SANTA MARIA - When the four-member Santa Maria City Council unanimously approved his appointment to fill the vacant fifth seat on the Council, Willie Green says he wasn't completely surprised.
"I'm positive and I knew I was qualified", Green tells Central Coast News, "I knew I had all the experience I could get but I knew that I had vast experience in dealing with people."
A registered Republican and self-proclaimed fiscal conservative, Green says his careers in the U.S. Military and in corporate life has prepared him for his foray into politics albeit on a local level.
"Politics is politics, its what it is", Green says, "you have to choose whether you're going to be a viable person in this area or you're going to be somebody that's out to get news."
The part-time Allan Hancock College instructor and civic activist says he believes he's the first African-American to serve on the Santa Maria City Council.
"I'm going to be me and I believe in fair play", Green says about being on the Council, "I love people so I do feel that I'm gonna gain a lot of experience meet a lot more people than I have met and just by chance be of some positive service to the community."
Green will serve the remaining two years of councilmember Alice Patino's seat after she was elected Mayor in November.
