Wickstrom stayed on the panel because she wanted to be a voice for the agricultural community. Like Kelsey, Wickstrom said women think about things differently, and it creates a balance to have both men and women on the commission.

“I often felt like I’m not qualified, but I had a great desire to do what I can to preserve agriculture in Merced County,” Wickstrom said in a telephone interview Tuesday. “There was an awkwardness in having a woman on the Planning Commission. But I felt like I was challenged to take the appointment because land was being eaten up, and it was difficult for farmers to do their job.”

In other county business, the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday selected Pedrozo to be chairman and Walsh as vice chairman for 2015. Reading from a prepared statement, Pedrozo said he’s looking forward to being chairman for the third time.

“I’m excited about what the year will bring,” he said. “New policies, new dialogues that will make Merced County the premier place to work, live and do business.” Pedrozo replaced O’Banion, who completed his sixth year as chairman.

This story was originally published January 13, 2015 at 6:54 PM with the headline "Merced County planning commissioner pick raises concern over lack of diversity."