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SLO County Supervisor Bruce Gibson accused of misusing public resources

January 8, 2022

Supervisor Bruce Gibson

By KAREN VELIE

San Luis Obispo County Supervisor Bruce Gibson is holding office hours in Debbie Arnold’s district in a county building after canceling constituent meetings in his own district because of the pandemic. This action spurred allegations Gibson violated rules against using taxpayer resources to support his campaign.

After Gibson lost his battle to keep Atascadero out of District 2, he announced plans to begin holding office hours at the Atascadero public library in an attempt to “learn about what local and countywide issues are important to them.” With his Administrative Assistant Blake Fixler taking notes, on Thursday afternoon Gibson met in a district he will not lead until 2023, if he wins the next election.

Concerned that Gibson could be violating rules regarding a candidate’s use of taxpayer resources, activist Julie Tacker attended the Atascadero office hours.

“Bruce said, ‘I am campaigning and I am running and I need to get to know the people and the issues in Atascadero,’ ” Tacker said.

Government officials cannot use taxpayer resources to support their candidacy, according to the California Attorney General’s Office. Gibson is holding meetings with prospective voters in a county building with a county employee assisting, Tacker said.

State laws allow candidates to meet with prospective voters as long as they do not use public resources such as a county paid employee and a county building.

Tacker plans to file complaints with both the Fair Political Practices Commission and the SLO County District Attorney’s Office.

More than a year ago, Gibson canceled his monthly office hours in Los Osos, Cambria and Cayucos because of the pandemic, according to the county website. Under a notice that the closures in his own district will continue “until further notice,” Gibson announced he is holding office hours at the Atascadero Library on the first and third Thursdays of the month from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Gibson did not respond to questions about the alleged misuse of public resources.


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They’re selling just like some financial folks so maybe he should rent a space and serve dinner similar to those seminars….


-1

I’ve been tempted by the free Madonna Inn free dinner offers I have received since I became a family trustee. But under the terms of the trust I cannot invest in crap like that.


-1

Whaaaaat? My goodness.


-2

Why am I not surprised that Gibson would do this as an act of desperation to find someone to like him in an unsympathetic part of his new district? After being heard to say the “I don’t want to represent a more conservative Atascadero” during the redistricting debates, it will be interesting to see how this plays out…


21

Whoopsie Bruce made a mistake and Julie caught him at it, wonder if he even knew if it was a rule violation?

Bruce is actually a good guy with integrity, you can find fault in his politics and policies but no reason to assault his character!!

I don’t agree with him politicly and I don’t think the citizens of the North County are going to either!!

His safe Adam Hill aligned district is gone, probably him too!!

Of course Adam was reelected in the last election so maybe Bruce will moderate his positions, I doubt it though!!!


-17

We don’t assault his lack of integrity and character; his own actions do. We just point it out and the double standards that go with it from his supporter’s.


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