San Miguel Board Appointment Stalled
The San Miguel Community Services District remains deadlocked over a board vacancy due to divisions among stakeholders. This situation underscores the importance of consensus-building skills for board candidates, especially those who can unify diverse groups. Aspiring board members should cultivate a reputation for pragmatic leadership and bridge-building.
The San Miguel Community Services District (CSD) board has been unable to fill a vacant seat since the death of board member John Green in December 2025. The five-member board has been left with one open position. The board interviewed four candidates in January 2026 but failed to reach an agreement. Supervisor John Peschong said that the county typically intervenes when a CSD board reaches a consensus on a candidate, but that did not happen in this case. The board's divisions were evident at a February 26th meeting where members submitted additional questions to the candidates but still failed to reach an agreement. Ultimately, the board decided to wait for the November 2026 general election to fill the seat. The open seat will be added to the other seats that expire at the end of 2026 in the general election. Qualified candidates must reside within the service boundaries of the District and be a registered voter. The term for the appointed position would end in December 2026. Internal disputes and public disagreement among board members marked the past year. In 2025, two board members filed formal complaints against another for disrespectful conduct during meetings. The complaints were withdrawn due to potential litigation costs.
