Political Notebook

Nipomo

Candidates for county sheriff will outline their positions at a community forum set from 9 to 11 a.m. April 10 at the Blacklake Golf Resort, 1490 Golf Course Lane, in Nipomo.

A meet-and-greet session begins at 8:30 a.m.

Candidates will be asked questions about emergency response times, crime prevention priorities, funding for Drug Abuse Resistance Education in public schools, gangs in the South County, the effect of budget cuts on public safety and leadership.

Andy Caldwell of the Coalition of Labor, Agriculture and Business, a property rights group, will moderate. The Nipomo Incorporation Committee for Education is sponsoring the event.

Candidates for sheriff include former county Supervisor Jerry Lenthall; retired CHP Sgt. Michael “Tex” Teixeira; sheriff’s Deputy Mark J. Adams; former Pismo Beach police Chief Joe Cortez; sheriff’s Cmdr. Ben Hall; and Ian Parkinson, a San Luis Obispo Police Department captain.

— Bob Cuddy

Atascadero

Matt Kokkonen, a candidate for the state Assembly seat representing San Luis Obispo County and northern Santa Barbara County, will host a Tea Party demonstration in Atascadero from noon to 2 p.m. April 15 at the Sunken Gardens in Atascadero.

Kokkonen says the purpose of the event is to allow people to express their concern over high taxes, illegal immigration, “and the ever expanding reach of government at all levels.”

There will be music and speakers, and attendees are invited to bring signs and other items to display their views.

For information, contact Kokkonen at 886-1880.

He is one of four Republican candidates running in the June primary to replace 33rd District state Assemblyman Sam Blakeslee, who must leave office after this year because of constitutional term limits.

Other GOP candidates are Paso Robles City Councilman Fred Strong, San Luis Obispo County Supervisor Katcho Achadjian, and former Santa Maria Planning Commissioner Etta Waterfield. The sole Democrat in the race so far is Santa Maria City Councilwoman Hilda Zacarias.

— Bob Cuddy

Morro Bay

County sheriff candidate Michael ‘Tex’ Teixeira will hold a fund-raiser from 2 to 5 p.m. on April 17 at the Grange Hall, 1340 Atascadero Road, Morro Bay.

Teixeira announced his candidacy last summer after retiring from 36 years with the CHP.

In his campaign, he has stressed attacking what he described as the county’s growing gang problem. Teixeira has promised to donate 20 percent of his salary to create programs that will help “at risk” youth stay off the streets and out of gangs.

To RSVP for the event, contact Nataly Teixeira by e-mail at tex8135@aol.com or by phone at 227-0412.

The fundraiser, which is casual, will cost $20 for a chicken and tri-tip barbecue lunch.

— Bob Cuddy

SLO County

Four past chairmen of the San Luis Obispo County Republican Central Committee have announced their support for county Supervisor Katcho Achadjian in the race to represent the 33rd District in the state Assembly.

Achadjian, finishing up his third term on the Board of Supervisors, is seeking the Republican nomination to succeed Sam Blakeslee, who must leave the state Assembly after this year because of term limits.

Dr. René Bravo, Tom Christian, George Galvan, and Mike Whiteford have all led the local party and all are supporting Achadjian.

“In the many years I have lived and worked in this community,” Bravo said, “Katcho Achadjian stands out as a Republican leader who has brought business expertise to government and made it possible to keep good jobs from leaving the Central Coast.”

Achadjian’s opponents for the GOP nomination are Santa Maria Planning Commissioner Etta Waterfield, Paso Robles City Councilman Fred Strong, and San Luis Obispo financial planner Matt Kokkonen. The sole Democrat in the race is Hilda Zacarias, a Santa Maria businesswoman and city councilwoman.

The 33rd Assembly District covers San Luis Obispo County and the northern part of Santa Barbara County. San Luis Obispo County has 68 percent of the district’s Republican voters.

— Bob Cuddy