Mayor Bob Lingl Announces Reelection Campaign

Last week Mayor Lingl publicly announced that he would be running for reelection. He has decided that he wants to be our Mayor for two more years.  This would seem to count as “news,” so I’m not sure why his announcement hasn’t received any attention. But never fear: this Intrepid Girl Reporter was on the scene.

Bob was one of the "dignitaries" at a dinner hosted by the Santa Barbara County Action Network (SBCAN). The event was held in the fancy ballroom of the Santa Maria Radisson, and most of the attendees were residents of Santa Maria and Santa Ynez Valley.

Ron Fink, one of Mayor Lingl's closest advisers, has written bitter tirades against SBCAN and its members; are Fink and the Mayor at odds where SBCAN is concerned? Fink's vitriol seems unwarranted, but on one point, at least, I can agree with him. He writes: SBCAN “is about 180 degrees out of sync with the thoughts and ‘politics’ of the people that I encounter in Lompoc.” 

It's not that I have anything against SBCAN. It was a very nice dinner (salmon). Two Lompoc residents were honored at the event, receiving awards for their service to our community. But I have to admit, Ean and I felt a bit uncomfortable with that crowd.  We sat in the back and tried to convince our table-mates that Lompoc's Motorsports Park Project might not be such a bad idea.  The posh-looking lady from Buellton and Joan Hartmann (Valley resident and candidate for 3rd District S.B. County Supervisor) flared their nostrils ever so slightly. Not motorcross fans, apparently. "You don't want to become a mini-Santa Maria," warned the posh lady. Thankfully, the cash bar stayed open throughout the entire event, and Ean was the Designated Driver.

I wasn't surprised to hear that Mayor Lingl has decided to run for another term. But I'm puzzled that he didn't tell us - Lompoc residents - here in Lompoc, before he announced it to a banquet hall full of SBCAN members and other "North County" guests and "dignitaries."