Interesting comment from Mettler and the Bakersfield Republican Assembly that is now comprised of Abernathy sycophants, who up til recently fought hard and vigorous against the Bill Thomas and Abernathy machine.  The planning commisions are not  "dysfunctional" and have worked well for all time.  That is until Weir got his nose out of joint and couldn't wait his turn.  I wonder what office Mettler has his eye on and who he will be "paying" as his consultant.  It used to be ABA (Anybody but Abernathy).  It would be interesting to see who their "overwhelming" membership consists of. 

Bakersfield - Ken Mettler, president of the Bakersfield Republican Assembly announced today that their membership overwhelmingly voted to urge local elected officials to appoint qualified citizens to commissions and advisory boards rather than appointing government paid staff members of elected office holders.

"It is our desire that qualified citizens be actively sought out and afforded the opportunity to serve their community. Further, a method of picking from a pool of qualified citizens and having them voted upon by the whole city council or board of supervisors may be preferable to the current dysfunctional system. ", said Mettler.

InTheKnow:

That makes no sense. a) Abernathy-camp councilman Zack Scrivner just last year appointed a "government paid staff member of elected office holder." And b) having people on staff and on boards seems to be an MO for grooming people and occupying seats in general.

Citybeat, it makes perfect sense if you know the history.  The BRA was once a conservative assembly with members such as Mike Maggard, Russell Johnson, Rosalyn Strode, Karen Norton, Tracy Leach, Cal Rossi, Chad Vegas, Paul Stine, Tony Lomas, Jeff Flores and others.  They were always at odds with Thomas, Abernathy and McCarthy.  Then when the big fight started a few years ago over the bluffs, Gordon Downs, the Canyons, Robert Kapral, Brian Todd, etc., the once conservative BRA began to implode when they started attacking their own members.  BRA members started enlisting their family members to join as voting members so they could join forces and vote against endorsing Mike Maggard in the supervisorial race.  Now that the BRA has been taken over (wonder of all wonders) they opened their doors to the Abernathy folks.  So you can see, Mettler's comment has everything to do with commissioner Russell Johnson.  Mettler and Vegas are the worst of the "flip-floppers."  They put Sen. John Kerry to shame.  "I used to like Russell Johnson, before I didn't like him."  "I used to support Mike Maggard, before I didn't support him." "I used to hate Mark Abernathy, before I didn't hate him."  Didn't you hear the Reverend Chad Vegas on Inga Bark's show going at it with Williard Winn endorsing Ken Weir's attempt to "oust" Commissioner Johnson.