Business

Fired Coastal Commission exec: 'Maybe I was too independent'

Posted February 11, 2016 6:00 am

The Associated Press

A vote on the dismissal of California Coastal Commission Executive Director Charles Lester is on the agenda at a meeting in Morro Bay. Supporters gather outside the Morro Bay Community Center before hearing Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016. (David Middlecamp/The Tribune (of San Luis Obispo) via AP) The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES (AP) - The Latest on the turmoil at the California Coastal Commission (all times local):

2:40 p.m.

The ousted top executive at the California Coastal Commission suspects he was fired because he was too independent.

In a telephone interview, former Executive Director Charles Lester also questioned why the commission retreated behind closed doors to discuss his status and vote Wednesday night.

Lester - who was dismissed by a 7-5 margin - says questions about a lack of communication with commission members or diversity at the agency were not sufficient to justify his ouster.

With a lot of money at stake in coastal development, Lester says there is a lot of interest in the power vested in the staff - and who drives that process.

Lester says, "Maybe I was too independent."

He has argued that commission and staff have separate roles and should not intertwine.

Over 500 attend a California Coastal Commission meeting in Morro Bay Wednesday, Feb.10, 2016. A vote on the dismissal of California Coastal Commission Executive Director Charles Lester is the first item on the agenda. (David Middlecamp/The Tribune (of San Luis Obispo) via AP) The Associated Press

California Coastal Commission Executive Director Charles Lester speaks at a meeting of the commission in Morro Bay, Calif., Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016. A vote on the dismissal of Lester is the first item on the agenda. (David Middlecamp/The Tribune of San Luis Obispo via AP) The Associated Press

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