SLO County Planning Commission member resigns amid social media criticism

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY, Calif. - A member of the San Luis Obispo Planning Commission has resigned from his post following criticism surrounding posts made to his social media accounts.

County District 4 Supervisor Lynn Compton announced the resignation of Jim Harrison on Friday.

Harrison had faced a slew of criticism following posts that were allegedly made to his social media pages which featured Nazi imagery to make comparisons to members of the Democratic party.

A coalition of San Luis Obispo County groups released an open letter which called on the South County Chambers of Commerce to rescind the Citizen of the Year award it gave Harrison this year and called on Compton to remove him from the County Planning Commission.

The letter states that Harrison posted anti-semitic, islamophobic, and white nationalist material on his social media. Those posts are not on his page now.

The letter says in part:

Like all of us, Mr. Harrison is entitled to his political opinions and we take no issue with him on that account. Political agreement is not a requirement for public office or public acclaim. This demonstration of hatred and bigotry, however, should be an immediate disqualifier.

Letter from SLO County Community Groups

Harrison did say he removed a post that had "Offended some people" and apologized.

The open letter was penned by members of the following groups:

• Bend the Arc: Jewish Action San Luis Obispo
• R.A.C.E. Matters SLO County
• The Diversity Coalition of San Luis Obispo County
• JCC-Federation of San Luis Obispo
• People of Faith for Justice
• The Gay and Lesbian Alliance of the Central Coast (GALA)

The group also called on County Supervisor Compton to remove him from the county planning commission. On Friday, Compton accepted Harrison's resignation.

Supervisor Compton will begin the process of selecting a new Planning Commissioner and more information will be provided when the selection is made.