Ocean Beach Town Council Elects New President – Dave Martin

Dave Martin – new president of the OB Town Council.

A long-time member of the OB Town Council – Dave Martin – has just recently been elected its new president in elections for the Board. Martin has taken the reins of the Ocean Beach organization at a time when there seems to be new blood and energy stimulating the council.

Martin, who has served on the Council as a Director for 11 years, is the owner of Shades restaurant on Abbott Street.

Also elected to the executive board was Brennan Bazar as vice president, Gretchen Kinney Newsom as recording secretary, Heather Richards as correspondence secretary and Melinda Therkalson as treasurer.

Jim Musgrove – the controversial past president – stepped down to allow for new leadership.

In addition, the Board welcomed three new members to its board of directors: Dave Cieslak, Heather Richards and Stephen Grosch.  Also, existing members were re-elected including Trudy Levenson, Brennan Bazar, Giovanni Ingolia and Jeri Ryan.

Each Director of the Town Council serves a two year term.  Elections are staggered so that roughly half of the board comes up for election each year, assuring some continuity.  Only voting members of the town council may become board members, and only residential members have voting rights on the Town Council.

According to the bylaws of the OB Town Council, a residential member is defined as “any individual over sixteen years of age or any firm, corporation, or partnership living, working, or owning property, or operating a business in Ocean Beach….” who is a dues paying member of the OB Town Council.  Members over eighteen years of age may become a Director.