An absence and a presence
Councilman Gilberto Gil has kept a very low profile since losing his seat as a result of the Nov. 6 election.
As a California parole officer stationed in San Bernardino, Gil probably has enough work to keep himself busy. But unless he dropped by City Hall during the short part of Tuesday's City Council meeting that I was late for, Gil was absent from what is almost certain to be the last Council Meeting of his term.
I placed a phone call to Gil in the morning but was only able to leave a message. I've been curious if he plans to stay involved in city politics but I haven't heard from him since the election. I'll let you know if lets me know that he has anything interesting lined up.
Incidentally, the city has already removed Gil's portrait from the hallway outside Council Chambers even though his successor, Jerry Bean, is not slated to be sworn in until December 4.
It's interesting to note that I have seen City Treasurer Mike Reynolds at City Hall more often than Gil. Reynolds has been charged with three felonies - he has denied wrongdoing - relating to a transfer of about $38,000 from an account under his control to the city's general account. Prosecutors have alleged that Reynolds shuffled the money to cover-up a shortage in the city's petty cash fund. He's scheduled to be arraigned on Dec. 5 in San Bernardino Superior Court.
Reynolds attended Tuesday's council meeting but did not participate.in discussions. I've seen him at City Hall on a few other occassions although his duties to oversee the city's investments have been transferred to an interim employee.