With the dramatic announcement that Los Banos City Councilmember Kenneth Lambert would abandon his seat due to “medical reasons,” the Jan. 15 Los Banos City Council meeting had the impact of a climatic episode of a Netflix mini-series.
Before roll could be called, Mayor Michael Amabile read Lambert’s letter announcing his resignation. That revelation superseded the evening’s other big news – the forced resignation of city manager Josh Pinheiro, which the city had announced in a three-sentence post on its website only five days earlier.
Lambert’s departure removed the last vestige of the council majority that had re-installed Pinheiro as city manager in 2023, giving him a $1.8 million payment from the city’s general fund, requiring a unanimous vote for future councils in removing him, seeing a vote of no-confidence from all five of the city’s unions, and many more controversies. Those actions ignited community outrage and led to a voter uprising that removed the mayor and two councilmembers in November.
Of the four-member majority that supported Pinheiro, only Lambert survived November’s political conflagration. But his second four-year term representing District 1 lasted only seven meetings – two of which he missed.
“I have been facing health and medical challenges that require my full attention and care,” wrote Lambert in a letter he hand-delivered to Amabile two hours prior to the Jan. 15 council meeting. In his letter, Lambert insisted he had acted “independently without influence or coaching from anyone inside or outside the council” during its most controversial moments. He said serving had been “both an honor and a challenge.”
The resignation was announced before the first full meeting for councilmembers Evan Sanders in District 2 and Marcus Chavez in District 3, appointed a week earlier to fill the seats left vacant by the overwhelming recall of Brett Jones and Doug Begonia Jr.
Not everyone was convinced health concerns alone prompted Lambert’s decision.
Business owner Kathy Ballard offered this analogy: “Los Banos is very into sports. So, let’s just say it’s like somebody going into a football game without a jock strap. He lacked support.”
While the news stunned some, many more were anxious to be rid of a council that assembled its city budget in secret, endured a critical grand jury investigation, saw the resignation of five department heads, including two finance directors, and accusations of favoritism, plus more.
“Hopefully, we’ve turned the page,” said Cammi Avellar, who views meetings. “I’m tired of council meetings that are just antagonistic and derogatory. That was not a good reflection on our city.”
That reflection could be seen through the coverage of the Westside Express, which received a state-wide award for investigative reporting. Its stories were picked up by other media such as the Central Valley Journalism Collaborative, Fresno’s KVPR and GV Wire.
In that time, councilmember Deborah Lewis stood alone in confronting the council majority, demanding items be removed from the city’s consent agenda so they could be discussed in public. But speaking up came at a cost, as Lewis endured derogatory remarks from other councilmembers and Pinheiro ignored her entirely while ordering city staff not to speak to her or anyone else without his permission.
Fearful of retaliation — such as having their desk moved next to the restrooms — most city staff complied. Others spoke only when assured of anonymity.
After Wednesday’s meeting, in closed session, the council appointed Fire Chief Paul Tualla acting city manager. “It’s only for a short time to help the city get to the point where the council can hire an interim or a full-time manager,” said Tualla.
“This is a council we can definitely move forward with,” Tualla added. “I felt very supported going forward. We all need to do what’s right for the city.”
Already, the mood at city hall is changing.
“With Josh, (city hall) was quiet as a funeral,” said Ballard. “No one would talk to anyone else or anyone who came in. But I went in on Monday to pay my water bill, and the lady at the desk said, ‘Hi, Kathy.’ Then two others came up and said, ‘We can say hi to you now. You know we couldn’t before.’ It’s already definitely a lot friendlier.”
While “very optimistic about how things are going to go now,” Ballard said some issues remain unresolved.
“I’m still kind of upset that we have to spend more money to have a ballot for Lambert’s position; people aren’t too happy about that. But a lot of people are optimistic and excited … They’re excited about Evan Sanders because they can actually talk to him; he was giving out his phone number!”
On one of the city’s popular social-media platforms, residents wondered why someone confronting serious medical issues would run for office. Others were angry that the city will be required to conduct a special election – at a cost of up to $100,000.
State law requires that the majority of any city council’s members be elected. Since Sanders and Chavez were appointed, Lambert’s empty seat must be filled by voters. Los Banos City Clerk Lucy Mallonee has asked Merced County Registrar of Voters Melvin Levy to advise the city on how to proceed.
As part of his campaign, Mayor Amabile said a forensic audit would be necessary. Many are anxious to see that take place.
“The decision to ask Pinheiro to resign was correct,” said Ballard, and payment of a year’s salary is required under the terms of his contract. “But if we do a forensic audit and there was something done that was illegal, we can still go after him.”
Avellar said she is “in a wait-and-see mode.”
Like Ballard, she wants a focus on “bringing more businesses, more jobs to town. We don’t need a lot more houses, we need a business park — a place to attract high-paying jobs. You know, we need to revitalize the downtown area.”
Amabile agrees, saying transparency is paramount going forward.
“It’s not rocket science. We’re getting ready to schedule two budget sessions open to the public before we bring it to the council. … We need the big picture – where do you want to be, what do you want to achieve. Let the people have their say.”
As for an audit, “Yeah, we’re doing that.”
