Wednesday, Jan. 07, 2009

Crowder back on Hughson council

Ex-mayor gets unfinished term despite quitting, moving, DUI

HUGHSON — Former Mayor and Councilman Thom Crowder is back on the City Council.

On a 3-1 vote, the council during a special meeting appointed Crowder over two other applicants to complete the council term of Ramon Bawanan, who was elected mayor in November.

Crowder's conviction on a drunken driving charge last year didn't enter into the council discussion, nor did his move to Turlock after leaving the Hughson council in 2006.

City Manager Joseph Donabed said he didn't know if the misdemeanor DUI in February could disqualify Crowder from council service. He was sworn in Monday night after the appointment. The three candidates — Crowder, Henry Hesling and Miguel Oseguera — were not asked about criminal convictions on application forms for the post.

"I am not an attorney; however it is my understanding that there are certain convictions that preclude you from holding public office," Donabed said. "I am not aware that a DUI is one of those."

Stanislaus County Counsel Jack Doering said he wasn't familiar with the details of Crowder's case. Under California law, certain felony convictions disqualify a person from holding public office, but it's unlikely a misdemeanor would, he said.

Crowder served two previous stints as mayor and was a councilman in the 1990s. As owner of Hughson Ambulance, he drives an emergency vehicle.

He moved to Turlock after leaving the council in 2006 and says he recently moved back to Hughson, listing a Charles Street address on his council application.

Turlock police arrested Crowder at 1:35 a.m. Feb. 11 after he crashed a sport utility vehicle into a fire hydrant near Springer Drive and Midsummer Lane. According to the police log, officers tracked him to his Midsummer Lane residence and found him under the influence.

After a few court appearances, Crowder accepted a plea deal. He pleaded no contest July 23 to driving with a blood alcohol of 0.16 percent, twice the legal limit. Stanislaus County Superior Court Judge Donald Shaver sentenced him to three years' probation and seven days in jail and ordered him to pay a $1,521 fine. Crowder said he did an alternative work program to satisfy the jail time.

Crowder said Tuesday he was drinking too much last year while dealing with his mother's death from cancer.

"You can make up all the excuses you want, it comes down to a poor decision," he said of the DUI. "I think people who know me know I'm an individual of strong character and beliefs. I will take my lumps and move on."

Crowder said the DUI did not prevent him from working as a paramedic.

DUI made no difference

Councilman Ben Manley, who supported Crowder's appointment, said knowledge of the DUI would not have changed his vote.

"I have known Thom Crowder for years and it would not make any difference to me," said Manley, who was elected in November. "Thom is a good enough man that he will put the city first before anything else."

Councilman Gerald Ledermann said he supported Hesling because of his background as a city manager and police chief for other cities. Crowder's DUI would not have influenced his vote, he said.

Ledermann said he was more concerned that Crowder left office in 2000 before his mayoral term was done, which, combined with other resignations, left the council with two members.

The Hughson council first interviewed Crowder, Hesling and Oseguera on Monday night, asking them about their vision for the city and the time they can devote to office. Initially, the council deadlocked 2-2 on separate motions to appoint Hesling and Crowder, with Bawanan and Ledermann supporting Hesling, and Manley and Doug Humphreys voting for Crowder.

Bawanan broke the tie by supporting Crowder.

Crowder said he applied for the two-year council seat because recent council turnover has created a need for experienced leadership.

He said he will work on completing projects such as the sewer plant expansion and on downtown revitalization to generate sales tax revenue. The extra revenue can be used to put more deputies on the streets, he said.

Bee staff writer Ken Carlson can be reached at kcarlson@modbee.com or 578-2321.