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Adam Verdin leads in race for SLO County supervisor campaign contributions

February 5, 2026

By KAREN VELIE

With two San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisor seats up for grabs, the four candidates running are raking in cash, collecting endorsements and fervently campaigning.

Campaign finance reports show Adam Verdin outpacing the other three candidates. Verdin raised $164,490 in cash and a loan during the second half of 2025 while his opponent for the District 4 seat, incumbent supervisor Jimmy Paulding, raised $144,344 in monetary and non-monetary donations.

District 2

For nearly 20 years, Supervisor Bruce Gibson held the District 2 supervisor seat, but he is not running for reelection. Two of the top issues in District 2 are a push for wind energy farms off the coast of Morro Bay and a proposed battery storage facility on the coastline.

The district runs along the coast from San Simeon to Los Osos and includes a portion of San Luis Obispo. It has 7,542 more Democrats than Republicans, which would appear to give Jim Dantona, a Democrat, an advantage.

However, Michael Erin Woody, a licensed civil engineer and Salinan Indian tribal council member, has voiced opposition to the proposed offshore wind energy fields  and battery storage facility – a top issue with many residents. He is registered as declined to state.

As the former head of the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce, Dantona was a strong supporter of off-shore wind energy and battery storage.

Dantona raised $56,630 in cash donations. His top donors include $5,900 from Patrick Arnold, $5,000 from the IBEW Education Fund, $2,500 from the San Luis Obispo Cattleman’s Political Action Committee and $2,500 form Strategic Communications in Manhattan Beach.

Woody raised $37,550 with $35,000 from a loan he made to his campaign. His donors were primarily tied to a group of people wanting to stop plans to industrialize Port San Luis and and parts of Morro Bay.

District 4

District 4, which includes Nipomo, Arroyo Grande and Oceano, has 1,235 more Republicans than Democrats giving Verdin, a registered Republican, an advantage over Paulding, a registered Democratic.

Verdin is a local businessman, pilot, attorney and community leader. He is focused on keeping our communities safe, prosperous, and affordable.

Verdin raised $164,490 in cash and a loan of $15,000. Verdin’s top donors include $11,800 from Covelop Inc., $5,900 from Steven Hollister, $5,200 from attorney Paul Ready and $5,000 from Charles Bell.

Paulding won his District 4 seat in 2024. Paulding primarily votes in lockstep with Supervisor Gibson. His support of a battery storage plant in Nipomo is likely to be a key issue in the race.

Paulding raised $144,344 in monetary and non-monetary donations between July 1, 2025 and Jan. 31, 2025. His top donors were primarily unions including $5,000 from the Central Coast Construction Trades, $4,000 from Southern California Trade Council and $4,000 from the Plumbers and Steamfitters Union.

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Adam has got my vote. He is a born and bred local who cares about our community. while Paulding has proven himself to be a liar and scammer.


0

When Paulding ran the first time, and lost, he told me in person that while he was registered a Democrat, he was a Republican first and came from a Republican family. He specifically said that he was not party oriented, but instead community and policy based on all decisions. He won the second time and voted down the line progressive/Hill/Gibson ever since. He is a liar.


5

Let’s not vote for Verdin. He’s a lawyer and will turn Oceano into Newport Beach at the first opportunity.


-37

He’s a multi-generational resident, business owner, involved community member and taxpayer.


What have YOU done to raise up your community?


39

Well, one thing I wasn’t born into was having a silver spoon in mouth nor parents that owned a lucrative restaurant. He was just given advantages many of us weren’t.


I say again, if you enjoy Oceano, do not vote for this man. He’ll bulldoze all the shacks and replace them with condos only the well-to-do can afford.


Most of his supporters are Oceano property owners who literally want the same thing he does i.e. to turn Oceano into Newport Beach so their property values go up.


No of you care about Oceano, what you do care about is money.


-23

Your lack of opportunities brought a tear to my eye you poor thing.


13

Triggered?


-11

Wasn’t it Jimmy Paulding who secretly tried to start the process of Oceano going away, to be absorbed into Grover Beach?


16

Did everyone else hear, “REEEEEEEEE!,” while reading his prose like I just did?


#1 – That is mighty Anglo Liberal racist of you to spout your blatant racism about an immigrant family that did well for themselves and their family for generations. Mr. Champion of ILLEGAL INVADERS in 2026.

DERP!


#2- Adam Verdin for Dist 4 Supervisor, is NOT running on your made up feelings campaign that is bouncing around in that hollow head of yours.


This is his actual campaign words that any and all wanton his long time district can hold him to account on…


Dear Neighbor,

I have lived on the Central Coast my entire life. I grew up in Oceano, working at my family’s restaurant Old Juan’s Cantina, which we continue to own and operate to this day.


I am running for San Luis Obispo County Supervisor because I love this community and want to do everything we can to keep it safe, prosperous, and affordable for future generations. I believe we need local leaders who truly understand our community and will work tirelessly to improve it. We face real challenges—affordability, infrastructure, public safety and homelessness—but with focused, experienced leadership, we can secure a bright future for everyone who calls this place home.


I look forward to sharing more and earning your vote.


Sincerely,

Adam Verdin


—This N County American Patriot asks that all of you Dist. 4 Patriots “VOTE FOR ADAM VERDIN” to take back OUR SLO Cty BOS


#NEVERVoteDemoNcratAgain


8

You are aware Jimmy Paulding has a law degree……


12

Cognitive dissonance is at epidemic levels for DemoNcrats from sea to shining sea.


2

Being a resident of District 2 I am thrilled that Gibson will be gone, as to his replacement I will vote for whoever comes out against that damn battery storage place! We need zoning that says they can’t build one withing 5 miles of any residence or water source.


14

If Paul Ready supports Verdin, I’m in!!!


13

It used to be that members of the Board were non-partisan and their political registration was never mentioned. Like my friend Paul Teixeira, who represented the 2nd district some years ago, they were simply dedicated to community service. Paul served on a variety of public boards and commissions because he was dedicated to his community. He was a Republican, but that never came up because he was elected for his stance on the issues.


Unfortunately, citizen-politicians such as Paul are nowhere to be found. Now we look at whether they put a D or R next to their name before voting for them. We no longer study the issues, but go with the candidate who is best for our area. That has been exacerbated in recent years by partisan hacks such as Bruce Gibson and Dan Dow who wear their Woke or MAGA credentials on their sleeves and are quick to insert controversial national squabbles into our local area. I wish the media didn’t even mention those affiliations and we go back to judging the candidate on their merits, rather than whether he or she watches Fox News or MSNBC.


16

Jimmy Paulding ran in the coat-tails of Adam Hill his first time running for office. He wants to be a career politician, in it for all of the wrong reasons. He is influenced by his donors, not looking out for the citizens. He’s had his fun, time to elect someone who will work for the people, Adam Verdin for District 4 Supervisor!


77

When Jimmy Paulding was running for one of his first offices I attended a event he had at a local park, one of his first statements was that government needs to figure out how to bring in more revenue, also known as tax increases, that told me everything I needed to know about him. He hasn’t changed from day one.


56

Adam Verdin for District 4 Supervisor.


#NEVERPaulding


Take back OUR BOS!


63

Woody needs to attract some donors. It doesn’t look good when 90% of his funding comes from him personally.


41