SLO County District 4 supervisor race enters final days. Here’s what to know
San Luis Obispo County voters in District 4 will choose between incumbent Democrat Jimmy Paulding and Republican challenger Adam Verdin in the June 2 primary election.
The race has become contentious, with campaign finance complaints, “dark money” accusations and a district attorney warning all unfolding in the months before the vote.
Here are key takeaways:
- Paulding, the one-term incumbent, faces Verdin, a political newcomer and longtime local business owner, in the District 4 race. The district includes Nipomo, Arroyo Grande, Oceano and other unincorporated areas from the coast to the far eastern areas of the county.
- Paulding grew up in Arroyo Grande, served on the Arroyo Grande City Council and was elected to the Board of Supervisors in 2022, focusing on public safety, water security, housing and climate resilience.
- Verdin co-owns Old Juan’s Cantina in Oceano and works as chief pilot at MarcAir. He announced his campaign in July 2025 and is prioritizing public safety, infrastructure and affordable housing.
- In February, Paulding filed a campaign finance complaint alleging Verdin took twice the county’s $5,900 donation limit from developer Covelop Inc., which gave $5,900 to Verdin’s primary campaign and $5,900 to his general election campaign.
- The California Fair Political Practices Commission dismissed the complaint, ruling that primary and general elections are separate under the Political Reform Act, and the SLO County District Attorney’s Office also closed its review. Verdin has since returned Covelop’s $5,900 general election donation since the race will be decided at the June 2 primary election.
- Verdin later accused the South County Coalition of inserting “dark money” into the race after the group spent more than $13,000 supporting Paulding without initially naming donors; the group later disclosed contributors, including Don Ernst ($22,002) and Ray Mattison ($18,000).
- District Attorney Dan Dow sent the coalition a notice expressing “serious concern” that the group misclassified itself as a general purpose committee, threatening civil penalties up to $5,000 per violation or misdemeanor charges if corrective action wasn’t taken within five days.
- Paulding also alleged that pro-housing group Generation Build planned to spend heavily against him, but founder Michael Massey said the PAC had raised no funds and has no intention of being involved in the District 4 race.
- Both candidates have claimed credit for a new temporary bridge at Cecchetti Road, which SLO County supervisors approved on a 3-2 vote on Nov. 18, 2025 by diverting leftover funds from another bridge project.
- More than $700,000 has poured into the race, with Paulding raising $365,897 and Verdin raising $338,954 as of mid-May, drawing major support from labor unions and Democratic clubs for Paulding and from housing developers for Verdin.
The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The source reporting referenced above was written and edited entirely by journalists.
This story was originally published May 28, 2026 at 12:00 PM.
Hannah Poukish
The Tribune