There are four candidates running for county’s District 2 supervisor, which now includes Atascadero
ATASCADERO — On June 7, the community in San Luis Obispo County’s District 2 will vote in the primary election for the district’s county supervisor seat. Following redistricting, District 2 now includes Atascadero, Cambria, Cayucos, Lake Nacimiento, San Miguel and West Templeton.
Prior to redistricting, the district included the unincorporated communities of San Simeon, Harmony, Los Osos, Cayucos, and Cambria along with the City of Morro Bay and portions of the City of San Luis Obispo. Bruce Gibson currently represents District 2 as supervisor.
Candidates challenging Gibson include Geoff Auslen, Bruce Jones, and John Whitworth.
The forum was hosted by the Atascadero Chamber of Commerce and held at the Atascadero High School (AHS) Gymnasium on April 28. Stacie Jacob, Solterra Strategies founder and chief strategist, moderated the event.
Candidates were asked 10 questions chosen in advance by the Chamber. In the weeks leading up to the forum, the Chamber collected questions from the public, including history students from AHS. Some popular topics of the night involved how to bring more jobs to the area, water usage, homelessness, housing costs, and the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant.
The sixth question of the night asked candidates how they would ensure democracy would be upheld in the local election. Aulsen, Jones, and Whitworth all offered solutions, including reinstatement of the absentee ballot system and a form of identification when voting.
Current District 2 supervisor Gibson disagreed that SLO County is or could be a victim of voting fraud. He argued against the claim there are “issues” with the voting in SLO County and described it as “disgusting” and an “attack on our democracy.”
Additionally, Gibson claimed to require voting ID and going back to paper ballots are ways to suppress voters that have been applied to the national debate.
Many of the topics involved economic development. Part of this involved bringing in broadband internet, which many of the candidates supported. To support economic growth, some of the candidates brought up that too many regulations from the state and county are preventing businesses from flourishing.
The statewide district primary for SLO County will be on June 7. The last day to register to vote in the primary election is May 23. Official ballots will be mailed no later than May 9. To register, visit slocounty.ca.gov/Departments/Clerk-Recorder
The Supervisor candidate forum can be viewed by visiting atascaderochamber.org/candidates-forum-2022/
Feature photo contributed by Atascadero Chamber.
