Higginbotham drops out of race for 3rd District supervisor seat

After only two months as a candidate, Pismo Beach Mayor Shelly Higginbotham has dropped out of the running for 3rd District Supervisor.

Higginbotham announced Friday that she will not run for the county supervisor seat currently held by Adam Hill, citing a need to focus on "family, my current position as mayor of Pismo Beach and my numerous volunteer efforts with local nonprofits.”

"Pismo Beach has a number of challenges coming up, and that's really my first priority, beyond my family," she told The Tribune. "With our big infrastructure projects and our water recycling project coming up, I felt it would be better to focus on the city of Pismo Beach right now, since that was why I was elected."

Her announcement comes only two months after Higginbotham entered the race against Hill, who is seeking re-election; former Grover Beach Mayor Debbie Peterson; and San Luis Obispo City Councilman Dan Carpenter.

At the time, she said she was running because, "the 3rd District deserves a county supervisor with a fresh, service-oriented spirit which respects all constituents, provides rational open decision-making and eliminates old-fashioned personal politics."

Higginbotham said she is not planning on endorsing another candidate at this time. The 3rd District includes the communities of Avila Beach, Grover Beach, Edna Valley, Pismo Beach, Shell Beach and the southern portion of the City of San Luis Obispo.

This story was originally published July 24, 2015 at 11:37 AM with the headline "Higginbotham drops out of race for 3rd District supervisor seat."