Paso Robles resident announces campaign for Chris Bausch’s City Council seat
A Paso Robles resident has announced his campaign for City Council, vying against at least one other candidate for the seat currently occupied by Councilmember Chris Bausch.
Michael Massey, a resident of Paso Robles, announced in a news release that he will run for the District 2 City Council seat in November.
Massey identified four main pillars of his campaign: housing, industry, infrastructure and transparency.
Those pillars would inform priorities like developing housing at all price points, supporting the local job market, pushing for investments in roads and parks, and advocating for openness in the city government, the release said.
“Paso Robles deserves a councilmember who listens to neighbors, not one who plays politics,” Massey said in the release. “I’m running because I believe this city’s best days are ahead of us — but only if we make smart, transparent decisions about the issues that matter most to working families: where they live, where they work, and how their tax dollars are spent.”
He added that he is not chasing a career in politics.
“I’m not a career politician, and I’m not interested in becoming one,” he said in the release. “I’m a neighbor who cares about this community and is ready to do the work. That’s the kind of representation District 2 deserves.”
Bausch was unanimously appointed to the role in 2022 after it was vacated and soon after ran for the seat unopposed.
Bausch was previously accused of harassing and spreading rumors about former city manager Ty Lewis, who filed a claim with the city in 2024 outlining the allegations. Bausch was also at the center of a lawsuit filed by The Tribune, after he refused to turn over public records stored on his private devices, despite multiple requests under the California Public Records Act.
As of Wednesday, two candidates — Massey and Robert Simoni — were listed on the city’s candidate filing website as running for Bausch’s seat in November.
The Tribune reached out to Bausch about his plans, and he responded that the city is in a good position right now, and he intends to focus on his current responsibilities as a councilmember.
He said he wouldn’t decide whether or not to run for re-election or another office until after the primaries, in July or August.
“I don’t think voters want to see a long, protracted campaign,” he said.
More information about Massey’s campaign was available on his website: michaelforpaso.com.
