In discussing Councilman Weir's attempt to fire Commissioner Johnson from the planning commission Marylee rightly points out other examples where people who were serving with competent distinction were removed from their posts for political reasons not having to do with their technical performance.

Yes, more citizens should have been fired up about that and supported some of those  people. With that said the public reaction to Weir's activities was well deserved because of the obvious appearance of basic misuse of his office on behalf of a special interest and the closeness of the issue to our quality of life and property tax supported infrastructure issues.

The few (I guess that's one) opinion offered suggesting a "conflict of interest" on the part of Johnson because he is an employee of Supervisor Maggard reflects an extremely superficial view of the situation. Yes, Johnson is Supervisor Maggard's chief of staff. No that's not a conflict of interest. Maggard represents for the county the same people Weir represents in his ward in the city. Now if Johnson worked for or was supportive of a developer at the expense of the professional recommendations of the city's planning staff or other elected officials that would be a conflict of interest.

In the case of Johnson he has a substantial and distinguished track record that is discounted by critics only because they choose to avert their eyes from his record while supporting Weir and the "property (developer) rights" crowd. We should not forget Johnson, working as a commissioner, has cast an opposite vote than that of Councilman Weir only once and that was after the council got considerations from the developer for some of the commission's concerns.

In his scramble to do everything he can to help the goals of General Holding in opposition to the considered positions of the rest of the council and the professional views of staff Weir is causing insult to his office and to the city. Despite his actions and demonstrated position, what's good for General Holding is not good for Bakersfield. Councilman Weir needs to be more mindful that his sworn responsibilities to the citizens of Bakersfield is  more than a few glib words while working to  further the interests of General Holding.