David Smyser’s resume: would you hire this man ?

 

David Smyser is asking the voters of the 3rd District to hire (elect) him to be our county supervisor for the next four years. This is a very important job, which will have tremendous impact on the character of our community for years to come. Should we hire him?

In my opinion, two very important characteristics for us to look for in a candidate would be a sense of commitment, and a record of accomplishment.

 

From public information, most of it from his own website (please go to smyserforsupervisor.com -- click on Meet Dave), here is Mr. Smyser’s work history:

He graduated from college in Maryland with a degree in agriculture, worked for the school as an agricultural agent for a couple of years, and then quit.

He went on what was to be a three month educational and humanitarian project in Africa, and returned eight years and three continents later.

He took some courses towards an MBA, but he did not finish the program and he did not get the degree.

He went back to a different school, earned a degree in education, taught for a few years, and then quit.

He went back to school again, this time to a small law school in San Diego, graduated, took a job with a law firm for a short time, and then quit.

He came to Solvang, went into private law practice, got on the city planning commission, and subsequently was elected to the city council for a four-year term. Shortly thereafter, he announced he was running for county supervisor; if he had won, he would have had to quit his city council seat.

However, a short time later, Brooks Firestone announced that he was running for the same office, and our job candidate quit his own campaign.

 

A few months later, he became chief of staff for Firestone, and after two years, less than halfway into the term, he quit.

Within weeks, he agreed to finish the term of a retiring county planning commissioner. He quit as Solvang City Council member (creating a vacancy), served as  planning commissioner a short while, and then quit a year before the term was up.

He took a job with a Santa Maria law firm, and then in less than one year, he quit.

Now he wants you, the voting public, to hire him for the important four-year job of 3rd District Supervisor.

His sales pitch to get this job is based on this litany of experiences and on factually false personal attacks on other candidates for the job.  He has been far less than candid about his funding sources.

One more little problem: he is refusing to show up for the job interview (the candidate forum) in the Santa Ynez Valley because, in his words, “there is simply not enough time.”

QUESTION:  Would you hire this man?

 

Bob Field is the former chairman of the Santa Ynez Valley Planning Advisory Committee, working under 3rd District Supervisor Brooks Firestone.