Election guide 2024: Who’s on the ballot in south SLO County?

This November, residents of three south San Luis Obispo County cities will have the opportunity to select their next mayor, featuring several familiar faces and plenty of new ones.

Arroyo Grande, Grover Beach and Pismo Beach voters also will select a pair of City Council members each.

Several ballot measures will be up for consideration as well, as two cities seek funding for infrastructure projects and voters will decide whether to revert Grover Beach water rates.

Grover Beach will also hold the region’s only recall election, with residents deciding the future of current City Councilmember Dan Rushing’s seat.

Here are the candidates South County residents will see on the November ballot.

Arroyo Grande City Council

In Arroyo Grande, three seats on the City Council will be up for grabs this November.

Voters will select their choice for mayor for a two-year term, while four-year terms for City Council Districts 2 and 3 will be filled by two of three candidates seeking election.

Mayor

• Caren Ray Russom, incumbent mayor

• Gaea Powell, business owner and consultant

City Council District 2

• Aileen Loe

City Council District 3

• Marlea Harmon

• Jamie Maraviglia, Planning Commission member

Ballot Measure E-24

Arroyo Grande voters will decide whether or not to approve a ballot measure that would establish a one-cent sales tax for the next 10 years to fund infrastructure projects including fixing potholes; maintaining city streets, sidewalks, parks, aging infrastructure and community facilities; providing local fire protection, police and 911 emergency services; and addressing homelessness. The measure would raise around $6 million each year over the next 10 years.

Pismo Beach City Council

Pismo Beach’s election will feature three races, including the mayor and two City Council seats.

Pismo Beach mayors serve two-year terms, while City Council members serve four-year terms.

Mayor

• Ed Waage, incumbent mayor

• Kevin Kreowski

City Council, 2 seats

• Marcia Guthrie, incumbent councilmember

• Gianni Scangarello

• Scott Newton, incumbent councilmember
  
  

Ballot Measure F-24

Pismo Beach voters will decide whether or not to approve a half-cent sales tax that would provide around $4 million a year to carry out infrastructure projects such as repairs to potholes, streets, sidewalks, infrastructure and parks. The measure would continue the half-cent tax approved by the voters in 2014 and add an additional half-cent, for a total of one cent local sales tax. The funds would also provide police and fire protection, and would help cover the costs of addressing homelessness and other general government uses.

Grover Beach City Council

In Grover Beach, multiple candidates are campaigning for mayor, while all but one City Council seat will be on the ballot.

Current District 2 City Councilmember Dan Rushing will also look to defend his seat from a citizens recall effort launched earlier this year.

Grover Beach mayors serve two-year terms, while City Council members serve four-year terms.

Mayor

• Robert Robert, incumbent councilmember

• Kassi Dee, Nan’s Books & Crystals owner

• Debbie Peterson, former Grover Beach mayor and author

City Council District 3

• Marsha Bolyanatz, grant writer

• Kathy McCorry, operations director at Restorative Partners

City Council District 4

• Clint Weirick, incumbent councilmember

Ballot Measure G-24

At its May 13 meeting, the City Council lowered water rates to the previous rate structure adopted in 2021, leaving sewer rates at the elevated rate adopted in December. A yes vote on Measure G-24, created by citizens group GroverH2O, would repeal the December resolution entirely, setting the water and sewer rates at their 2021 levels.

Oceano Community Services District

A pair of seats on the Oceano Community Services District will be contested this November.

Directors of the Oceano CSD serve four-year terms, with elections held every two years.

Director, Division 1

• Linda Austin, incumbent Oceano CSD director

• Angela Smith, real estate broker

Director, District 5

• Charles Varni, incumbent Oceano CSD director

• Shirley Gibson, incumbent Oceano CSD director

Nipomo Community Services District

Voters living within the Nipomo Community Services District will select two directors from a pool of three candidates at large to represent the district.

Directors of the Nipomo CSD serve four-year terms, with elections held every two years.

• Phil Henry, incumbent Nipomo CSD Director

• John Joyce, retired utility engineer

• James Wejrowski, retired PG&E mechanical planner

Lucia Mar Unified School District

Voters in the Lucia Mar Unified School District will select three members for the district’s seven-member board of education.

Members serve four-year terms, which are staggered between elections.

Governing Board, Trustee Area 1

• Don Stewart, incumbent trustee

• Paul Bischoff, home builder

Governing Board, Trustee Area 2

• Dee Santos, incumbent trustee

• Paul Hively, contractor

Governing Board, Trustee Area 4

• Vicki Meagher, incumbent trustee

• Mike Fuller, financial adviser

Port San Luis Harbor District

Voters living in the Port San Luis Harbor District will select one new commissioner to represent Division 2, which operates on staggered four-year terms.

Commissioner, Division 2

• Richard Scangarello, retired commercial fisherman

• Katie Lichtig, retired city executive

More election information

You can learn more about county-wide elections on the SLO County Clerk Recorder’s website.

Want to ask your candidates a question? Fill out the form below to send your questions to The Tribune and we may include their responses in our upcoming election coverage.