San Luis Obispo

Slow-growth activist enters SLO council race

Former councilwoman and candidate for mayor Jan Howell Marx says SLO needs a leader who will conserve funds and small-town atmosphere

By David Sneed

The San Luis Obispo City Council race got off to an early start Tuesday when lawyer, slow-growth activist and former Councilwoman Jan Howell Marx announced she will run.

Marx served on the council from 1998 to 2002. She left public office when she lost a bid for mayor to Dave Romero.

She hopes to fill one of two seats that will be up for election in November. Christine Mulholland’s and Paul Brown’s terms are coming to an end. Mulholland cannot run for a regular council seat because of term limits, and Brown said Tuesday that he has yet to decide whether he will run.

The mayor’s seat — elected on a two-year cycle—will also be up for grabs in November.

Marx said residents who want to maintain the city’s small-town atmosphere urged her to run. The city will update the land-use and circulation elements of its General Plan next year, and Marx wants to be part of that process.

“I believe the next few years are going to be crucial for the city of San Luis Obispo,” she said. “I’ve been active in the community for 20 years, and I believe there is a need on the City Council for someone with that perspective.”

The city’s highest priorities should be the conservation of tax dollars, natural resources and energy, Marx said. She also promised to be accessible to city residents and take a consensus-building approach.

In addition to her term on the council, Marx has served on the city Planning Commission and the county Parks and Recreation Commission.

Over the years, she has been involved in various slow-growth campaigns. Most recently, she was involved in the unsuccessful effort to defeat the Dalidio Ranch Measure J initiative in 2006. Though approved by voters, the initiative was recently invalidated by a judge.

Marx announced her candidacy well in advance of the official filing period. Candidates have from July 14 to Aug. 8 to take out and return nomination papers with at least 20 signatures from city voters, City Clerk Audrey Hooper said.