Chino Commissioners Reconsider The Wisdom Of Booting Their Colleague For Seeking Council Berth

More than two months after Greg Marquez was given indication he was to be bounced off the Chino Community Services Commission based on what at least some community members thought was an excess of political ambition, he was reappointed to the post this week.
In July, after Marquez officially filed as a candidate for the District 2 city council slot in the November election and a question was raised as to whether Marquez’s position on the commission conferred upon him an advantage in the election, a subcommittee of the commission, which included Linda Takeuchi, Neal Jerry, and Brenda Strong, were tasked with considering if allowing Marquez to maintain his status as a commissioner compromised either the integrity of the commission or the electoral process in Chino. Ultimately, the trio felt it would be best for Marquez’s post to be declared vacant and the city to seek applicants to replace him. Marquez’s term had ended on June 30, but Mayor Eunice Ulloa had not appointed a replacement, and his time on the commission had been rolled over. Takeuchi, Jerry and Strong informed Marquez that he would be allowed to remain on the commission only until such time as his replacement was chosen.Walt Pocock was appointed by the city council in May 2021 to complete the District 2 council term to which Councilman Mark Hargrove was elected in 2018 following Hargrove’s death. To remain on the council past this year, Pocock would have needed to vie for election in November. Pocock has opted not to run, but Marquez will be competing against Sylvia Orozco and Curtis Burton.
Those Chino residents interested in replacing Marquez on the Community Services Commission were invited to fill out applications by August 19. The commission, which consists of Takeuchi, Jerry, Strong, Marquez, Robert Martinez, Jamie Harwood and Julissa Montenegro-Olivas, were called upon on September 26 to consider the applicants, which included Michelle Ballantyne, Charleen King, Richard Montijo, Jamie Aviles, Armida Garcia, Cecil Howell, David Matza, Stepheno Padilla, and Marquez, who reapplied.
With Takeuchi absent and Marquez not participating in the discussion, the commission considered a recommendation by a committee consisting of Martinez, Harwood and Montenegro-Olivas that Marquez be reappointed. Martinez, Harwood and Montenegro-Olivas evaluated the applications and interviewed the applicants. The commission’s vote ended with Jerry, Martinez, Harwood and Montenegro-Olivas supporting keeping Marquez in place and Strong opposed.
Strong indicated concern that Marquez was exploiting his position on the commission to boost his council electoral chances. The commission’s vote is not binding but serves as a recommendation to the city council, which will have the final say on October 4.

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