Investigators with the California Department of Threat Assessment investigated two Santa Ynez residents who made angry remarks to Assemblymember Pedro Nava’s staff about the legislative resolution approved last month to rename Highway 154 “The Chumash Highway.” According to the investigators neither of the remarks constituted a threat or a crime. One investigator visited Tracy Eubanks-the son of The Newlywed Game host Bob Eubanks-and another called businessman Steven Siegel. Both Siegel and Eubanks contend that Nava deliberately failed his constituents by not alerting local officials that the Chumash Highway resolution was in the works. Eubanks, a 34-year resident of the valley, has been a vocal critic of the Chumash Casino. He told Nava that “he would pay” for his role in the largely symbolic resolution because Valley residents were angry about it. Siegel, who peppered Nava’s office with numerous critical phone calls, suggested that he might visit Nava at his home to discuss his role in the name change. Nava contends that he did nothing other than vote for the resolution, which had been introduced by an assemblymember from San Jose. Eubanks and Siegel believe Nava had his colleague introduce the measure to deflect political heat. A spokesperson for Nava said the remarks were sufficiently heated that legislative protocol dictated the Assembly’s Sergeant at Arms and CHP be notified.

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