Anthony Kalvans ends candidacy for 1st District supervisor

Anthony Kalvans has dropped out of the running for the 1st District seat on the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors, citing “family health issues” as the primary reason.

Kalvans, a director on the San Miguel Community Services District board, issued a statement Friday that he was withdrawing. On Saturday, he said several members of his extended family are ill or recently passed away.

“Our entire family is going through a tough time,” he said. “With all of this going on, it’s very hard to give it my all.”

A 2011 graduate of San Miguel High School, Kalvans, 22, announced in June his candidacy for the 1st District seat, which represents much of the North County.

He said there was a need for better representation of the rural areas of the district, such as San Miguel.

“Our supervisorial district encompasses more than the city of Paso Robles, it is made up of many people, both urban and rural, who deserve to have their voices heard,” he said in June.

He said Saturday that he hasn’t endorsed any other candidate, but would consider it.

“I would support a candidate if they share my concerns about all of the communities in the district,” he said. “In the past, San Miguel and other communities have gotten forgotten.”

Kalvans’ decision to withdraw came in the same week that John Peschong, a Republican strategist and Templeton resident, announced his candidacy.

Other announced candidates are Steve Martin, mayor of Paso Robles; John Hamon, a Paso Robles councilman; and Dale Gustin, a Paso Robles attorney whose license was suspended by the State Bar for misconduct.

Supervisor Frank Mecham announced early this year that he would not seek re-election to the 1st District.

This story was originally published November 28, 2015 at 2:04 PM with the headline "Anthony Kalvans ends candidacy for 1st District supervisor."