MEET THE COUNCIL

Mayor Frank Mecham (e-mail)
Term:  2006-2008

The first elected Mayor of Paso Robles is a ninth generation Californian and fifth generation resident of San Luis Obispo County.  Born October 1, 1947 in Santa Maria, California he and his wife Deb have a combined family of six children and nine grandchildren.  His great-great grandfather, Don Joaquin Estrada, was the original land grant holder of the famed Santa Margarita Ranch and member of the first County Board of Supervisors in 1852.  Frank's father was Fire Chief at Fort Hunter Liggett for more than twenty years.  The Mayor coached youth baseball and football for two decades.  He received his AA Degree from Lassen College and attended Cuesta College as well.  He has served as a Parks & Recreation Board member, two years as a city Planning Commissioner and was elected to the City Council in 1998.  He became the city's first elected Mayor in 2000.  He currently sits as chairman of Twin Cities Community Hospital Board of Governors, also serves as a board member for the Nacimiento Water Commission, and a board member of Paso Robles High School Technology Academy.  The Mayor was honored in 2004 as Roblan of the Year.  He is a Navy veteran and is licensed with the NASD as a securities broker.  He works with Blakeslee & Blakeslee and is also a published author.

Gary Nemeth, Mayor Pro Tem (e-mail)
Term: 2004-2008

Gary Nemeth was born in Kansas City, Missouri. He served 4 years in the U.S. Navy. He served in the Western Pacific, including Vietnam and on board the USS Enterprise with Admiral Coopers Staff working in Photographic Intelligence. After receiving an Honorable Discharge, he moved to San Luis Obispo County in 1973. Joined the San Luis Obispo Sheriffs Department and served as a Deputy Sheriff from 1974 until 1977. Then joined the San Luis Obispo Police Department and served as a Patrol Officer, Detective, Traffic Officer, Motorcycle Officer, Field Training Officer, Reserve Training Officer, D.A.R.E. Officer, School Resource Officer and Crisis Negotiator for the SLO Police Department. In 1981 he met his wife Sandra and they have a 20-year old daughter Kelly, who has attended Cuesta College, and currently attending Santa Barbara City College. He and his family have lived in Paso Robles for the past 18 years. Besides serving on the Paso Robles City Council since 2000, Councilman Nemeth served on the Planning Commission for 9 years, has served on the Saint Rose School Board, the Daniel Lewis Middle School Site Council, has coached Youth Basketball, served on the San Luis Obispo County 4H Management Board both as Assistant Director and Director, Training Committee Member and Instructor for the Police Officers Research Association of California, past chairman of the SLO Police Officers Association Negotiation Standing Committee, current member of the SLO Police Officers Association and past President, Vice-President and Board member of the Association.

John Hamon (e-mail)
Term:  2006-2010

John Hamon was born on July 27, 1954.  John, a fourth generation, father, grandfather, husband and businessman was raised in Lompoc California.  The Hamon Family has a rich history on the Central Coast beginning with John’s Portuguese great-grandfather who immigrated to San Luis Obispo in the 1890’s from the Azores to work on the Cuesta Grade train tunnels. John graduated from Lompoc High School and attended Cal Poly State University in San Luis Obispo.  While at Cal Poly as a student he met and married Marjorie Triol in 1975.  In 1976 John graduated from Cal Poly’s School of Industrial Technology with a Bachelors of Arts Degree. Upon graduation from Cal Poly, John and Marjorie made their home in Paso Robles.  Marjorie grew up in Paso Robles and graduated from Paso Robles High School.  John earned his general contractors license and joined his in-laws Tom and Bettie Triol in their family overhead garage door business.  John and Marjorie have two children a daughter Jessica and son John the III.  The Hamon family worships at St. Rose Catholic Church where they serve as Ministers of the Eucharist and Music. John quickly embraced Paso Robles becoming an active volunteer in many community organizations.  John volunteers with the Boy Scouts of America – Paso Robles Troop 60 (an Eagle Scout himself), Board Member on the Chamber of Commerce, the Paso Robles Volunteer Fire Department attaining the rank of Captain, and served as President for the Rotary Club of Paso Robles.  John is a Board Member on the Industrial Technology Advisory Board at Cal Poly.  He has served on the Airport Advisory Committee and Chairman of the Planning Commission. In his free time John enjoys flying and is a private pilot, enjoys spending time with his family and grandchildren.

Fred Strong (e-mail)
Term:  2004-2008

Fred Strong was born in Wisconsin in 1937. He is married to Patty and they have five children between them; Kathy, Zoe, Fabian, Colleen and Michael plus six grandchildren. Fred grew up in Greendale, WI, one of three Greenbelt Villages created by the Federal Government during the depression. He was Jesuit educated at Marquette High School and University where he became Director of Foreign Language Laboratories in 1961. He came to California in the same capacity for San Jose State in 1963. Then he entered a multi-faceted 35 year career in newspaper editing and publishing, radio broadcasting and representing private citizens and groups before government agencies, boards, councils and commissions. He is retired but still occasionally serves a few clients. A civic- minded, community-orientated volunteer, Fred has chaired and served on numerous government committees and advisory bodies in San Luis Obispo, San Jose, and Sonoma County. Local work includes the North County’s First District Water Advisory Committee and the revision of the Paso Robles Airport Master Plan and Land Use Plan. He was a co-founder and the original coordinator of the first Paso Robles Parks and Recreation sponsored Youth Soccer program in the early 1980’s and, for eleven years, was the Coordinator of the S.H.A.R.E. and Healthy Share monthly food program in San Luis Obispo County. He has been a regular volunteer for the Main Street Association and the Vine Street Showcase events. He is an avid Duplicate Bridge competitor and directs games at three local community centers. He also has a love for golf so you will find him on the links whenever he has free time.