Planning panel applicant names released - except one

Valley Press

Those dozen candidates are Steve Bridgers, Marvin Crist, Jonathan Ervin, Jake Flaming, Kermit Franklin, Lani Glasscock, Danny Jacobs, Dana Haycock, Betty Ann Jones, Michael Rives, Robert Teller and Jonathan Vanover.

On Wednesday, City Clerk Geri Bryan reported 37 applicants had applied to become members of the panel that sets planning standards for the city, approves development projects to forward to the City Council and works on overhauls to the city's General Plan.

Two dozen of the names of those applying were released and published in Thursday's Antelope Valley Press. They are: James Abadejos, David Abber, Andrew Banks, Larry Burkey, Richard Cook, Sean Donlon, John Fletcher, Thomas Hall, Daniel Hellwig, David Hosman, Randall Jaqua, Tom Lacey, Darren Parker, David Paul, Raj Mahli, Bruce MacPherson, Glenn Morris, William Nichter, Kristen Stark, Sandy Smith, George Turner III, Andy Visokey, James Vose and Jean Youngquist.

Mayor R. Rex Parris said he had wanted to work on a presumption of confidentiality for applicants seeking the position, and sought applicants' permission to see their names published.

Once the provisions of the California Public Records Act, which provides no basis for keeping the names confidential, were called to his attention, the mayor, who is also an attorney, said he was conducting his own personal review of pertinent sections of the act, which makes government documents available to the public upon request.

Parris said he was reviewing the Public Records Act and pertinent sections of the state Constitution guaranteeing access to government information provided under Proposition 59, approved in 2004 by 83% of the electorate.

"I want transparent government," the mayor said.