Are you ignoring the SLO County election? Here’s why you shouldn’t
California’s presidential primary election is just days away on March 3.
In addition to picking a presidential candidate for November, you have the opportunity to make a big decision about the future of San Luis Obispo County. Three of five seats on the county Board of Supervisors will be decided in this election.
The Tribune will help you find all those tools you need to vote, including voter guides to learn about candidate policies and backgrounds. Find it all here.
First, here are quick voter tips:
- Not registered? It’s not too late. Click here to learn how to register and vote the same day.
- Find your polling place here: clerk.slocounty.ca.gov/pollingplace
- Check your voter status and the stutus of your vote-by-mail ballot: clerk.slocounty.ca.gov/voterstatus
- Interested in who is funding candidates’ campaign? Click here to learn who the major donors are.
SLO County supervisor districts 1, 3 and 5
Three of five seats on the county Board of Supervisors will be decided in the March election. Candidates are voted into four-year terms by district. Don’t know what district you live in? Click here to find out.
Why it matters: Supervisors adopt countywide regulations and oversee all county government services, managing a budget of more than $500 million. Decisions made by the Board of Supervisors can affect affordable housing, homelessness, economic stability after the closure of Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant, rules for cannabis businesses, as well as planning and managing water resources.
Supervisors also sit on additional county boards, making important decision on the Air Pollution Control District Board, Regional Transit Authority and the Homeless Services Oversight Council, for example.
Who are the candidates?
District 1: Republican incumbent John Peschong of Templeton is seeking a second term. A founding partner of Meridian Pacific Inc. political consulting firm, he once served in President Ronald Reagan’s administration and as a senior strategist for the campaigns of President George W. Bush.
He is being challenged by Democrat Stephanie Shakofsky, the owner of a small vineyard outside Paso Robles, a former hydrologist, and former director of the Center for Creative Land Recycling who previously served on the San Francisco Port Commission.
Read SLO County voter guide: How John Peschong and Stephanie Shakofsky match up on key issues
Read: SLO Republican attacked his opponent before she even launched her campaign
Watch: Why Stephanie Shakofsky is a SLO County supervisor candidate
Watch: John Peschong makes his candidate statement
Listen: KCBX — Political attack ads begin in SLO County as the March primary election approaches
Opinion: District 1 voters should stick with John Peschong for SLO County supervisor. Here’s why
District 3: Democrat incumbent Adam Hill taught literature and writing at Cal Poly and has represented South County District 3 for nearly 12 years. Challenger Republican Stacy Korsgaden is a Farmers Insurance agent and business owner in Grover Beach who previously served as chair of the South County Chamber of Commerce.
Read SLO County voter guide: How Adam Hill and Stacy Korsgaden compare on key issues
Read: SLO County District 3 supervisor candidates face off on homelessness, housing and Diablo
Read: Adam Hill called his challenger a ‘Trump Republican.’ Here’s what she has to say
Watch: Watch SLO County District 3 supervisor candidates debate homelessness, housing and Diablo Canyon
Watch: Adam Hill talks about what he sees as the biggest issue facing supervisors this election
Watch: Meet Stacy Korsgaden, SLO County Board of Supervisors candidate
Opinion: The Tribune editorial board has not yet made an endorsement in this race.
District 5: Republican incumbent Debbie Arnold is seeking a third term. She formerly owned Small Wonders Preschool and worked as a legislative aide at the county supervisor’s office for Mike Ryan and as a district representative for the State Senate. Democrat and former Atascadero mayor, Ellen Beraud is challenging her. Beraud works as a registered dietitian and co-owns a small electrical contracting business.
Read SLO County voter guide: Where Debbie Arnold and Ellen Beraud stand on the key issues
Read: Debbie Arnold’s campaign just called her opponent ‘a chicken’
Read: Ellen Beraud slams Debbie Arnold for ‘failure of leadership,’ on housing and cannabis
Watch: District 5 supervisor candidates debate on homelessness, housing and water
Read: Rent is too high in SLO County, but candidates are short on policy answers at forum
Watch: SLO County District 5 supervisor candidates face off at forum
Read: Former Atascadero mayor will run against Debbie Arnold for supervisor in 2020
Watch: Debbie Arnold shares why she is running for re-election
Watch: Why Ellen Beraud is running for SLO County District 5 supervisor
Opinion: Ellen Beraud is the catalyst for change needed on the SLO County Board of Supervisors
California Assembly District 35
With two candidates running for the 35th California Assembly District, each, a Democrat and a Republican, will automatically advance to the general election unless a write-in candidate gathers more votes. Both will appear on the primary ballot.
Why it matters: The Assembly is one of two houses that make up the California State Legislature, which drafts and passes laws that affect every Californian. The 35th Assembly District encompasses all of San Luis Obispo County and northern Santa Barbara County. Members of the Assembly serve two-year terms.
Who are the candidates? Republican incumbent Jordan Cunningham is a Templeton attorney and former school board member who has represented the district for more than three years. He’s being challenged by Morro Bay City Councilwoman Dawn Addis, a Democrat.
Read: Jordan Cunningham has a challenger for Assembly, and it’s a familiar SLO County progressive
California Senate District 17
There are four candidates running for the state Senate District 17 seat available after incumbent Bill Monning of Carmel has termed-out. The two with the most votes will appear on the November general election ballot.
Why it matters: After a bill passes the Assembly, it is taken up by the state Senate, which can vote down the bill or forward it to the Governor’s Office for final approval.
Senate District 17 encompasses all of San Luis Obispo and Santa Cruz counties as well as portions of Monterey and Santa Clara counties.
Who are the candidates? Democrat John Laird has been endorsed by Monning. He served as natural resources secretary under former Gov. Jerry Brown.
Laird is running against Democrats Maria Cardenas, executive director of the nonprofit Santa Cruz Community Ventures, and John Nevill, a rancher and respiratory therapist from King City; and Republicans Vicki Nohrden, a Carmel businesswoman.
Read: Former Santa Cruz mayor running to replace Bill Monning in state Senate
Read: In Nipomo, Democratic state Senate candidate takes heat over Oceano Dunes dust
Read: Opinion: He’s charged with election fraud — and he wants to be SLO County’s next state senator
U.S. House of Representatives, District 24
There are three candidates running to represent the Central Coast in the 24th Congressional District. The top two candidates in March will appear on the general election ballot in November.
Why it matters: The 24th Congressional District represents San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties, as well as a slice of northern Ventura County, in the House of Representatives, one of two legislative bodies in the federal government.
Who are the candidates? Democratic incumbent Salud Carbajal, a former Santa Barbara County supervisor, is seeking a third term and has represented the district in Congress since 2017. His challengers include conservative radio host and founder of Coalition of Labor, Agriculture, and Business of Santa Barbara County Andy Caldwell, a Republican; and Independent Kenneth Young, a civil engineer from Santa Barbara.
Read: Meet Andy Caldwell, the Republican media firebrand who wants Salud Carbajal’s job
Bookmark it! This voter’s guide will be updated leading up to Election Day on March 3, 2020.
This story was originally published January 7, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
