Buellton Councilmember Dies

Russ Hicks, Buellton city councilmember and former mayor of the small town, died suddenly in his home Thursday. He was 55.

A Santa Barbara County native who lived in Buellton with his wife, Cindy, and two sons for nearly 25 years, Hicks served as mayor of the city on six occasions, most recently in 2008 and 2009.

In honor of Hicks, the city will fly flags at half mast.

Hicks was on the city’s Planning Commission in 1993 and 1994 and had been on the City Council since 1994. Most recently elected in November 2010, Hicks was also the city’s representative on the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments and Air Pollution Control District Board of Directors.

He was employed at Health Sanitation Service for 21 years, and was the president of the Santa Ynez Valley Youth Baseball as well as a charter member of the Santa Ynez Elks Lodge.

Funeral services are pending.