Jul 24, 2014

Ryan Sundberg Appoints Ben Shepherd to Planning Commission to replace Steve Paine

Humboldt County 5th District Supervisor Ryan Sundberg has appointed Ben Shepherd of McKinleyville to the Humboldt County Planning Commission.  Shepherd will replace Steve Paine, who was temporarily appointed to the position after it was vacated by Susan Masten in June of this year.

“McKinleyville is our largest unincorporated community and has taken seventy-five percent of Humboldt County’s growth in the last ten years,” said Supervisor Sundberg. “The residents deserve to have a representative on the planning commission and it needs to be someone who understands the community’s interests and concerns. After considering many possibilities, I realized that Ben was uniquely qualified to serve in this capacity. He has remained active in McKinleyville community planning efforts and is very invested in our community.”

Shepherd is a long-time resident of McKinleyville, has served on the last two McKinleyville Citizens Advisory Committees for the McKinleyville Community Plan, was recently part of the Ad Hoc Committee that provided input for the General Plan update and is current chair of the McKinleyville Municipal Advisory Committee.  He has spent twenty years on the McKinleyville Community Services District Board, has served on the McKinleyville Chamber Board of Directors and is a past member Humboldt County Democratic Central Committee and past delegate for the California State Democratic Convention.

 “I have enjoyed my community service in the McKinleyville area and look forward to serving the county in another capacity,” Shepherd said. “Those that have worked with me know I don’t fit into any category and am known to seek common ground in contentious issues. It is important to listen to all sides and I find I often learn from people who don’t share my opinion.”

“I selected Ben because he has shown that he will seek out views on both sides of an issue,” Sundberg added. “I expect him to actively seek opinions from a wide variety of viewpoints and consider short and long-term impacts before making important decisions.”

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