Hotchkiss returns to council in a wheelchair after injury

Santa Barbara City Councilman Frank Hotchkiss arrived at City Hall in a wheelchair this afternoon.

Hotchkiss was injured earlier this month when he was thrown from a horse in Pershing Park prior to the Old Spanish Days parade for Fiesta.

For the last 10 days, Hotchkiss has been recovering from a hairline fracture of his pelvis.

He says he hopes to be out of the wheelchair soon but a full recovery with take two months.

The access path to his seat at the council meeting involved a special ramp on the second floor of City Hall.

Hotchkiss was upbeat, said he felt fine, and gave credit to the staff at Cottage Hospital for their help in his recovery.

Former Santa Barbara City Councilman Dr. Dan Secord was on hand to assist Hotchkiss. Secord once had a leg injury while he was in office and attended a meeting via a remote site using a video conference system until he could return to City Hall under his own power.