Eckert Feels ‘Slap in Face’ as Park Kudo Ignores Him

The final triumph in a years-long struggle to make Holmwood Canyon in Solana Beach part of a regional park was marred Tuesday when San Diego County Supervisor Paul Eckert complained bitterly because he had not been thanked by the residents who will benefit most from the parkland purchase.

Eckert, who voted a year ago to allow the construction of 48 residential units in the canyon, said the failure of a community activist to mention his name during a brief public statement showed that the group was “ungrateful” for the county’s action and his role in it.

Eckert’s outburst came after the board voted, 4-0, with Leon Williams absent, to authorize the $2-million purchase of the 15.5-acre canyon, which will become part of San Elijo Lagoon Regional Park.

Eckert has maintained that the parkland would never have been purchased had he not persuaded two board colleagues in December, 1984, to approve a controversial development in the canyon, which lies on the lagoon’s southern slope. Eckert said approval of the project, which now will never be built, motivated community activists and county officials to find the funds to buy the land.

Jack Peek, founder and president of Friends of Holmwood Canyon, said he meant no harm on Tuesday when he thanked the board and Supervisor Susan Golding, whose district includes Solana Beach.

“Most especially, we’d like to thank our 3rd District Supervisor Susan Golding, who came into office about a year ago and has worked consistently and hard to have this accomplished today,” Peek said in the kind of statement used routinely by constituents to thank their representatives for a particular project.

But as Golding deflected Peek’s praise by saying the entire board deserved credit for the action, Eckert, who was chairing the meeting in Williams’ absence, chuckled. Then he took over the microphone.

“I was a little bit surprised that my name was left out of that,” Eckert, who worked with Golding on the negotiations to buy the land, said. “I regret that, too, because it’s been a long process for me. I’ve been required to attend many meetings and make great efforts, not only as a member of the Board of Supervisors but personally, to make this happen.”

As Eckert finished, Peek returned to the podium and apologized for not mentioning the supervisor’s contribution.

“I certainly didn’t mean to slight Supervisor Eckert at all,” Peek said. “I, for one, and most of the community knows that a number of things went on in the community, not in the (board) chambers, that all came together to make this happen today. You were a key player and we appreciate that.”

But Peek’s apology failed to satisfy Eckert.

“Well, that I consider to be a slap in the face for the effort I put into this,” Eckert said. “But if you persist on carrying on that way, that’s perfectly all right. Thank heavens the project was more important than some people in the community.”

After Golding said quietly that she thought Peek’s comments were meant as a compliment, Eckert continued:

“It may be a compliment but, like I say, in no way does it express anything as far as my commitment to this project and the time I have spent to make this project happen.

“Whether you know it or not, my district is giving up money for the purchase of this thing, and it’s absolutely absurd and ridiculous for these people to come down here and be so ungrateful for the commitment that’s been made to this thing, and I’m sorry for it.”

Afterward, Peek said he was too pleased by the board’s approval of the purchase to be disappointed by Eckert’s comments.

“Obviously, something about what I said upset him, and I don’t know what it was,” Peek said. “I quite frankly was surprised by his comments, and I don’t understand them.”