San Luis Obispo County election night coverage 2024

November 5, 2024

By KAREN VELIE

One of most stressful election cycles in San Luis Obispo County is drawing to a close. There are controversial measures in Morro Bay and Grover Beach, four cities want to increase their sales tax, and there are more than a dozen city council seats up for grabs.

Who will have a reason to celebrate tonight and who will be drinking away their sorrows?

CalCoastNews will have live updates on the results of local races starting shortly after the polls close at 8 p.m.

12:40

While the leaders in most of the local races remain unchanged, the three candidates for the two seats on the Atascadero City Council have swapped places, though the race remains close with 43% of ballots counted.

• Seth Peek 34.01%
• Mark Dariz 33.85%
• Tori Keen 32.11%

10:15

The San Luis Obispo Clerk-Recorder released an update, but it appears to show no changes in local races.

9:17

Morro Bay residents opposed to the industrialization of the Morro Bay waterfront are winning on Measure A-24 with a nearly 10% lead. Even so, Vistra Energy, the company behind the proposed battery storage facility, has decided to seek state approval while bypassing the city’s consideration.

9:04

In a stunning blow to Charles Varni’s only endorser SLO County Supervisor Jimmy Paulding, Varni is currently losing his seat on the Oceano Community Service District Board to Shirley Gibson. Linda Austin has won her seat with nearly 80% of the vote.

8:52

Former SLO City Manager Katie Lichtig is not doing well tonight. In the battle over industrializing Port San Luis, the race for Port San Luis Harbor District Division 2 will be the deciding vote with Lichtig in favor of industrialization and local fisherman Richard Scangarello opposed .

• Richard Scangarello 59.54%
• Katie Lichtig 40.46%

8:20 p.m. – initial election night results

The Arroyo Grande mayor race is a runaway election for the incumbent.

• Caren Ray Russum 67.07%
• Gaea Powell 32.93%

The Arroyo Grande City Council District 3 race is likely over.

• Jamie Maraviglia 59.76%
• Marlea Harmon 40.24%

The Atascadero City Council race is way to close to call with all three candidates neck and neck.

Just days before the election the Tribune printed a hit piece on Debbie Peterson after endorsing her opponent Kassi Dee. Dee currently leads with Peterson close behind.

• Kassi Dee 41.17%
• Debbie Peterson 39.12%
• Robert Robert 19.71%

The recall of Daniel Rushing is currently winning by almost 10%. The two candidates for district 3 are neck and neck in the race.

Bucking the trend, the leader of the Paso Robles City Council District 1 seat is not the one who raised the most money, Sharon Roden raised $29,944.

• Kris Beal 42.65%
• Sharon Roden 41.38%
• Linda George 15.97%

In the highly contested Paso Robles District 3 race, the leader is the candidate who raise the most money countywide – Steve Gregory collected $37,115.

• Steve Gregory 42.65%
• Michael Rivera 33%
• Jeff Carr 21.91%

In Pismo Beach it is a night for incumbents. Mayor Ed Waage and councilmembers Scott Newton and Marcia Guthrie have comfortable leads.

San Luis Obispo Mayor Erica Stewart won her election.

There are four candidates running for two seats on the San Luis Obispo City Council and again they are leading according to who raised the most money.

• Jan Marx 40.27%
• Mike Boswell 34.25%
• John Drake 16.06%
• Felicia Lewis 9.43%