This week, the City of Grover Beach welcomed Daniel Rushing as its newest Council Member to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of former Council Member Mariam Shah upon moving from the city. The Grover Beach City Council interviewed eight applicants for the position at a special meeting on April 19 and appointed Mr. Rushing by a unanimous vote. He is an active member of the Grover Beach community and brings his experience, vision and interests for the future of the city to the position. Mr. Rushing will serve the remainder of the term through December 2022.
“Mr. Rushing comes to the Council with a strong relationship to our business community and an understanding of the City’s role in supporting a thriving local economy,” said Grover Beach Mayor Jeff Lee. “We are confident that Mr. Rushing will serve as a good community representative and collaborate with fellow Council Members to address the important goals set by the Council.”
Mayor Pro Tem Karen Bright also noted in her comments at the special meeting that an outpouring of public support from Grover Beach community members helped Mr. Rushing stand out among a pool of exceptionally qualified and passionate candidates.
Mr. Rushing has resided in Grover Beach with his family since 2003. A former website developer, Mr. Rushing’s professional experience in Grover Beach has included work as a personal chef, restaurant manager and, most recently, as a wholesale distributor and sales manager serving restaurants on the Central Coast. Together with his wife, daughter and their dog Albus, Mr. Rushing enjoys hiking, swimming, painting, cooking and a good conversation.
When asked about his vision for Grover Beach, Mr. Rushing responded: “I believe our city is entering a period of exciting growth. We are ready to support a thriving downtown retail, restaurant, and tourist economy anchored on West Grand Avenue. We are ready to plan for a big future while maintaining and expanding the everyday programs and services upon which our local residents and business community rely. I envision Grover Beach emerging from this challenging time of global economic crisis with a pathway to increased prosperity in the years to come, while still preserving the authentic character that makes our community special.”
At the March 22, 2021 meeting, the City Council decided to move forward with filling this vacancy by appointment rather than holding a special election, which would have taken additional time and funding. All eligible Grover Beach residents were invited to apply for the remaining term of this Council seat, resulting in the City receiving ten applications. Two applicants withdrew before the interview process.
The remaining eight applicants were then interviewed by the Council during the April 19th special meeting, where they subsequently made the decision to appoint Mr. Rushing. With his appointment, the Grover Beach City Council now consists of Mayor Jeff Lee, Mayor Pro Tem Karen Bright, and Council Members Anna Miller, Robert Robert, and Daniel Rushing.