After remaining mum for months, two Lompoc City Council members backed a colleague’s repeated efforts for possible discipline of Stephen “Steve” Bridge in the wake of his criminal case for fraud, misappropriation of public funds and other charges.

Councilman Jeremy Ball has repeatedly pushed for at least a discussion regarding public discipline by the council after Bridge was charged with multiple felony and misdemeanor crimes in November 2025. Ball renewed his effort in the spring after a judge ruled that enough evidence existed for Bridge to stand trial on the charges.

On Tuesday night, Mayor Jim Mosby and Councilman Victor Vega, both running for re-election, sided with Ball’s request to bring back an item to consider censuring Bridge.

Councilman Dirk Starbuck, who is not seeking another term, voted against the request. Bridge did not participate in the discussion or vote.

For months, council members have rebuffed Ball’s push for a discussion of discipline.

A censure would serve as a reprimand but carry a bigger message, Ball said.

“From my perspective, when history looks back at this occurrence, I think the public deserves to have a council that takes a stand on what is appropriate, what’s ethical and also what is not,” said Ball, who is running to unseat Mosby as mayor.

Ball added that he sought the most transparent option that allows the community to hear both sides of the allegations.

The criminal case stems from paperwork Bridge submitted for city-operated rebate programs related to lighting efficiency and water leak repairs. The paperwork included a defunct firm’s name matching Bridge’s stepson’s name and state contracting license. The stepson is not a licensed contractor.

Bridge has been charged with multiple felony and misdemeanor counts, including forgery, grand theft, misappropriation of public funds, fraudulent use of a contractor’s license number and identify theft.

As the criminal case continues through the court system, options include a written or verbal censure, basically a reprimand of a council member, City Attorney Jeff Malawy said.

Other possibilities include requesting that he resign, removing his council committee assignments, asking him to take a leave of absence or suggesting that he avoid participating in certain matters.

While criminal courts have a presumption of innocence unless proven guilty by a jury or judge, the standard is “a lot looser” for the City Council deciding discipline, Malawy said. 

“A city council can decide to discipline a member for any reason they wish,” he added. 

“So, we could set a precedence — a council majority could do this on anybody else?” Mosby asked, with the city attorney answering yes.

However, a council cannot remove a fellow elected member or cancel their rights and privilege from the panel. To do that, members of the public would have to launch a recall effort, which can be challenging and expensive.

Mosby warned that the council needs to be careful not to overturn an election by diluting the role of a council member.

“It just seems like we started winding down a slippery slope at a different level if we start presuming guilty till proven innocent,” Mosby said. “That doesn’t seem the right way to go on that.”

Ball disagreed.

“I think the slippery slope is when a council person makes a critical decision to fill out a form fraudulently or be accused of using someone else’s license and some of these other things. The slippery slope is not us,” Ball said.

Bridge’s campaign signs touted “integrity and a few other good terms,” Ball said, adding that voters’ trust has been broken amid the criminal allegations.

Bridge proactively avoided one possible discipline measure. He abruptly resigned from a couple of committee assignments.

Coincidentally, Ball has served as the alternate for those roles and moved into the top slot. However, none of his colleagues stepped up to serve as alternates when asked at the past two meetings.

Vega asked if the council could or should “reaffirm that something has been done to keep the integrity intact of the council, that we’re doing something that a leadership role is in fact a leadership role … so that public will have faith that we are not looking the other way.”

“I’m just trying to make the public aware that we are listening,” Vega added. 

Lompoc resident Carl Jones noted the months of silence by most of the council members.

“This is a public leadership position where trust is everything. Whether you’re guilty or innocent, the perception is there. The council has put out a perception of we’re gonna say nothing and do nothing when they should have been doing something,” Jones added.

The item tentatively will return to the council at the Sept. 15 meeting, where members are expected to discuss whether to censure or otherwise discipline Bridge. 

Meanwhile, the criminal case against Bridge is scheduled to return to Superior Court in Lompoc on Sept. 9. A trial date has not been set.