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Lathrop Manteca Fire need fill board seat vacated by John Gish
fire dept

When the Lathrop Manteca Fire District Board of Directors meets next week, they’ll have to decide how they want to proceed with the vacancy that opened up last month with the unexpected resignation of John Gish. 

According to Lathrop Manteca Fire Chief Gene Neely, the district has been working to prepare options for the board in advance of their Aug. 15 meeting after Gish – a former Battalion Chief with the French Camp-McKinley Fire District – announced at the end of the body’s last meeting that he was moving out of the area and would need to step down. 

Whichever way the board decides to go – either by appointing somebody to serve out the roughly 18-months that will be remaining in the term, or by holding a special election – will likely require a special meeting as the district will have to fill the position within 60 days of its opening or risk having the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors make the decision for them. 

According to Neely, the next step will likely be the posting of the applications that will be reviewed by the board if they decide to appoint on the district’s website – where it will remain for 15 days. The relevant notices will also be posted where the board’s agendas are legally required to be posted, and applications will be available for pickup at the district’s administrative headquarters at Station 35 in River Islands. 

Gish was the top vote-getter in the 2016 election, and since his tenure is more than halfway complete, whoever is appointed will serve the remainder until the seat is up for its normal rotation in 2020. 

For a copy of the application or more information about the position itself, visit the Lathrop Manteca Fire District’s website at www.lmfire.org, visit Station 35 located at 19001 Somerston Parkway in River Islands, or call 209.941.5100.


To contact reporter Jason Campbell email jcampbell@mantecabulletin.com or call 209.249.3544.