This is a historic election in Paso Robles. Here’s our pick for City Council
Veteran Councilman Fred Strong is running for a fifth term on the Paso Robles City Council, in an election unlike any other in city history.
For the first time, Paso Robles voters will cast ballots by geographic district, just as they do for county supervisor.
Paso was divided into four electoral districts last year, after the city was threatened with a Voting Rights Act lawsuit for allegedly disenfranchising Latino voters.
The new system is designed to encourage more participation by Latinos, who have been underrepresented on a council that’s traditionally been dominated by older white men.
Unfortunately, the election failed to generate much interest this year — at least on the part of candidates.
In District 3, incumbent Steve Gregory is running unopposed.
And in District 4 — the southeastern section of the city — Strong faces just a single challenger, political newcomer Jacob Allred, a computer software engineer and community volunteer.
Both candidates bring their own strengths to the table, and there’s really no bad choice here.
Strong is a dedicated public servant and a force to be reckoned with in Paso Robles — a supporter once aptly described him as the Energizer bunny.
He cares deeply about the city and has extensive knowledge of the issues, going back decades. His expertise extends beyond the city; he also knows regional and state politics. He’s served on the countywide Council of Governments and League of California Cities, and he once ran for the Republican nomination for state Assembly.
We’ve endorsed Strong multiple times in the past and we have no doubt he would continue to provide diligent service if reelected to a fifth term.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREWhy do we endorse?
Making endorsements during election season is an important role for newspaper editorial boards, including The Tribune Editorial Board. Elections are key to determining the future of our Central Coast region, and through endorsements, we share our opinion of the qualifications of the candidates and recommend those who would best serve our communities.
Due to the large number of races on the 2024 General Election ballot, we are unable to issue endorsements in every race. We chose to focus on the most competitive contests.
For more about our process, click the arrow on the top right.
Who endorses?
Endorsement decisions are made by Editor Joe Tarica and Opinion Editor Stephanie Finucane.
How do we decide?
Candidates are invited to participate in an interview with The Editorial Board where they are asked a series questions about major issues. It’s our opportunity to learn the candidates’ positions and to gauge how well informed they are about issues they are likely to confront if elected.
We also research voting records of candidates who have held public office; we watch candidate forums; we look at back stories from The Tribune, as well as other publications that have covered the candidates; and we examine public documents. We also take a look at the candidates’ advertising and campaign statements. Are they overpromising, for example, or misrepresenting their opponent’s record?
In the case of ballot measures, we study the background of the issue, the pro and con arguments and consider who is supporting and opposing the measure.
Tell us what you think
If you disagree (or agree) with our endorsements, share your thoughts with us by writing a letter to the editor (200-word maximum). Email your submissions to letters@thetribunenews.com. Due to the volume of submissions we receive during campaign season, we do not publish Viewpoint-length pieces (600-800 words) in support or opposition to candidates.
Allred, a newcomer to local politics, clearly is the underdog in this contest against a man who is practically an institution in Paso Robles.
But voters shouldn’t count him out. Allred is smart, articulate and at 37, he would be a strong voice for younger people. As the father of two young boys with special needs, he’s especially attuned to the challenges facing working families.
That’s something to consider, especially since four of the five current council members are over 65.
That isn’t to suggest that older council members don’t have empathy for the struggles younger people face, but someone with first-hand knowledge could better inform decision-making on issues such as housing, child care, parks and recreation, and child safety.
And frankly, it’s time to give Gen-Xers and millennials the opportunity to gain experience.
On top of that, Allred is well-informed on the issues and has made it a point to become involved in the community.
He serves on the city’s library Board of Trustees, volunteers for several organization, including the ECHO homeless shelter, and is a graduate of Leadership North County — a nine-month program focusing on North County issues.
He would be a strong advocate for homeless services, which is something Paso Robles needs. The fact that the city had to hurriedly set up a temporary homeless camp in order to move people out of the Salinas Riverbed during fire season shows the city has too long neglected its homeless population.
There are other issues to address: The city needs a multi-year plan for management of the Riverbed, which poses a huge fire danger every year; it must crack down on derelict housing, like the infamous Grand View Apartments; it should improve outreach to the city’s large Latino community, which was hit especially hard by the coronavirus; and it must deal with the economic fallout from COVID-19.
Again, Fred Strong has served his constituents well, making this a difficult choice.
But in the final analysis, we believe the city would benefit from having a more diverse council that would question the status quo, rather than staying the course.
The Tribune endorses Jacob Allred for Paso Robles City Council.
This story was originally published October 6, 2020 at 5:15 AM.