Diane Trautman, who served on the city’s Planning Commission for eight years, says she was not selected for a third term because she aligned herself with failed challengers in April’s Santa Clarita City Council election.

Trautman said Wednesday that Councilwoman Marsha McLean, who appointed her to two four-year terms, told Trautman she didn’t think the support from the rest of the council would be there for a third term because the commissioner supported challengers David Gauny and TimBen Boydston over Mayor Laurene Weste and Councilman Frank Ferry. Trautman also supported McLean.

“What it boils down to was, some council members thought I had violated political correctness (by supporting challengers),” Trautman said. “(McLean) told me that she’d had discussions, and (my re-appointment) wasn’t going to happen. She asked me to withdraw my application, but I told her that was unfair to the people who supported me who felt I had been doing a good job.”

When asked if she had conversations with council members about reappointing Trautman, McLean said she would “not get involved with that conversation.”

“Diane can tell you what she wants,” McLean said. “Diane has done a good job, and I thank her for her service.”

Weste also declined to comment about the matter Wednesday.

Instead of Trautman, McLean said she selected Lisa Eichman, a tax accountant and owner of Gymnastics Unlimited, for the planning spot. Eichman will begin her term in September.

“I was impressed with her commitment to smart growth, and the fact that she actually watched the Planning Commission meetings because she likes to,” McLean said. “That’s me. I used to always watch the Planning Commission meetings. ...

She strikes me as a person who’s optimistic and very positive. We need people on the commission who are happy to be there, who will be objective and look at all sides.”

Behind-the-scenes
Trautman said she tried to reach out to Ferry, Weste, Councilwoman Laurie Ender and Councilman Bob Kellar to solicit their support if McLean were to select her for re-appointment. She spoke with Ender and Kellar and received Kellar’s support, she said.

Trautman said that because McLean couldn’t secure the backing of a majority on the City Council, she chose another candidate.

“(McLean) made a choice that was fully in sync with what the three other council members wanted,” Trautman said.

After a council election, newly elected council members each appoint one individual for each of several city commissions — the Planning Commission; Parks, Recreation and Community Services Commission; Arts Commission; and Open Space Preservation District Financial Accountability and Audit Panel.

Then, the rest of the council votes to approve or reject each nomination.

McLean and Ferry did not deny having a conversation about Trautman before the council meeting.

“Marsha will appoint who Marsha wants,” Ferry said. “People are going to have sour grapes. That’s unfortunate. But Marsha voted to do what’s best for herself and the city.”

Other appointments
McLean selected Diana Boon to replace Parks, Recreation and Community Services Commissioner Ed Redd, who died in March. Chris Fall replaces Janell Cornell on the same commission. Cornell did not reapply.

Sitting planning commissioners Dennis Ostrom and Timothy Burkhart were re-appointed by Weste and Ferry, respectively.

Ostrom will be the first commissioner to benefit from the council’s June decision to do away with term limits for its commissions.

Trautman ran for City Council in 2008 and lost. Trautman said she has not decided whether she will run again in 2012.