GREENFIELD — Greenfield City Council has appointed longtime resident Robert “Bob” White to fill the vacant seat on the dais.
White, a local real estate broker and insurance agent who has lived in Greenfield for 55 years, was voted unanimously to round out the five-member council at its Jan. 8 meeting.
He joins Councilmembers Drew Tipton and Angela Untalon, Mayor Pro Tem Yanely Martinez and Mayor Lance Walker, who vacated his previous council seat when he became mayor this year.
White will serve the remaining two years of Walker’s former seat’s term.
At its Dec. 11 meeting, the council decided to fill the vacancy via appointment — with a two-week solicitation for applicants — rather than a special election. Six individuals, including White, submitted applications for the fifth council seat before the Jan. 2 deadline.
The other five applicants were Irene Garcia, Jessica Madrid-Bautista, Leah Santibanez, Juergen Smith and Jose Vazquez.
“Greenfield is my hometown,” White told the council before his appointment at last week’s meeting. “I attended school here, I started my business here and I raised my family here. I would like to be more involved to make the community a better place and improve the quality of life for residents.”
White has been an active member of the Greenfield Rotary Club for 38 years, serving as president, vice president, secretary and treasurer during that time. He also has volunteered at the Greenfield Union School District for 16 years as well as the South Monterey County Joint Union High School District for four years.
He has owned and operated Bob White insurance and Bob White real estate agencies since 1981.
“I just want to thank everyone who supported me, especially my family, in helping me make this difficult decision whether to put my name out there,” White said. “And, thank you to the council for having faith in me to do a good job for you.”
