We asked each candidate to answer a few questions so that you can know a little more about their priorities. Click on each question to reach the candidate’s answer. See responses from other candidates: Jimmy Paulding.
Candidate Statement
I grew up in Oceano working at my family’s restaurant, Old Juan’s Cantina, which my sister and I now own and operate. Giving back has always been important to me. I serve as a Board member and volunteer with organizations including Jack’s Helping Hand, 5Cities Homeless Coalition, and Parks California, and I’ve partnered with Lucia Mar School District to connect students with local career opportunities.
I’m running for Supervisor to bring real-world experience as a small business owner and community volunteer to local government and take on the tough issues facing our County.
We need to get back to basics, starting with fixing our roads and bridges. I’ll prioritize public safety by ensuring law enforcement and firefighters have the resources they need. I’ll also demand accountability for taxpayer dollars by supporting Proposition 13 protections and advocating for transparent, responsible budgets.
Together, we can keep San Luis Obispo County safe, prosperous, and affordable
Rank the issues in order of importance for our county:
1. Infrastructure (roads, water, broadband, etc.)
2. Economic recovery & head of household jobs
3. Government regulation
4. Housing
5. Public safety
6. Homelessness
7. Regional collaboration
8. Taxes
9. Public health
10. Climate action & resilience
11. Diversity, equity and inclusion
If elected, what will you do to address the issue you identified above as most significant?
If elected, I will put infrastructure back where it belongs, as a Tier 1 priority for San Luis Obispo County. For too long, basic maintenance like roads, bridges, and public facilities has taken a backseat, and our communities are paying the price.
With an 8% increase in the county budget, there is no excuse for continuing to fall behind. What’s missing isn’t just funding, it’s a clear, realistic plan. I will push for a transparent, long-term infrastructure strategy that prioritizes critical repairs, sets measurable goals, and ensures taxpayer dollars are spent efficiently.
This is about getting back to basics. Government should be able to fix a pothole, repair a bridge, and maintain the infrastructure our residents rely on every day.
Which theme in the Chamber's regional economic vision, Imagine SLO, do you think deserves the most focus in the next four years and why?
The Doers + Dreamers theme deserves the most focus over the next four years because it speaks directly to the challenges our local businesses and workforce are facing right now. This theme recognizes that\ high housing costs, burdensome regulations, and economic uncertainty are threatening the very people who create jobs and drive opportunity in our region.
If we want a thriving economy, we need to make it easier, not harder, to start and sustain a business here. That means streamlining permitting, investing in infrastructure, and addressing the cost pressures that are pushing working families and employers out of San Luis Obispo County.
We have an incredible base of entrepreneurs, small businesses, and innovators. Our job in local government is to remove barriers and support them with practical, common-sense policies so they can succeed. If we get that right, everything else, from job growth to quality of life, follows.
What are you most proud of having contributed to our community in the past ten years?
Over the past decade, I’m most proud of the work I’ve done alongside our community to deliver real, lasting impact. That includes providing the first South County warming center to protect our most vulnerable neighbors, advancing Career Technical Education (CTE) opportunities so young people can build meaningful careers here, and working through VACO to bring a community kitchen to Oceano: creating a space for connection, support, and opportunity.
Through Jack’s Helping Hand, I’ve been proud to help move forward Imagination Park, a project that ensures every child has a place to play and belong.
I’ve also worked with Parks California to address climate resiliency while expanding access to our natural spaces, ensuring accessibility and belonging.
At the core of all of this is a simple goal: building a stronger, more connected community where people feel supported, included, and proud to call this place home.
What is the biggest opportunity for the County as a whole in the next four years?
The biggest opportunity for San Luis Obispo County over the next four years is smart, high-tech growth, particularly in aerospace and advanced engineering. We’re uniquely positioned to lead in this space.
With top-tier aerospace and engineering programs at Cal Poly, the Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT) program at Cuesta College, Vandenberg Space Force Base just to our south, and the potential for a spaceport at the Paso Robles airport, we have all the pieces in place to build a strong, local talent pipeline and attract cutting-edge industries.
The key is making sure the County is ready to support that growth: through infrastructure, workforce development, and a permitting process that doesn’t slow innovation down.
If we get this right, we can create high-quality jobs, keep our graduates here, and strengthen our local economy, while still protecting the character that makes this county such a special place to live and work.
Is there something the County is not currently focused on that you would bring to the forefront if elected?
One area that needs greater focus is the connection between workforce housing and infrastructure. We all agree that we need more housing for working families, but too often we talk about building without addressing whether our infrastructure can actually support it.
If we don’t plan for roads, water, sewer, and public services alongside new housing, we create more problems: higher costs, strained systems, and frustrated communities. That’s part of why projects get delayed or fail to move forward.
I would bring a more balanced, realistic approach by prioritizing infrastructure as a foundation for housing. That means identifying where we can responsibly build, investing in the systems that support growth, and ensuring new development is sustainable for the long term.
If we get this right, we can create more attainable workforce housing while protecting quality of life and making sure our communities continue to function effectively for everyone.
Do you think our business environment is healthy? If not, what would you do to change that?
Our business environment has incredible potential, but too often it’s held back by unnecessary and overly complicated government processes. Local business owners shouldn’t have to navigate layers of red tape just to open, expand, or stay afloat.
We can maintain high standards while still making it easier to do business here and that starts with listening. I would establish a regular roundtable of local business leaders, small business owners, and industry representatives to identify where the system is breaking down and develop practical recommendations to streamline permitting and approvals.
This isn’t about lowering standards: it’s about improving how government functions. Clear timelines, accountability, and a more customer-service mindset within our departments would go a long way.
If we want a healthy economy, we need to treat our businesses as partners, not obstacles, and make it easier for them to succeed here in San Luis Obispo County.