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Insiders bet on Lichtig for harbor commissioner. Did it pay off?

December 1, 2024

By KAREN VELIE

A group of political insiders poured over $20,000 into the Port San Luis Harbor District commissioner race, all backing former San Luis Obispo City Manager Katie Lichtig and a plan to industrialize the harbor.

One of the most controversial issues in San Luis Obispo County is a plan to transform Port San Luis in rural Avila Beach into an industrial port to support the offshore wind industry. The wind energy support systems will include massive piers, which will have significant impacts on the local economy and its ocean-dependent ecosystems.

Plans to transform Port San Luis into an industrial port moved forward on July 23 with the board voting 3-2 to allow Clean Energy Terminals to lease 10 acres of the tidelands. The company plans to pay $25,000 for the first six months as it evaluates the area for support of off-shore wind energy farms planned off Morro Bay.

However, in order to proceed with the project, Clean Energy Terminals will need a separate approval from the San Luis Harbor District Board. With Commissioner Jim Blecha electing not to run for reelection, his seat is now the swing vote.

Lichtig and retired commercial fisherman Richard Scangarello threw their hats into the ring. Scangarello was openly opposed to industrializing the port.

And even though Lichtig did not disclose her view on industrialization, her endorsement list includes the who’s who of local wind energy and its affiliated infrastructure supporters. Endorsers include, State Assemblywoman Dawn Addis, SLO County supervisors Dawn Ortiz-Legg, Bruce Gibson and Jimmy Paulding, and the three members of the harbor commission who voted to lease the tidelands.

While Scangarello chose not to seek money, Lichtig raised over $20,000 from a group of largely political insiders. Donations included $950 from attorney Don Ernst, $900 from attorney Ray Mattison, $950 from Colleen Mattison, $500 from James Mattison and $250 from former SLO County Supervisor Adam Hill’s administrative assistant Susan Devine.

Former and current elected officials who donated to Lichtig include, SLO City Council member Jan Marx and Andy Pease; former SLO City Councilwoman Carlyn Christianson, and former Morro Bay Mayor Jamie Irons.

Scangarello won the seat with over 60% of the votes, crushing Lichtig’s hopes.

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Yes voters have spoken and now we have three special interest commissioners on the Board. I support commercial fishing, having been one in my youth. With a five member elected board/agency it is best to have diversification of officals, not all from same mind set.

The commission has not approved any wind industrial project but approved a detailed study to identify the potiential effects of such a project. They want to gather more details so a decision can be better made. That is what a good governerning body does.

I myself would not like to see this proposed project in the Port. But would have liked a new commissioner with public agency experience. Intentional ignorence virus is alive and well. Sad, really!


-7

Neptune! Welcome to the conversation…

I respectfully submit that many of us have watched as the table is set for the wind /battery projects, while we are told that “..no decision has been made yet” or that officials need to “gather more information” .

Sadly , we have for countless times in our collective experience, witnessed those in power do what they want to serve their own interests. We have been told “ Don’t believe your lying eyes” so many times.

This is starting to look like one of those times.

Is that the “Intentional Ignorance Virus” that you speak of in your comment?


5

So you must also agree that Sacremento is a problem, with all three, the assembly, senate and governor all from the same party and mindset?


4

Her inability to provide a position on offhsore wind and/or industrialization of ports/harbors in SLO county is pretty telling. Join that together with her list of pro-wind supporters and members of the adam hill gang and then topping it off with remembering this gem, https://calcoastnews.com/2017/04/lichtig-olson-fined-sexist-firefighters-video/ , its safe to say that Port San Luis and their constituents got an early holiday gift or at the very least dodged a harpoon!


20

Thanks to the discerning voters for not buying the favored Progressive’s endorsed candidates in our latest election. The list of contributors to Lichtig candidate is the “who’s who” of those who have given us Bruce Gibson, Dawn Ortiz-Legg, Jimmy Paulding, the San Luis Obispo City Council, and the two members of the Harbor Commission who voted to turn a pristine Avila Beach into a heavy industrial harbor.


This was a well-deserved defeat of those who want to rule the roost in this county. Hopefully, it’s the beginning of the end of these woke exploiters who would destroy our county and nobody deesrves it more.


48

Doesn’t matter anymore. Trump is anti-wind power. This project is DOA.


32

Can someone tell Katie Lichtig to just take her $200,000+ pension and go away.


42

I’m grateful for a very intelligent electorate. Way to go voters!


50

So disappointing! Looks like the fix is in…In for the most preposterous,ridiculous method of creating energy ever imagined. A big corporation promises to pay for “unfunded repairs” and unaddressed maintenance etc. if it can nose it’s way into our world. My favorite aspect to this caper is the State and Caltrans madly spending 10s of millions on a roundabout at 101 and Avila rd to facilitate the movement of windmill components via truck . All while the highway itself is in bad shape. State reps already using tax dollars to fund Big wind.

So sad that the members of one bunch will go for anything if it has the “Green “ label.

P.S. the Coastal Commission will go after people in Shell for trying to defend their property from erosion, but I’ll bet they “Green” light this massive eyesore. I can smell the $$ from here. What irony.


42

Over 60% of the voters sent a message that they don’t want their pristine harbor and coastline destroyed by a bunch of money hungry carpetbaggers.


62

I know Katie, I remember her doing the Dance of the Seven Veils every time she addressed City staff. She’d speak for ten minutes and never actually answer a question. If she wanted this post, it was only for some ulterior motive. I didn’t know she’d even come back, I thought she would stay down South. At any rate, she’ll be back like a well-coiffed little Terminator….


61