Citizens group launches effort to recall SLO County Supervisor Bruce Gibson
A citizens group has launched a recall effort to remove San Luis Obispo County Supervisor Bruce Gibson from office.
In a filing on Friday, the Committee to Support the Recall of Supervisor Bruce Gibson alleged that he “abused his powers as a supervisor” by mismanaging the county’s finances and staff, violating California’s Brown Act on open meetings, and allowing “special interests” to control water rights, according to a notice of intention to circulate a recall petition.
“The Committee firmly believes that a change in leadership is necessary to restore the values and integrity of San Luis Obispo County,” the citizens group said in a news release.
Gibson denied the claims and called the recall effort an “abuse of our democratic process.”
Gibson defeated Templeton resident Dr. Bruce Jones for the District 2 seat by 13 votes in the 2022 General Election.
San Miguel resident Darcia Stebbens requested a manual recount of the race on behalf of the Jones campaign but ended the process early after county staff tallied about 20% of the ballots. She still owes the county more than $4,000 for the remaining cost of the recount.
The citizens group served Gibson with the notice of intent to circulate a recall petition on Friday at his home in Cayucos, he said.
The notice included 70 signatures, among them Jones and former District 2 candidate John Whitworth.
Gibson said the recall effort is a continuation of Jones’ 2022 campaign for office, which was managed by members of the Republican Party of San Luis Obispo County.
“They’re repeating the same issues that were part of the campaign that I won in 2022,” Gibson said. “They threw mud in the campaign. They threw lies and distortions in the campaign. They’re doing the same thing in this recall, and I’m confident that the voters in this county are smart enough and aware enough not to buy this.”
Jones did not immediately respond to The Tribune’s requests for comment.
How does a supervisor recall work?
To begin, the citizens group must circulate a petition in the former District 2 to recall Gibson.
Since Gibson was elected, the Board of Supervisors adopted a new county district map in April that changed the boundaries of District 2.
Before, the district included Atascadero, Cambria and Cayucos. The new map united the coastal communities of Los Osos, Morro Bay, Cambria and Cayucos in District 2, while transferring Atascadero to District 5.
The petition can only be signed by voters in the former District 2 boundaries that elected Gibson.
If 20% of registered voters in the former District 2 sign the petition, the county will hold an election for voters to decide on whether or not to recall Gibson, according to the California Secretary of State’s Office.
With 36,871 registered voters in the former district, 7,374 residents would need to sign the petition for it to be valid, according to San Luis Obispo County Clerk-Recorder Elaina Cano.
The San Luis Obispo County Clerk-Recorder’s Office received the notice and is working on the next steps, Cano said.
If the recall effort removes Gibson from office, Gov. Gavin Newsom will chose his replacement, according to Assembly Bill 2584.
This story was originally published October 31, 2023 at 8:00 AM.
