Politics & Government

'Finger-Pointing, Sniping' Pushes City Councilman to Resign

Bill Neighbors says he can do more to help the community by serving on commissions and volunteering.

Watsonville City Councilman Bill Neighbors resigned Wednesday afternoon, just four months after taking his seat on the council.

“I just resigned for no personal reason," said Neighbors, who was elected to the District 3 seat in November. "I’m not mad at the city. I guess that it’s not what I expected, No. 1, and No. 2, I’m just not used to the finger-pointing, the sniping. We don’t accomplish nothing, and I don’t like that.”

In-fighting and drama has diverted the council's attention from time to time during Neighbor's brief tenure. Councilman Emilio Martinez filed a lawsuit challenging how a replacement would be chosen for outgoing Mayor Luis Alejo; Martinez also challenged how city finances were handled, prompting outcry from city employees and discussions that the councilman should be taken to task for ethics violations; and, this week, Neighbors wrote an op-ed piece in the Register-Pajaronian newspaper questioning the Watsonville Fire Department's purchase of a fire truck.

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Neighbors said he knew being a city councilor could be a frustrating position, but he had hoped the council would be more focused on city business. Three city council members were replaced in January, “but it’s not different, just different people," he said.

“If I spend five hours of my time on something, I want it to benefit someone,” Neighbors said, referring to the council's long meetings.

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“I want to make a difference,” he continued. “It’s not something that I want to spend four years of my time doing when I could be more successful in other things.”

Neighbors said he plans to stay active in city affairs. He’s a Rotarian, he serves on the city’s Mobile Home Commission, and he wants to help the city and the chamber have a good working relationship to bring jobs to Watsonville.

“I’m not angry. I’m not bitter. I don’t want to bad-mouth anyone on the council or the city; I need to move on,” Neighbors said.

Mayor Daniel Dodge lamented the loss of Neighbors, who was the vice mayor.

“I’m really sad that Bill is leaving us," Dodge said. "I thought his energy and his perspective brought a balance to the council.”

But Dodge disagreed with Neighbors' characterization of the City Council.

“I believe that me and other council members focus at the business at hand," Dodge said. "I see certain distractions, but that’s local politics.”

Neighbors had considered stepping down earlier this year as well, according to Watsonville City Manager Carlos Palacios said.

“Bill had talked about resigning about a month ago and then he decided he would stay on the council," Palacios said, adding that Neighbors obviously had changed his mind.

Retired Chief Terry Medina, who worked with Neighbors when he was a volunteer in the police department, said the now-former councilman is a good man.

“Bill Neighbors is just dedicated to trying to make Watsonville better,” Medina said.

Neighbors' resignation was effective at 4 p.m. Wednesday, meaning the search for his replacement will begin immediately, Dodge said.

“I look forward to seeing who comes out as possible candidates," Dodge said.

The council has 30 days to appoint a replacement or scheduled a special election.

"We've gone through this before," Palacios said, explaining that vacancies almost always have been filled by appointment because it takes several months for an election to be organized and holding a vote is costly.

Neighbors said he is concerned that it may be tough to find someone to fill his shoes. He ran unopposed in his district, as did his predecessor, Antonio Rivas.

But Dodge was optimistic.

"Maybe somebody new will come out of the woodwork,” he said.

Interested District 3 residents can contact the city clerk to apply. Go to the city offices on the fourht floor of 275 Main St. or call (831) 768-3040.


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