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SLO County Supervisor Bruce Gibson’s hiring of spouse violated state law

December 12, 2025

By KAREN VELIE

Weeks after San Luis Obispo County Supervisor Bruce Gibson hired his wife to work for him as his legislative assistant, on Thursday Cherie Gibson resigned her position and announced she will not collect her pay.

Even though the laws have not changed, in 2019 the Fair Political Practices Commission ruled that a Placer County Board of Supervisors member could not appoint his spouse to head a department because the supervisor had a financial interest in his wife’s income. The FPPC noted that according to law “members of the Legislature, state, county, district, judicial district, and city officers or employees shall not be financially interested in any contract made by them in their official capacity.”

For years, Gibson’s wife worked for him in his office before the supervisor admitted to having an adulterous affair with his then-legislative assistant Cherie Aispuro and announced plans to seek a divorce from his wife.

Because of the scandal, county staff reassigned Cherie Aispuro, who had previously worked in the Clerk-Recorder’s Office, back to her old department at $68,870 in annual salary plus benefits. Her new salary was approximately double what she made previously in the clerk’s office.

After a short period, Gibson quietly moved his girlfriend and later wife back into his office until she retired with a county pension in 2019. Supervisors have the authority to select their legislative assistants, but not to hire members of their household.

Gibson announced earlier this year he would not run for reelection, which prompted his former legislative assistant, Blake Fixler, to take a position with SLO County Human Resources. Gibson then selected his wife and his chosen successor Jim Dantona to share the legislative assistant position.

Dantona plans to begin working in Gibson’s office in January.

Both Dantona and Michael Erin Woody are running for the SLO County District 2 supervisor seat.

“Gibson’s legislative decision to enrich an immediate family member along with a candidate he is supporting to replace him is a clear conflict of interest and violation of ethics and should not stand,” Woody said last week. “Dantona’s decision to support Gibson’s actions that he personally and financially benefits from, demonstrates the moral bankruptcy of Jim Dantona.”

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Where are all our liberal friends to give us some good thought and remarks on their candidate?


They love to post largely on stories where there can attack to support their ideology craziness.


Where is Madam Trask, lostinspace, Amsterdong, Yanny the commi, sezlittle1, and legal1931 to pull for their guy.


Where are our liberal friends to give us some B.S. about “how good of a guy” Bruce has been during his run in local politics. THEY WONT EVEN POST ON THIS STORY BECAUSE THEY KNOW BETTER!!!!!


LMFAO, you libtards know how to pick’em!!!!


18

I did post on this story. I’ve never been a supporter of Gibson. As I commented, his grift is ridiculous, though I did point out that people like you are quick to criticize someone like Gibson, but hail Donald Trump, the biggest grifter in the history of politics, as better than sliced bread.


-21

Sure, we all “believe” you.


I bet you tell everyone you can that “you never supported” Bruce while secretly voting for him every time his name was on the ballot simply because he had a “D” next to his name, the same reason you voted for that imbecile Kamala.


6

I do not support gibson but your negative slang does not help promote dialogue across the political spectrum.


-7

Go hug a tree, Libocrat.


-4

Incorrectly directed at you.


-1

Any good politician knows that laws are for little people, not for them.


34

It’s ok. He can do whatever he wants and get away with it. He’s a liberal. Laws and ethics don’t apply to to Bruce.


21

let’s get to the perp walk, or the frog march, whatever.


this is like being caught shoplifting: the perp immediately offers to pay for the stolen merchandise and be free to leave, but the police will not allow that.


so, why is it that this grifter gets caught breaking state law, and no charges are pressed because his wife resigns.


UNACCEPTABLE


26

I wonder if he could stoop any lower, what a disgrace.


58

I’m always amazed that local conservatives will vehemently speak out against local grift if it involves someone they don’t like but will turn a blind eye to the unprecedented grift going on in Washington D.C. where the president has increased his fortune some $3 billion in the last year alone, been gifted jets, gold, watches, peace medals and any number of other items (like millions into his crypto scam). It all makes Richard Nixon’s “Checkers” speech seem quaint.


But I do appreciate Ms. Velie’s work in revealing Gibson as the worst sort of politician and grifter.


-26

Isn’t this article about a local politician, not Washington, DC?


20

Hmmm…. Trump made his enormous fortune long before running for office, as did Bush and a number of others. They didn’t seek higher office to enrich themselves, but to serve by placing the country back on a course they felt best for American. The Clinton’s, Obama, Biden, and a vast array of leftist politicians can claim the same motives, yet somehow public service increased their wealth by orders of magnitude due to kickbacks, insider trading, and outright bribes.


Indisputable facts that most left voters simply ignore…


4

The ghost of Adam Hill equals Bruce Gibson…..not in a good way.


70

Looking forward to 2 of the biggest crooks to be gone. This guy and Trump.

Both of them have no conscience.


-11

You would have thought Gibson would have known the law, haha, for him laws are something other people have to follow. What about his other recent appointment, that is very questionable too.


80

Which other appointment?


1

Jim Dantona, the guy from Los Angeles who wants the wind farms and battery plants. After Bruce endorsed Dantona, Bruce hired him as his assistant. You can’t make this stuff up.


68

Jim Dantona is an opportunistic carpetbagger from out of the area who has found his small pond, like so many city and county staff and administrators.


25

Dantona’s SLO Chamber of Commerce profile states he worked for 3 LA City Council members. When did he MOVE permanently to the Central Coast (not visit)? Why do we want a politician from LA to be on the SLO County Board of Supervisors?


37

Oh, he absolutely knows the law. He was banking on us not knowing the law.


21

Rules for thee but certainly not me! The Gibson mantra.


23

what he knew, is that he would have no accountability for the crime committed.


can we get a prosecutor who is willing to hold Bruce accountable?


26
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