Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs

Former cop Ryan Keim gets surprise nod for O'side council

Witowich takes name out of consideration

Ryan Keim: “We helped with homework, played with them, and tried to keep them out of gangs.”
Ryan Keim: “We helped with homework, played with them, and tried to keep them out of gangs.”

Being tied to Oceanside Police can either be a blessing or the kiss of death if you want to become an Oceanside city councilman.

It worked just fine for Jim Wood who was elected to the city council in 2002 after three decades on the force. He became mayor two years later and was reelected mayor by huge margins in three subsequent elections.

Kevin Witowich, second from left. "Perhaps he did not want to start off a political career under a cloud."

It also seemed to help former Oceanside cop Ryan Keim who was unanimously selected by the four sitting councilmembers at the January 9 city council meeting to serve a two year vacancy on the fifth seat.

Some 29 citizens applied for the appointment, but Keim was the only applicant to appear on all four councilmember’s list of their top five choices. Jerry Kern who recently stepped down after 12 years on the council to run (unsuccessfully) for a county supervisor seat, appeared on three councilmember lists. But a move to appoint Keim by councilwoman Sanchez was seconded and passed unanimously with little discussion and no dissent.

Sponsored
Sponsored

Keim was a lifeguard and then a uniformed Oceanside cop who worked in neighborhoods throughout the city. He is best known by city staff for his work with children in the Crown Heights and other challenged neighborhoods. “We helped with homework, played with them, and tried to keep them out of gangs,” says Keim.

Keim obtained a disability retirement due to an injury in the field. He was later rehired by the police department as its public information officer. He left in 2016 to work as media relations director for the San Diego Sheriff’s department. He left that position in December 2017 to address the same injury.

But the nod from the politically active Oceanside Police Officers Association seemed to have had the opposite effect on another candidate for the vacant council seat. The union that represents Oceanside’s sworn officers put out a letter dated January 5 saying it was giving “strong support” to Kevin Witowich, the former Oceanside Chamber of Commerce President and a financial planner based out of BBVA Compass Investments in Carlsbad. The letter was signed by police association president Jim Ridenour and addressed to the mayor and councilmembers.

The pro-Witowich letter was distributed on social media to the general public on Monday, January 7 by newly elected councilman Christopher Rodriguez. The following day (the day before the city council meeting) Witowich informed the council he was taking his name out of consideration.

Some applicants cried foul because they said they were never told that the association would be making such an endorsement for this appointment. Ridenour’s letter said “We had several people contact us requesting our support.” But an email from association staffer Rhonda Ladd said the group had only met with Witowich and two other candidates before making its endorsement January 2.

“I’d like to know why the [association] went with a guy whose business is in Carlsbad instead of one of their own,” said one applicant who did want to be identified. An emailed written request for comment was answered by Ridenour this way: “The [police group] is happy with the decision the City Council made last night. We are confident that Ryan Keim will make a good council member and will lead the city in the right direction.”

An email to Witowich asking him why he dropped out just days after the police officers group announced his endorsement was not returned.

Keim ran unsuccessfully for Oceanside city council in 2004. He lives in southeastern Oceanside with his wife and one child.

Insiders note that the appointment of Keim would give him the incumbent’s edge should he run for the South Oceanside District 3 council seat in 2020. It would be the first time that voters in the newly created Districts 3 and 4 would vote for their own councilmember. District elections were phased in with District 1 and 2 elections last November. Since councilman Jack Feller voted for Keim, speculation is he will be running for mayor in 2020 and not for councilman in his District 3.

Keim says he has not decided if he will run in 2020.

The appointment of Keim surprised many in attendance at the January 9 meeting. When the news that Witowich had pulled out, handicappers mentioned the names of Kern, economic development commissioner Ward O’Doherty, or former deputy city manager Mike Blessing as likely appointees.

The speedy process the council used to select its fifth member baffled some who point out that the only vetting was done through one-on-one meetings between each councilmember and each candidate. Councilmembers admitted they did not get to speak to all candidates. In fact Councilmember Rodriguez said at the meeting that scheduling conflicts prevented him from meeting with Keim.

The council had two other meetings after January 9 to avoid a mandatory November special election that was estimated to cost more than $500,000.

At the same January 9 meeting the council opted to select a new clerk through a public workshop where the candidates are asked questions in an upcoming public forum setting. “The clerk gets more attention than the councilmember does,” remarked the unhappy would-be appointee.

One paid political consultant who declined to be named thinks that Witowich’s last minute decision to pull out was due to the fact that he was perceived to be the pre-selected heir apparent. “Even if Mr. Witowich had been appointed, perhaps he did not want to start off a political career under a cloud…on the defensive when he can run openly in a future election. Why put yourself in a situation like this when you haven’t even done anything wrong?”

Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

Best Sports Betting Sites - 10 Online Sportsbooks Ranked for 2024

Best Sports Betting Sites (2024) - Reviews of TOP Online Sportsbooks
Next Article

Angry Pete’s goes from pop-up to drive-thru

Detroit Pizza sidles into the husk of a shuttered Taco Bell
Ryan Keim: “We helped with homework, played with them, and tried to keep them out of gangs.”
Ryan Keim: “We helped with homework, played with them, and tried to keep them out of gangs.”

Being tied to Oceanside Police can either be a blessing or the kiss of death if you want to become an Oceanside city councilman.

It worked just fine for Jim Wood who was elected to the city council in 2002 after three decades on the force. He became mayor two years later and was reelected mayor by huge margins in three subsequent elections.

Kevin Witowich, second from left. "Perhaps he did not want to start off a political career under a cloud."

It also seemed to help former Oceanside cop Ryan Keim who was unanimously selected by the four sitting councilmembers at the January 9 city council meeting to serve a two year vacancy on the fifth seat.

Some 29 citizens applied for the appointment, but Keim was the only applicant to appear on all four councilmember’s list of their top five choices. Jerry Kern who recently stepped down after 12 years on the council to run (unsuccessfully) for a county supervisor seat, appeared on three councilmember lists. But a move to appoint Keim by councilwoman Sanchez was seconded and passed unanimously with little discussion and no dissent.

Sponsored
Sponsored

Keim was a lifeguard and then a uniformed Oceanside cop who worked in neighborhoods throughout the city. He is best known by city staff for his work with children in the Crown Heights and other challenged neighborhoods. “We helped with homework, played with them, and tried to keep them out of gangs,” says Keim.

Keim obtained a disability retirement due to an injury in the field. He was later rehired by the police department as its public information officer. He left in 2016 to work as media relations director for the San Diego Sheriff’s department. He left that position in December 2017 to address the same injury.

But the nod from the politically active Oceanside Police Officers Association seemed to have had the opposite effect on another candidate for the vacant council seat. The union that represents Oceanside’s sworn officers put out a letter dated January 5 saying it was giving “strong support” to Kevin Witowich, the former Oceanside Chamber of Commerce President and a financial planner based out of BBVA Compass Investments in Carlsbad. The letter was signed by police association president Jim Ridenour and addressed to the mayor and councilmembers.

The pro-Witowich letter was distributed on social media to the general public on Monday, January 7 by newly elected councilman Christopher Rodriguez. The following day (the day before the city council meeting) Witowich informed the council he was taking his name out of consideration.

Some applicants cried foul because they said they were never told that the association would be making such an endorsement for this appointment. Ridenour’s letter said “We had several people contact us requesting our support.” But an email from association staffer Rhonda Ladd said the group had only met with Witowich and two other candidates before making its endorsement January 2.

“I’d like to know why the [association] went with a guy whose business is in Carlsbad instead of one of their own,” said one applicant who did want to be identified. An emailed written request for comment was answered by Ridenour this way: “The [police group] is happy with the decision the City Council made last night. We are confident that Ryan Keim will make a good council member and will lead the city in the right direction.”

An email to Witowich asking him why he dropped out just days after the police officers group announced his endorsement was not returned.

Keim ran unsuccessfully for Oceanside city council in 2004. He lives in southeastern Oceanside with his wife and one child.

Insiders note that the appointment of Keim would give him the incumbent’s edge should he run for the South Oceanside District 3 council seat in 2020. It would be the first time that voters in the newly created Districts 3 and 4 would vote for their own councilmember. District elections were phased in with District 1 and 2 elections last November. Since councilman Jack Feller voted for Keim, speculation is he will be running for mayor in 2020 and not for councilman in his District 3.

Keim says he has not decided if he will run in 2020.

The appointment of Keim surprised many in attendance at the January 9 meeting. When the news that Witowich had pulled out, handicappers mentioned the names of Kern, economic development commissioner Ward O’Doherty, or former deputy city manager Mike Blessing as likely appointees.

The speedy process the council used to select its fifth member baffled some who point out that the only vetting was done through one-on-one meetings between each councilmember and each candidate. Councilmembers admitted they did not get to speak to all candidates. In fact Councilmember Rodriguez said at the meeting that scheduling conflicts prevented him from meeting with Keim.

The council had two other meetings after January 9 to avoid a mandatory November special election that was estimated to cost more than $500,000.

At the same January 9 meeting the council opted to select a new clerk through a public workshop where the candidates are asked questions in an upcoming public forum setting. “The clerk gets more attention than the councilmember does,” remarked the unhappy would-be appointee.

One paid political consultant who declined to be named thinks that Witowich’s last minute decision to pull out was due to the fact that he was perceived to be the pre-selected heir apparent. “Even if Mr. Witowich had been appointed, perhaps he did not want to start off a political career under a cloud…on the defensive when he can run openly in a future election. Why put yourself in a situation like this when you haven’t even done anything wrong?”

Comments
Sponsored
Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

March is typically windy, Sage scents in the foothills

Butterflies may cross the county
Next Article

Reader Music Issue short takes

Obervatory's mosh pit, frenetic Rafael Payare, Lemonhead chaos, bleedforthescene, Coronado Tasting Room
Comments
Ask a Hipster — Advice you didn't know you needed Big Screen — Movie commentary Blurt — Music's inside track Booze News — San Diego spirits Classical Music — Immortal beauty Classifieds — Free and easy Cover Stories — Front-page features Drinks All Around — Bartenders' drink recipes Excerpts — Literary and spiritual excerpts Feast! — Food & drink reviews Feature Stories — Local news & stories Fishing Report — What’s getting hooked from ship and shore From the Archives — Spotlight on the past Golden Dreams — Talk of the town The Gonzo Report — Making the musical scene, or at least reporting from it Letters — Our inbox Movies@Home — Local movie buffs share favorites Movie Reviews — Our critics' picks and pans Musician Interviews — Up close with local artists Neighborhood News from Stringers — Hyperlocal news News Ticker — News & politics Obermeyer — San Diego politics illustrated Outdoors — Weekly changes in flora and fauna Overheard in San Diego — Eavesdropping illustrated Poetry — The old and the new Reader Travel — Travel section built by travelers Reading — The hunt for intellectuals Roam-O-Rama — SoCal's best hiking/biking trails San Diego Beer — Inside San Diego suds SD on the QT — Almost factual news Sheep and Goats — Places of worship Special Issues — The best of Street Style — San Diego streets have style Surf Diego — Real stories from those braving the waves Theater — On stage in San Diego this week Tin Fork — Silver spoon alternative Under the Radar — Matt Potter's undercover work Unforgettable — Long-ago San Diego Unreal Estate — San Diego's priciest pads Your Week — Daily event picks
4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs
Close

Anchor ads are not supported on this page.