Graves leaves county planning commission

By JAY GOETTING, Register Staff Writer

Vintner David Graves is stepping down from his position as a member of the Napa County Planning Commission.

Graves -- co-founder of Saintsbury Winery in the Carneros region -- a Supervisor Brad Wagenknecht appointee since 1998, submitted his resignation effective at the conclusion of the commission's Sept. 6 meeting.

"He will be sorely missed," said Hillary Gitelman, the county's planning director.

She said there was no formal letter of resignation, noting Graves had notified Wagenknecht of the move. With the supervisor's recent re-election, Graves has said it is a good time for him to step aside.

"He's been everything I'd want in a commissioner," said Wagenknecht. "He can speak with authority for the wine industry and is very intelligent."

Graves' wine industry connections were the source of controversy earlier this year, when the commission was considering he permit of One True Vine winery in St. Helena. One True Vine sought to have Graves removed from a vote on winery permits, suggesting Graves had a conflict of interest because both One True Vine and Saintsbury sell similarly priced chardonnay.

Graves refused to recuse himself from the matter and his fellow commissioners backed him up.

Graves' colleague on the commission, Jim King, a Mark Luce appointee who has served even longer, called Graves "a good guy who has done a lot of really good things in a lot of ways."

King said Graves is "extremely knowledgeable and always prepared, a real gentleman."

Applicants for the post may live anywhere in the county, although supervisors have typically named their commission appointee from their own districts. Wagenknecht's District 1 includes portions of Napa's Old Town, Browns Valley and Carneros.

The five members of the commission also serve on the Airport Land Use Commission.

Wagenknecht's appointee must be ratified by his colleagues on the Board of Supervisors. Once appointed, commissioners serve concurrently with their county supervisor.

Wagenknecht said he would like to find another representative of the wine industry from District 1.

Applications are available on the county's Web site, www.co.napa.ca.us, or by calling 253-4580. The deadline to submit applications is Sept. 15.

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