Who’s funding the SLO County Board of Supervisors race? Here’s a donation breakdown
The election is just days away, and the two candidates for the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors have spent nearly $800,000 in their bids to win the District 2 seat.
Incumbent Supervisor Bruce Gibson and his challenger, retired orthopedic surgeon Dr. Bruce Jones, are competing for the newly redrawn district that Atascadero, San Miguel and the North Coast.
So far, Gibson has raised $457,618 in cash donations, while Jones has raised $310,109, according to campaign finance documents.
Similarly, Gibson has also out-spent Jones, dishing out $487,920, campaign finance documents said. Meanwhile, Jones spent $300,566 this year, according to the documents.
Local voters, major industries and even groups outside of SLO County have funneled money into both campaigns.
Here’s a breakdown of key donations made to each candidate.
Gibson backed by SLO Democrats, winery
The Democrats of San Luis Obispo Club was Gibson’s largest donor, giving $13,085 to his campaign following the June primary election.
Including donations made in the months before the primary, the group contributed a total of $24,685 to Gibson during 2022.
Three donors are tied for second place — each giving $10,000 to the campaign during the general election campaign period.
Jerome Lohr, winegrower and vintner at J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines in Paso Robles, has contributed $10,000 to Gibson’s campaign since June — bringing the total amount he’s donated to $15,000 in 2022.
Southwest Regional Carpenters Small Contributor Committee of Camarillo also gave the supervisor $10,000 during the general election, bumping its total amount donated in 2022 to $16,250.
Finally, retired Cayucos resident Carla Haynie donated $10,000 to the campaign.
Retired Cambria resident Michael Armstrong has donated $7,000 to the campaign since June, bringing his total cash donations to $11,250 for 2022.
A handful of local politicians also contributed to the Gibson campaign.
Donations include $1,500 from San Luis Obispo City Councilmember Andrea Pease, $530 from SLO City Councilmember Jan Marx, $300 from Morro Bay Mayor John Headding, $100 from Morro Bay City Councilmember Jeffrey Heller, $50 from Paso Robles Mayor Steve Martin and $50 from Atascadero City Councilmember Susan Funk.
The Jimmy Paulding for Supervisor campaign gave $300 cash to the Gibson campaign, in addition to donating $1,189 worth of wine to a campaign fundraiser.
Violet Walker, tribal chairwoman of the Northern Chumash Tribal Council and supporter of the Chumash National Marine Sanctuary, contributed $500 to the campaign.
Local political consultant Tom Fulks has donated $155 to Gibson since June.
Ellen Beraud, an Atascadero resident who ran for and lost the 2020 election for the District 5 seat on the Board of Supervisors, contributed $175 since June.
The Gibson campaign has also collected five large donations from outside the county.
James Lebetter, a grape grower and partner at Vino Farms in Lodi, donated $3,000 to the campaign. Planned Parenthood Central Coast Action Fund of Santa Barbara donated $1,500.
Los Angeles law firm Nossaman LLP gave $1,000, and the 314 Action Victory Fund in Washington, D.C., gave $2,500. The latter group works to elect more scientists to Congress, state legislatures and local offices.
Finally, Fracie Kelley, an art consultant in Studio City, has contributed $310 to the campaign since June.
Jones supported by cattle industry, local decorator
Like Gibson, Jones wooed numerous major donors during the November election campaign period.
The campaign’s largest donor was the San Luis Obispo County Cattlemen’s Association’s political action committee of Paso Robles, which contributed $25,000.
Retired Cayucos resident Barbara Keely came in second with $5,040 campaign contribution, and Cambria decorator at Winter Construction Jessica Land was the third biggest donor with a $5,000 gift.
Jones’ wife, retired Templeton resident JoAnn Jones, has donated $8,815 to the campaign since June. The campaign refunded her $4,000 — decreasing her total contributions to the campaign to $4,815.
Two local politicians gave Jones financial support during the campaign season. Morro Bay mayoral candidate Carla Wixom donated $450, and Grover Beach mayor candidate Stacy Korsgaden gave $2,250.
District 5 Supervisor Debbie Arnold donated $1,075 to Jones during the general election campaign period, and the Jordan Cunningham for Lieutenant Governor campaign donated $1,000. (Cunningham is not actually running for that office.)
The Law Office of Stewart Jenkins, who unsuccessfully ran for San Luis Obispo County Clerk-Recorder, donated $200.
Darcia Stebbens, the San Miguel resident who called for a District 4 recount during the primary election, donated $375 to the Jones campaign.
Republican Party official Randall Jordan donated $1,265. John Whitworth, Jones’ opponent during the primary, contributed $450.
Geoff Auslen, who vied for the District 2 seat during the primary election, was notably absent from Jones’ donors — even after endorsing the doctor for the District 2 seat.
Donors outside of SLO County also poured money into Jones’ election campaign.
Donations include $4,000 from Nino Ranch in King City, $3,000 from Bear Valley Cattle Ranch owner Kevin Kester in Parkfield, $3,000 from Los Angeles-based California Real Estate PAC, $2,500 from the Growers Ice Co. of Salinas, $2,000 from the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, $2,000 from Texas contractor and rancher Ray Bunnell and $1,500 from Sacramento-based California Cattleman’s Association PAC.
Finally, Jones loaned his campaign $50,000.
Election Day is Nov. 8, but voters can return their ballots by mail or at certified drop boxes around the county before then.
This story was originally published November 6, 2022 at 10:00 AM.
