SALINAS >> A little known committee of a dozen Monterey County mayors named Salinas Mayor Dennis Donohue to sit on a quasi-governmental commission, all but ensuring that commission will continue to try and block the Monterey Peninsula Water District’s acquisition of California American Water Co.

The City Select Committee often flies under the public’s radar since the lion’s share of its decisions have to do with appointing mayors to a host of boards and commissions across the county.

The reason Friday’s vote was contentious, and can have a significant effect on the water district’s eminent domain proceeding against Cal Am, is that one of those boards is the Local Agency Formation Commission, or LAFCO. Typically, LAFCO’s role is to ensure orderly growth of communities. But in early 2022 LAFCO, against the recommendation of its own staff, voted to block the water district from acquiring Cal Am’s assets.

Donohue hasn’t stated publicly whether he would support the acquisition, but observers and proponents of the water district say it’s all but guaranteed he will vote with the rest of the Salinas Valley block on the LAFCO commission. Also, during the meeting, Donohue argued there was an assumption that former Mayor Kimbley Craig would hold the LAFCO seat until 2027.

“I have continuity with her,” Donohue said.

It was Craig’s decision not to run for mayor again that opened a seat on the LAFCO commission. Donohue said that because of the sheer size and geography of Salinas, it should be represented by holding the key seat.

“Salinas represents the interest of the entire valley,” he said Friday.If Soledad Mayor Anna Velazquez, who also tossed her hat in the ring for the seat along with Donohue, had been elected to the LAFCO commission, she would have been more amenable to supporting the water district, district proponents say.

Ultimately when the mayors voted, Donohue won 7-5. Velazquez, Monterey Mayor Tyller Williamson, Seaside Mayor Ian Oglesby, Pacific Grove Mayor Nick Smith and Marina Mayor Bruce Delgado voted for Velazquez.

Voting with the Salinas Valley block were Sand City Mayor Mary Ann Carbone, Carmel Mayor Dale Byrne and Del Rey Oaks Mayor Scott Donaldson.

Melodie Chrislock, the managing director of Public Water Now, which is the nonprofit that placed the Cal Am buyout on the ballot in 2018, said after the meeting that she was disappointed in the vote and in the Peninsula mayors who voted for Donohue.

“Salinas Mayor Donohue stands with Cal Am,” Chrislock said. “The three Peninsula mayors who voted for him are Carmel Mayor Dale Byrne, Del Rey Oaks Mayor Scott Donaldson and Sand City Mayor Mary Anne Carbone,” she continued. “They sold out Peninsula voters in favor of Salinas Valley interests and Cal Am. Every time you pay your Cal Am bill you can thank these three for prolonging the agony.”

Several mayors argued that the decision was not a political one. Williamson said the argument that the vote was not political was somewhat of a red herring.

“The fact of the matter is we sit in positions that are inherently political,” Williamson said. “Each mayor is weighing several factors, including constituents, special interests, representation and personal values among others. In other words, it’s impossible for politicians to not make political decisions. I think it was a failure for (the three) Peninsula mayors to not make a decision that represented the majority voice of our constituents.”

Another issue that was debated was that of fair rotation. Velazquez said she has been an alternate for the seat since 2021. In 2022 and 2023 she asked to become a voting member.

“I was told no and to wait my turn,” she said. “I should be in that seat as a primary member.”

She cited data that while Salinas has held a seat 20 times in the past 25 years, the rural communities in southern Monterey County have held seats just five times. She added that she didn’t understand why three of the four mayors of south Salinas Valley didn’t support her. King City Mayor Mike LeBarre told Velazquez that the three southern county mayors agreed that Salinas would represent them best.

“I’m the one who lined you up for chair on Monterey-Salinas Transit,” he told her. “This is not about you; don’t take this as a slight.”

And while the vast majority of residents of the county are Latino, Marina’s Delgado noted that there are no Latinos in primary positions on the LAFCO board.

Friday’s decision isn’t likely to change anything in the near future. Ultimately the issue will likely be decided in the courts.