Marijuana industry donations lead in SLO County races

August 12, 2019

By KAREN VELIE

With the majority on the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors up for grabs, several marijuana cultivators are donating large amounts of cash to the two candidates who support their agenda, incumbent supervisor Adam Hill and new comer Ellen Beraud. [Cal Coast Times]

Even so, incumbent Supervisor Debbie Arnold is leading the pack with $128,044 in total campaign contributions.

The legal right to use cannabis has not been an issue since Californians voted to legalize recreational use in 2016. However, the debate over how to regulate the industry is dividing local voters and political candidates.

Proponents of a largely unregulated marijuana industry argue that Californians voted to legalize pot, and the county should not restrict cannabis cultivation.

On the other side, large groups of neighbors and owners of incompatible businesses are seeking land use legislation to regulate the industry.

Hill and Beraud support increasing the number of cannabis grows in the county, while supervisors Arnold and John Peschong are in favor of land use regulations that reduce negative impacts.

On March 3, SLO County voters in District 1, District 3 and District 5 will vote in supervisorial races. Currently, Hill and Peschong are running uncontested. Arnold faces just one challenger in the District 5 race.

District 5

The district includes Atascadero, Santa Margarita, and portions of Templeton and San Luis Obispo. It has 1,272 more Republicans than Democrats, giving Republican Supervisor Debbie Arnold an edge over her challenger, registered dietitian Ellen Beraud, a Democrat.

The candidates differ on several key issues, including local cannabis regulations and groundwater management. On water management, Beraud supports supervisors Adam Hill and Bruce Gibson’s multiple attempts to privatize the Paso Robles Water Basin. Arnold voted to have the county rather than the larger landowners control the water basin.

“I don’t want large irrigated agricultural investments controlling our groundwater,” Arnold said.

On cannabis, Beraud wants to expand the number of cannabis permits above the current 141 in an attempt to increase cannabis tax revenue.

“Under the incumbent’s leadership, our county’s poorly developed cannabis ordinance and permitting process is resulting in loss of tax revenue and free enterprise, and is even contributing to an increase in black market activity,” Beraud said.

In contrast, Arnold wants to allow a limited number of cannabis cultivation sites in areas that do not negatively impact businesses, tourism and the rights of homeowners.

“I am concerned with bringing in an industry that is incompatible with an existing industry,” Arnold said. “I am taking the neighbors seriously when they say that the use is incompatible with residential uses.”

From Jan. 1 through June 30, Arnold raised $128,044 in total contributions. During the same period, Beraud’s campaign contribution total was $98,293.

Arnold received four contributions of $5,000 each from Teixeira Farms in Santa Maria, developer Gary Grossman, Maureen Cooney Hughes (the wife of billionaire B. Wayne Hughes, Jr.), and the Lincoln Club of San Luis Obispo County (a group that promotes Republican views and candidates).

Arnold also received a $3,000 contribution from the Santa Ynez Band of Mission Indians.

Beraud led with the largest donation of the campaign season, $10,000 from Dick Mazess, a proponent of relaxed marijuana regulations.

Several retirees also donated to Beraud’s campaign. Wate and Johanna Bakker of San Jose donated $5,500, while Ron Tindall of Atascadero donated $5,000.

Union support led to Beraud’s fourth largest donation, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers gave Beraud $3,500.

District 3

The district includes Grover Beach, Pismo Beach and a portion of San Luis Obispo. It has 3,423 more Democrats than Republicans. While there are rumblings a Republican challenger will throw his hat in the ring, with the large number of newly registered Democrat voters in District 3, it is unlikely a Republican could win the election.

From Jan. 1 through June 30, incumbent Supervisor Adam Hill received $80,763 in total contributions.

For more than four years, Hill has been accused of taking bribes and engaging in inappropriately close relationships with marijuana business owners and consultants. Local marijuana kingpin Helios Dayspring and several of his partners are at the center of the controversy.

Shortly after Californians voted for the legalization of recreational marijuana, Hill began courting marijuana growers with promises of success in exchange for money, multiple growers said.

Hill’s largest donors include a partner of Dayspring, a developer and a union. The single largest donor to Hill’s campaign is Susan Wood, who along with her businesses donated $7,000. Wood and Dayspring are partners in a North County marijuana grow.

Several partners and affiliates of Dayspring have helped fund Hill’s campaign. Partner Nick Andre donated $1,500, consultant Jamie Jones and her husband Tom Jones donated $3,550, and Dayspring’s pot shop donated $1,731.

Hill received $5,000 from both developer Nick Thompkins and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. Jerome Lohr Wine, a proponent of the failed Paso Robles water district, donated $3,000.

District 1

The district runs inland from the Monterey County line to Templeton, and has 5,235 more Republicans than Democrats. With less than seven months left before the March 3 primary election, and because of incumbent John Peschong’s sizable war chest, it is unlikely he will face a challenger during this election.

Peschong raised $76,213 in cash donations and non-monetary contributions between Jan. 1 and June 30. In addition, Peschong loaned his campaign $45,000, for a total of $121,213 in campaign funds.

Peschong’s largest financial contributors include politicians and political organizations, garbage and recycling companies, construction companies and farmers.

George and Linda Kardashian, the owners of San Miguel Garbage, donated $2,790, the largest of his campaign.

Peschong also received $2,500 each from Gina Boneso (affiliated with Boneso Brothers Construction), the Lincoln Club of San Luis Obispo County, and the Sacramento-based political campaign for Bob Nelson for Supervisor.

Additionally, Peschong received $1,000 from IMPG, also known as McPhee’s Grill. Owner Ian McPhee is a proponent of regulating cannabis cultivation in residential areas.

Supervisor candidates who receive more than 50 percent of the vote in the March 3 primary will win the election. Races in which no one receives 50 percent of the vote, will end in a November 2020 runoff.