Council appoints Chris Schalde to District C seat and Hugh Allen who opts to decline seat

In District E the pick wasn’t as straightforward. Council members ran through the long list of applicants – a list that included a pair of former council members – and finally settled on Hugh Allen, an applicant who wasn’t even in the council chambers when Neal, Brown, and Lyons finally settled on the surprising pick.

Allen on Wednesday informed city officials that he was declining the appointment.

Because there were just three council members, the selection required a unanimous vote. Schalde outpolled former West Hills College District Chancellor Frank Gornick as council members Brown, Lyons  Neal, without discussion, nominated and then voted for the newcomer.

Following both votes, Schalde was immediately sworn in, but Allen left the council meeting early and did not return.

Schalde, a teacher in Lemoore High School’s continuation program for the past 20 years, is a former state teacher of the year for continuation schools. He’s taught for 20 years and has been a volunteer fireman for 20 years.

The next pick wasn’t as smooth as the first. Neal immediately nominated Shelly Reese, but it failed due to a lack of a second. From there, it went all downhill.

Lyons nominated former council member John Plourde, who earned a second from Brown, but Neal ended Plourde’s chances by voting no.  Had Plourde been picked, it would have been his third time replacing a departing departed council member.

Lyons nominated Jim Kilner, a former Kings County fire chief, but again Neal voted no. Council members finally settled on Hugh Allen, who wasn’t in the audience at the time of his selection. He apparently left early.

Schalde delivered some heartfelt thoughts upon his swearing-in. “I’d like to thank you guys for having the trust in me, and I promise you guys and the people of Lemoore that I’ll do the best that I can to serve you and do what’s right for everybody,” he said.

“I hope that the constituents in District C will be at least content with me and give me the opportunity not only to be content but to be happy with me come next year’s election and to have the confidence in my leadership skills to lead them for the remainder of the term that Mr. Billingsley had. I know he did a great job, and I hope to fill his shoes and be proud of myself and do what I need to do for the city of Lemoore.”