Ed Easton Collapses at GOO Event

Goleta City Councilmember Ed Easton fainted at an event sponsored by Get Oil Out, or GOO, at the Cabrillo Arts Pavilion, Friday evening, January 30, at about 9:30 p.m. He was transported to Cottage Hospital by ambulance.

Easton was standing at the podium, along with fellow councilmembers Roger Aceves and Margaret Connell, presenting an award. Mayor Aceves was making a speech when Easton fell to the floor. At first, Easton was asking event organizers not to call 911. But someone in the crowd apparently did call, and paramedics arrived at the scene within about 10 minutes.

Easton was eventually helped into a chair, and was in a sitting position for several minutes, while paramedics assessed whether or not he needed to be taken to the emergency room. As he never fully recovered enough to stand up, or even keep his eyes open, paramedics lifted him onto a gurney and wheeled him out of the room. Easton appeared to be vomiting or spitting up into a towel.

Aceves and his wife, Debbie, left the event to follow the ambulance to Cottage Hospital.

In happy news related to the event, GOO was commemorating its 40-year anniversary. The theme of the evening was a continued commitment to curbing offshore oil drilling, decreasing dependency on petroleum products, and promoting renewable energy sources. Several awards were given out to individuals who have toiled for GOO’s principles of clean energy and environmental protection.