We asked each candidate to answer a few questions so that you can know a little more about their priorities. See responses from other candidates: Jimmy Paulding
Rank the issues in order of importance for the County of San Luis Obispo:
The candidate ranked all issues as equally important
to them.
If elected, what will you do to address the issue you identified above as most significant?
Continue to work with REACH towards higher paying jobs, economic growth post Diablo Canyon. Continue to promote safer neighborhoods: funding law enforcement, despite destructive programs (Prop 47). Prioritize roads. Continue to work toward alternate water solutions. Homelessness: We have a major strategy initiative and plan to address with our partners, establishing Homeless Division within Social Services. Past initiatives: Safe Parking, Blue Bag Program, increasing Housing Now, addition of individuals to manage safe parking, case manager in partnership with TMH. Doubled sheltering capacity in past three years, but need to expand case management, mental health, substance disorder services and coordination.
Which theme in the Chamber’s economic vision, Imagine SLO, do you think deserves the most focus in the next four years and why?
I think they are all important for a city. I think that the rural areas (unincorporated) have needs that are different, such as promoting a thriving environment for agriculture to continue to be sustainable given all their challenges. Water infrastructure (desalination, reuse, new sources) is very important to our entire county. Likewise, SLO City has a heavier lift when it comes to housing than the County, as it is the employment hub. Reducing restrictive governmental policies and lessening over-reaching fees and letting the free market system thrive would benefit all. Keeping the rural feel is important to my constituents.
What is the biggest opportunity for the County as a whole in the next four years?
I think the biggest opportunity is for leaders to move forward with a local plan (as we are indeed doing) for mitigating the economically devastating impact that the closure of Diablo Canyon will have on our County. This means finding the right industries that have a great fit, with high paying jobs, that we can encourage to relocate here. Additionally, working on a collaborative regional water solution to increase our water resilience (in light of a continued drought) is a huge opportunity.
Do you think our business environment is healthy? If not, what would you do to change that?
No, I don’t think business environment is healthy. Some thriving, others struggling. Trucking industry can’t keep goods on shelves due to restrictive regulations/policies that pay people not to work. Agriculture can’t find workers. Restaurant/hotel industry tends to have lower paying jobs; doesn’t enable employees to live near jobs; Phillips 66/Diablo Canyon closing due to policies on a state wide level that don’t support their industries. Builders have increasing regulatory/state/county hurdles that discourage them from building, lessening housing stock. Gas/diesel prices are at all-time high; affects everything. Inflation highest it’s been, California most difficult state to do business in.