Monterey Aldermen approved a resolution to name the I-40 overpass at exit 301 the CS3 Zachary T. Schonborn Memorial Bridge.
Schonborn joined the Navy after graduating from Monterey High School in 2020. He was killed in a hit-and-run motorcycle accident just over a year ago. Alderman Bill Wiggins said he does not oppose naming the bridge after Schonborn, but would like to have some criteria moving forward.
“I’ve been around a long time, and I can think about patriots in World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and I just wonder what our criteria was to be,” Wiggins said.
Mayor Alex Garcia said Schonborn’s life was taken way too soon, and the request to name the bridge was brought up by Schonborn’s mother over a year ago. Garcia said all you have to do is ask to request naming an overpass.
Some of the Aldermen asked who Schonborn was before voting. Alderman Jamie Phillips said he had a similar opinion to Wiggins.
“I’m kind of in the same boat with you,” Phillips said. “I’m wondering if we are gonna name the overpass if there isn’t someone more deserving. Not saying that he is not deserving, but it has not even been discussed with any other names.”
Garcia said the county has already approved the resolution and, with the town’s approval, finalized the resolution. The alderman approved the resolution with a five-to-three vote.