MEET THE COUNCIL

Mayor Duane Picanco (e-mail)
Term:  2010-2012

Duane Picanco was born in Tulare County in 1941. He is married to Rose Marie and they have two children; Carolyn and Kevin. Councilman Picanco has lived in Paso Robles for 32 years. He has served as the Downtown Parking Chairman President and Zone Chairman for the Lions Club. He also has been on the Boards of Camp Fire Girls, Youth Football and St. Rose School. Councilmember Picanco served eight years on the Planning Commission and is still involved in Sports Activities.

John Hamon, Mayor Pro Tem (e-mail)
Term:  2010-2014

John Hamon was born on July 27, 1954.  John, a fourth generation, father, grandfather, husband and businessman was raised in Lompoc, California.

The Hamon Family has a rich history on the Central Coast beginning with John’s Portuguese great-grandfather who immigrated to San Luis Obispo in the 1890’s from the Azores to work on the Cuesta Grade train tunnels. John graduated from Lompoc High School and attended Cal Poly State University in San Luis Obispo. While at Cal Poly as a student he met and married Marjorie Triol in 1975. In 1976 John graduated from Cal Poly’s School of Industrial Technology with a Bachelors of Arts Degree. Upon graduation from Cal Poly, John and Marjorie made their home in Paso Robles. Marjorie grew up in Paso Robles and graduated from Paso Robles High School. John earned his general contractors license and joined his in-laws Tom and Bettie Triol in their family overhead garage door business.

John and Marjorie have two children a daughter Jessica and son John the III. The Hamon family worships at St. Rose Catholic Church where they serve as Ministers of the Eucharist and Music. John quickly embraced Paso Robles becoming an active volunteer in many community organizations. John volunteers with the Boy Scouts of America – Paso Robles Troop 60 (an Eagle Scout himself), Board Member on the Chamber of Commerce, the Paso Robles Volunteer Fire Department attaining the rank of Captain, and served as President for the Rotary Club of Paso Robles. John is a Board Member on the Industrial Technology Advisory Board at Cal Poly. He has served on the Airport Advisory Committee and Chairman of the Planning Commission.

In his free time John enjoys flying and is a private pilot, enjoys spending time with his family and grandchildren.

Ed Steinbeck (email)
Term: 2010-2014

Ed Steinbeck has deep roots in the Paso Robles area. His Great Grandfather Ernst moved his family here from Geneseo Illinois in the mid 1880s and settled in an area east of Paso Robles that is now known as Geneseo. The Ernst family farmed in the area for many years and some family members still farm to this day.

Ed’s mother, Hazel Ernst Steinbeck was born in the area in 1910, and passed on to her heavenly reward on September 21, 2007. Hazel married George Steinbeck, who was a Lutheran Minister. Grandpa Frank Ernst passed away in the fall of 1948 just after Ed was born, and George, Hazel and family decided to move to the ranch on Union Road, currently owned and farmed by Ed’s brother Howie. Ed spent his first nine years enjoying the ranch life here in Paso.

Ed and his family moved away when his father decided it was time to go back into the ministry. Ed returned to the area to attend Cal Poly from 1966 to 1971, graduating with a Bachelors degree in City Planning. He then spent the next 18 years in Sonoma County as a City Planner raising his three children with his wife, Linda, who also had a successful house plant leasing business.

Ed moved his family back to the Paso area in 1989 and began a second career in real estate. He became active with the Paso Robles Association of Realtors, serving as President for two different terms. He also served as Region Chair for the California Association of Realtors for three years. Ed served 9 years on the Paso Robles Planning Commission, twice as chair. He has also been an active supporter of the Bearcat Boosters and the Skills USA program at the High School, Up With Kids back to school shopping, and volunteers at church.

Linda Steinbeck, Ed’s wife of 39 years, is an avid community volunteer with Loaves and Fishes and Lutheran Church of the Redeemer besides helping with the real estate business. Daughter Andrea is a partner in the real estate business and Daughter Melissa and Son James live in the Midwest with their spouses and children. Ed and Linda have been blessed with nine grandchildren.

Fred Strong (e-mail)
Term:  2008-2012

Fred Strong was born in Wisconsin in 1937. He is married to Patty and they have five children between them; Kathy, Zoe, Fabian, Colleen and Michael plus six grandchildren. Fred grew up in Greendale, WI, one of three Greenbelt Villages created by the Federal Government during the depression. He was Jesuit educated at Marquette High School and University where he became Director of Foreign Language Laboratories in 1961. He came to California in the same capacity for San Jose State in 1963. Then he entered a multi-faceted 35 year career in newspaper editing and publishing, radio broadcasting and representing private citizens and groups before government agencies, boards, councils and commissions. He is retired but still occasionally serves a few clients.

A civic- minded, community-orientated volunteer, Fred has chaired and served on numerous government committees and advisory bodies in San Luis Obispo, San Jose, and Sonoma County. Local work includes the North County’s First District Water Advisory Committee and the revision of the Paso Robles Airport Master Plan and Land Use Plan.

He was a co-founder and the original coordinator of the first Paso Robles Parks and Recreation sponsored Youth Soccer program in the early 1980’s and, for eleven years, was the Coordinator of the S.H.A.R.E. and Healthy Share monthly food program in San Luis Obispo County. He has been a regular volunteer for the Main Street Association and the Vine Street Showcase events.

He is an avid Duplicate Bridge competitor and directs games at three local community centers. He also has a love for golf so you will find him on the links whenever he has free time.

Nick Gilman (email)
Term: 2008-2012

Nick Gilman was born in 1940 in Los Angeles, California to Alfred and Margaret Gilman. Alfred Gilman an Architect and Martha a stay at home mother raising three children, Nick, Stewart and Martha. In 1961 Nick joined the United States Marine Corp Reserves and served until 1967.

Following in the steps of his father, In 1966 Nick graduated from the University of Berkeley with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Architecture. To this day Nick is an avid Bears fan and he is always wearing a Cal Berkeley Bears Cap proudly displaying the blue and gold (Go Bears!).

After graduation Nick went to work for an architectural firm in San Francisco for one year and then moved to a firm in Los Angeles.

In 1964 he married Carolyn Eschbach. Carolyn gave Nick three beautiful daughters Marin, Amy and Poppy. Nick’s has two grandchildren; a granddaughter who is attending the University of Montana and a grandson who is the starting quarterback of Missoula High School.

In 1968 Nick and Carolyn moved to the Paso Robles area. Nick worked for a developer on the Oak Shores Project at Lake Nacimiento. In 1972 when the project was complete Nick opened an Architecture practice in Paso Robles which he continues to operate.

Professional Projects: Numerous residential, commercial and industrial architectural projects including: Park Cinemas, the Granary, Paris Precision, Chemron, Advanced Adapters, Second Wind, Historic Railroad Depot, Gateway Center and Hometown Nursery.

From 1972 to 1976 he was a lecturer at the University of Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo. From 1978 to 1987 he served on the City of Paso Robles Planning Commission. From 1987 to 2009 he served on the Project Area Commission for the Redevelopment Agency.

Community Involvement: President of the Paso Robles Swim Club (North County Aquatics) for five years, Coordinated Youth Sports fund raising at the California Mid-State Fair for five years, Officiated Paso Robles High School Swim Meets (SCAF accredited), five years.