Local attorney, Joe Benson, is publicly announcing his campaign for election to the San Luis Obispo City Council this November.
“I want to ensure this great City will continue to be special,” Benson said. “I believe my legal training, community service, and passion for San Luis Obispo will make me a successful Councilmember.”
The 42-year old has already passed the fundraising threshold to qualify as a campaign committee, and after securing several key endorsements from public officials and community members, Benson’s campaign is off to a strong start.
County Supervisor Dawn Ortiz-Legg said in her endorsement, “I am excited to endorse a quality candidate like Joe Benson for SLO City Council, as he offers voters an impressive mix of professional skills, dedication to community, and passion for good governance. Joe Benson is as solid as his name suggests, and we are very lucky to have him run for office.”
Joe and his family moved to San Luis Obispo in early 2016 after being recruited by MINDBODY to join their legal team. His community service includes providing pro-bono legal services at Cal Poly’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (aka the “Hothouse”), serving on the Board of Directors for the SLO Chamber of Commerce, the SLO Symphony, and the County Bar Association, including as President of the County Bar in 2021. Additionally, Joe has served on the City’s Administrative Review Board since 2020, and is a proud alumnus of Leadership SLO.
As for his vision for the City, Benson said “The City of SLO is not only the county seat but also the jewel of our region. As a member of the City Council, I will be focused on the prosperity of our wonderful City. Our City needs people who can think big, enable change, and get things done. I will bring each of those attributes to the job.”
As a council member, Joe’s priorities include pushing forward policies and budgets based upon fiscal responsibility and data-driven decision making. “My focus is to see our City embrace its next chapter in such a way that both preserves its special characteristics and solves the challenges that lie ahead.”
When elected, Joe’s priorities are to:
- Enable the success of the local economy by investing in infrastructure, prioritizing public safety, having a vibrant downtown area, and leaning into tourism;
- Deepen the relationships with Cal Poly and Cuesta to ensure the next generation of dreamers, creators, and inventors view SLO as their home;
- Ensure well-thought-out growth, including much-needed missing-middle housing, that embraces the future while preserving San Luis Obispo’s iconic open space character; and
- Further invest in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives.
Joe has an undergraduate degree in Business Management from Pepperdine University and a law degree from Whittier Law School. During his extensive professional career, Joe worked in the defense, aerospace, and telecommunications industries, including at Boeing and Pratt & Whitney. After leaving MINDBODY in November 2020, Joe accepted an Of Counsel position with local law firm Carmel Naccasha LLP and also serves as internal counsel for a startup technology company.
Joe plans to extensively canvass neighborhoods and seek out opportunities to speak with local community groups as part of his campaign. More information about Joe Benson and his campaign can be found at https://joeforslo.com/.