The Tribune endorses Aaron Gomez and Andy Pease for SLO City Council

Aaron Gomez co-owns a jewelry store with his brother in downtown San Luis Obispo. Among other involvements, he’s vice president of the Downtown Association’s Board of Directors and is on the SLO Chamber’s Economic Development Committee.

He’s in an excellent position to provide an insight into the challenges — as well as the opportunities — facing small-business owners in San Luis Obispo. That would be an invaluable addition to the council. As more chain stores locate downtown, maintaining the viability of the smaller, one-of-a-kind businesses becomes more critical. If we don’t foster them, we risk turning the city into a mini Santa Barbara — a pleasant enough place, but San Luis Obispo needs its own identity.

We also found Gomez to be refreshingly realistic. While some other candidates have offered grudging support for the countywide transportation sales tax, Gomez was straightforward in favoring the measure as the only way to generate revenue for necessary road improvements.

“There is no plan B,” he told The Tribune Editorial Board.

He’s absolutely right.

What we most appreciated, though, is his focus on the need for workforce housing. Although that’s long been a goal of the council, there have been times when it’s been less at the forefront of the council’s long-term agenda. Given the rising cost of housing, we can’t afford to let that happen.

“Most people starting a family can no longer afford to live here, and all too often Cal Poly is blamed for the housing crisis,” Gomez wrote in a statement he provided The Tribune. “I believe there are solutions to these issues.”

And finally, he’s not one to take information at face value; he would dig deep and get the full story. Gomez also would bring energy, youth and a fresh perspective to some of the biggest challenges that face the city of San Luis Obispo.

The Tribune strongly endorses Aaron Gomez for election to the City Council.

Andrea “Andy” Pease has been involved in several community projects involving everything from art to economic development.

She co-chaired the committee to support passage of Measure G — the half-percent sales tax approved by 70 percent of the voters in 2014. That’s a remarkable vote of confidence, as well as a testament to the hard work, commitment and organizational skills of Pease and her co-chairs.

As an architect specializing in green building, Pease also would bring expertise in design, livability, energy and water conservation to the council. Given the importance of maintaining the architectural integrity of the city’s historic districts, that would be a big plus.

Like Gomez, Pease is a big proponent of workforce housing, and she stresses the need to correct the jobs/housing imbalance that’s responsible for clogging our highways and spewing greenhouse gases.

She supports more infill housing; more housing types, including tiny houses; and we believe that she’d hold Cal Poly’s feet to the fire when it comes to meeting its goal of housing more students.

Pease knows the issues facing the city, she’s proven herself capable of getting things done, and she’s creative and conservation-minded. (One example: Rather than using traditional campaign yard signs that are typically thrown away after the election, she’s opting for T-shirt “signs” that can be worn after the voting is over.)

The Tribune strongly encourages voters to elect Andy Pease to the City Council.

This story was originally published September 24, 2016 at 6:00 PM with the headline "The Tribune endorses Aaron Gomez and Andy Pease for SLO City Council."