County supervisor unfairly gives her ‘personal opinion’ on Paso groundwater district

It has often been repeated in public meetings by the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors that county staff and the board would not advocate for or against the proposed Paso Robles groundwater basin district. Staff and those supervisors who support the formation of the locally controlled and managed public water district have honorably upheld this agreement.

Many neighbors and I find it disconcerting that Supervisor Debbie Arnold, who wants county control of our water, and who unsuccessfully lobbied hard here and in Sacramento against the water district, would renege on her agreement not to wade into the issue. Arnold has published multiple opinion pieces in local media and called into local radio numerous times to offer her opinion on the proposed district. Most recently, Arnold called in to KPRL. She couches her misinformation as her “personal opinion,” but anyone in office knows that they speak with the voice of their office, and people listen accordingly.

If another supervisor were to come out and support the district in local media to the same degree that Arnold has opposed it, a witch hunt would ensue. County staff and the other supervisors have respected their agreement to stay out — but apparently that standard doesn’t seem to apply to Arnold.

This story was originally published February 10, 2016 at 5:27 AM with the headline "County supervisor unfairly gives her ‘personal opinion’ on Paso groundwater district."