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Does SLO County candidate Jim Dantona stand with or against big oil?

May 18, 2026

By KAREN VELIE

While many coastal residents are opposed to having hundreds of acres of windmills off the coast of Morro Bay, San Luis Obispo County supervisor candidate Jim Dantona argues wind energy is a non-issue while “big oil” is the bigger threat.

“I’ll fight to protect our coastline from their efforts to dismantle marine sanctuaries, reverse course in fighting climate change, and their efforts to restart offshore oil drilling,” according to Dantona’s campaign website. “I firmly believe that the use of fossil fuels has created a climate crisis. The world is electrifying in response, especially here in California.”

At the same time, Dantona is invested in an oil company and involved with a group that opposes tightening regulations on offshore oil drilling.

In his statement of economic interest, Dantona lists four companies he is currently invested in, including Mach Natural Resources – an “oil and gas company focused on the acquisition, development and production of oil and natural gas.”

“Contrary to prevalent Green initiatives, we believe the use of energy in the form of hydrocarbons is vital to supporting contemporary life and accelerating global development,” according to Mach Natural Resource’s website. “Extensive data often proves that Green methods require greater demand on limited resources yet make a marginal impact.”

For more than four years, Dantona has held senior leadership positions in a regional advocacy organization that actively opposed major environmental and climate legislation in Sacramento. Dantona served as vice chair of the Tri-County Chamber Alliance (TCCA) from 2020 through 2022, as chair in 2023, and as chief financial officer in 2025, according to state records.

In its 2025 legislative platform, TCAA opposed multiple bills aimed at addressing climate change and environmental accountability, including AB 1448 – which would regulate oil and gas development, AB 1243 and SB 684 – both of which would create a climate superfund, SB 222 – which would allow civil legal actions related to climate disaster damages, and AB 303 – which would establish regulations for battery energy storage facilities.

Dantona did not return requests to comment on his affiliations with the oil industry.

As CEO for the SLO Chamber of Commerce, Dantona was a strong supporter of offshore wind energy, battery storage and industrialization. His opponent, Michael Erin Woody, is against wind energy farms off the coast of Morro Bay and industrialization of SLO County ports.

While Dantona contends plans for offshore wind energy are all but over, he has argued that the county needs to focus on stopping offshore oil drilling.

However, in 1986, the voters of SLO County passed Measure A, which prohibits the development of onshore infrastructure to support offshore oil wells. Because of Measure A, there are no oil platforms off the coast of SLO County.

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14 Comments

All you have to do is let a DemoNcrat talk and they will tell you they’re NOT for the good of the American people.


All you have to do is listen. In elementary school, they call that “active listening.”


#Vote4Woody


#VoteRepublican2026


7

I am an independent and think both parties stink.


5

The D’s are good at being chameleons, always changing their colors to gain or maintain power.


3

Danton’s just another political hack, and clearly demonstrates his ability to be a ‘chameleon’ to serve who he’s beholden to; certainly not the people he would represent. Vote 4 Woody!


17

How could Dantona represent the people of District 2 when he has not lived here very long and comes from Los Angeles?


20

Oops ! That old saw of “ Man bad” Climate Alarmism rears its head again.

Even the totally bought off UN has had to admit that all the doom was ‘overstated’.

I love how California politicians won’t let go of that bone. More fees , Cap and Trade, regulations that favor one group at the expense of another.

I guess the faux- crisis is perfect for Nanny control freaks.


28

Dantona criticizes Woody, when in fact, Dantona is making a non-partisan elected position political. Look at all the Democratic politicians publicly supporting Dantona. Look at who is making contributions to Dantona. As an Independent, I’m sick of the partisan politics. I’m sick of carpetbaggers forcing LA visions on us. And most of all, I’m sick of gibson and his chosen minion.


30

It’s blatantly obvious that DemoNcrats cannot be trusted. Every time they open their mouth, a lie or an old skeleton bone spews out.


#Vote4Woody


0

I am an Independent and think neither party can be trusted. It’s time for more viable political parties.


3

You are good!It is true that republicains do not know the difference between their mouth and their ass


-2

So Dantona, who has been demonizing Woody about statements made in 2018 and predominantly taken out of context, we now come to find is invested in an oil and gas company! What? He keeps saying that he’s going to SAVE US from big oil, yet he’s invested and making money on the same. I can’t wait to see if Dantona responds to this and what kind of things he’s going to say to justify the very industry that he says he’s against!


28

Measure A. We were so brave to pass this. “No icky dirty nasty poopy oil rigs off San Luis Obispo County!!”


What they never told you is, after Gaviota, there are no offshore rigs all the way to the Canadian border. Mainly because, the known offshore fields are not worth the trouble to drill and extract.


We spent many thousands of taxpayers dollars, to establish a vote that meant nothing, did nothing, and will do nothing.


7

Bruce Gibson redux.


8

If you drive a car… heat your home… buy food from stores… and use electricity… guess what… you are big oil… we are all big oil… stop with the bumper sticker tags….


39