Discovery Bay resident David Piepho, one of the two candidates who applied for the special-district seat, is married to Supervisor Mary Piepho, who oversees the cemetery district board. The supervisor recused herself from the selection process and Board of Supervisors Chairman John Gioia took over the review of applications. Gioia’s subsequent recommendation of David Piepho for the cemetery board seat was set as a consent calendar item for the supervisors’ Sept. 14 meeting.
But following a letter of complaint from a local resident and a blistering editorial in the Contra Costa Times charging nepotism, Gioia pulled the recommendation and referred it to the Public Protection subcommittee for review at its meeting of Oct. 18. The subcommittee consists of Gioia and District V Supervisor Federal Glover.
The other candidate for the cemetery seat was Brentwood resident John Quinn. At least two other residents, former Knightsen School District Superintendent Vickey Rinehart and Clint Love, owner of Bay Area Cremation and Funeral Services, expressed interest in the seat but missed the 10-day filing period set by Supervisor Piepho.
David Piepho is also a director on the Discovery Bay Community Services District board, and serves on the county’s Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO), which oversees land boundaries and annexation issues. Piepho’s term on the CSD board is expiring this year, and he is not seeking re-election. Appointment to another special district board such as the cemetery district would enable him to retain his LAFCO seat.
Gioia pulled the recommendation and referred it to the Public Protection subcommittee,The subcommittee consists of Gioia and District V Supervisor Federal Glover.
Maybe Gioia has realized that Piepho used him to bid her dirty work. He has to be livid with Mary Piepho.Gioia has refered it to his own committee where hopefully the slime will be washed off and he can go back to being respected.