THE SHORELINE of Monterey County may be one of the most scenic in the state, but the county once again will be without a representative on the California Coastal Commission, with the announcement this week that Carole Groom has been appointed to it.   

On Monday, Assembly Speaker John Perez chose Groom, a San Mateo County supervisor, to fill a spot left vacant on the coastal commission by Santa Cruz County Supervisor Mark Stone, who gave up his seat after being elected to the California Assembly earlier this month.
 
By law, Stone’s coastal commission spot, which previously was held by Monterey County Supervisor Dave Potter, must be held by an elected official from the Central Coast, and Perez had to appoint one from Monterey, Santa Cruz or San Mateo County to the seat. He weighed bids by more than a half-dozen nominees, including Monterey County supervisors Jane Parker and Simon Salinas.

Groom will take her seat on the commission in December.

Monterey County Supervisor Dave Potter, who had the seat for 12 years, said he hasn’t met Groom but said she’s known to be a moderate with backing from both business interests and environmentalists.

“I think it’s time San Mateo had representation,” Potter told The Pine Cone. “There are a lot of issues that go on in the Half Moon Bay Area and that part of the coast.”

Potter said he’s planning to attend the coastal commission meeting in San Francisco in December to welcome her to visit the Monterey Bay area, “just to let her know this is an incredibly special piece of the coast and it would be good for her to come take a look at it.”

Monterey City councilwoman Libby Downey, Santa Cruz City councilwoman Lynn Robinson and former Seaside Mayor Felix Bachofner were also nominees for the seat.

Several unions and environmental groups, including the Sierra Club and Service Employees International Union, lobbied for Parker’s selection to the commission.
In a press release Monday, Parker congratulated the new coastal commissioner.

“I wish to extend my heartfelt congratulations to Supervisor Groom as she prepares take on this additional responsibility to uphold the mission of the California Coastal Commission,” Parker said.