Distortion accusations fly in supervisor race between Patterson and Arnold

Patterson says his stance on pot dispensaries was distorted; Arnold says so were her ties to builders

By Stephen Curran

Jim Patterson

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QUESTIONS ABOUT SURVEY QUESTIONS

County Supervisor Jim Patterson and challenger Debbie Arnold are sparring over questions asked during a series of telephone polls earlier this year. Below is a sampling of some of the questions that were asked.

Among questions Patterson’s representatives asked:

1. Would you be more inclined or less inclined to vote for Patterson if you knew that he:

• Has taken the lead in the county implementing “smart growth” principles?

• Started a planning process that includes priority setting or budget workshops so supervisors can make better financial decisions?

2. Would you be more inclined or less inclined to vote for Arnold if you knew that she:

• Is receiving most of her campaign funding from developers whose projects could come before the Board of Supervisors?

• Is married to Steve Arnold, the fourth-generation rancher who is president of the Farm Bureau?

Among questions Arnold’s representatives asked:

1. What do you believe is the main issue your county supervisor should be dealing with?

2. Would the following make you more inclined or less inclined to vote for the following candidates?

• If Patterson has appointed extreme environmentalists to the Planning Commission?

• If Patterson supported allowing medical marijuana dispensaries in the community?

• If Arnold has taken money from property owners and developers?

SOURCES: PATTERSON AND ARNOLD CAMPAIGNS

A failed attempt at opening a medical marijuana dispensary in the North County has become the center of a high-profile dispute between Supervisor Jim Patterson and challenger Debbie Arnold.

Patterson says Arnold—the Pozo rancher running against him for the seat representing the Atascadero and Santa Margarita areas on the county Board of Supervisors — distorted his position on prescription marijuana in a telephone poll last month.

In the survey, Arnold’s consultants reportedly suggested that Patterson favored allowing

more medical marijuana dispensaries in the community.

The statement — included in one of 31 questions Arnold’s representatives posed to 350 likely voters on March 20, 25 and 26—set off a series of terse exchanges between the two candidates, each accusing the other of using phone surveys to misrepresent their records.

Arnold’s representatives have accused Patterson of asking loaded questions about her connections to local ranching and development interests. His campaign conducted a poll of about 350 likely voters in January.

The medical marijuana claim, Arnold said, was derived from Patterson’s 2007 vote to allow dispensaries in certain portions of the county’s unincorporated inland areas, an ordinance Arnold said she would have opposed.

The poll took place at least one week before Patterson’s April 8 vote against a proposed marijuana dispensary on Ramada Drive in Templeton.

The dispensary, which county planning commissioners had approved, was appealed to supervisors amid concerns from some neighbors and community leaders. The supervisors turned down the dispensary.

“(Arnold’s) poll told voters lies about me and about my position on certain issues—plain and simple,” Patterson said in a letter published Tuesday in The Tribune.

Arnold defended the phone survey, which she said was designed to gauge voters’ opinions on a variety of issues, including medical marijuana.

“Everybody did a poll,” Arnold said. “We’re trying to show where the different candidates are on the issues.”

The dispute came as records show Arnold raised nearly triple the amount Patterson did between Jan. 1 and March 17 — $106,652, weighted heavily in donations from ranchers and developers.

Her donors included Protect Our Property Rights attorney Charles Daugherty and former Supervisor Mike Ryan, who had employed Arnold as an aide.

Patterson raised most of his $37,726 in small contributions, with prominent donors including Atascadero Mayor Mike Brennler and county Planning Commissioner Sarah Christie, whom he appointed.

Patterson and Arnold face off June 3 for the 5th District, which includes Atascadero, Santa Margarita, Creston, California Valley and part of San Luis Obispo.