Council Curse?

Deb Signs Off: P.G. Councilwoman Deborah Lindsay resigns 18 months after her election. Nic Coury

P.G. Councilwoman Deborah Lindsay resigns.

Monday, May 3, 2010

The abrupt resignation of Pacific Grove Councilwoman Deborah Lindsay brings the total number of exiting councilmembers to three in less than 10 months.

Lindsay's resignation, announced Sunday, May 2, will be effective Thursday, May 6, the day after her last council meeting. She cites "family issues" as the reason for stepping down.

Lindsay, who has described herself as the "greenie" of the council, was an advocate for sustainability and conservation. She also made waves by arguing against the appointment of then-councilwoman Carmelita Garcia as mayor after former mayor Dan Cort stepped down in August 2009. (Former mayor pro tempore Vicki Stilwell resigned soon after Cort.)

Although the council positions are non-partisan, Councilwoman Lindsay's move - taken with the resignations of comparatively progressive former councilmembers Cort and Stilwell - may tilt the seven-member council more to the right, leaving Councilman Bill Kampe as the council's strongest advocate for environmental and New-Urbanist policies.

Mayor Garcia and Councilman Alan Cohen - along with Ken Cuneo and Robert Huitt, who were appointed to fill Cort and Stilwell's vacancies - tend to vote more conservatively in a town known for its old-fashioned sensibilities. Councilwoman Lisa Bennett, a swing voter, has stated that she does not plan to run for re-election in November.