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Hardest fought San Luis Obispo County political duels

May 30, 2026

Stew Jenkins

OPINION by STEW JENKINS

The two hardest fought local political duels for this Tuesday’s Election Day are San Luis Obispo County’s 2nd and 4th supervisorial contests.

From the northwest neighborhoods of San Luis Obispo, up the coast past Cambria to Ragged Point, Michael Erin Woody and Jim Dantona have been pitching their competing visions on wind energy, battery storage, permitting and priorities.

In Oceano, Arroyo Grande and Nipomo out along the Santa Maria River to Kern County, lawyer and incumbent Jimmy Paulding has been defending his seat from Adam Verdin, owner of Old Juan’s Cantina.

I have naturally invited all four to come on my K-NEWS, FM 98.5, show “SLO County Public Policy & The Law,” so all could face questions about their background, character, vision and priorities for the county. Mr. Paulding and Mr. Dantona each avoided coming on the show.

Mr. Woody and Mr. Verdin both came to face questions and explain what they want to do for you.

I thought the broad number of K-NEWS listeners ought to have a chance to listen to all four, on an equal footing. As a Farm Bureau member, I knew that all four did participate in a recorded Farm Bureau candidates forum that only a few county residents had a chance to attend.

So, with the help of Farm Bureau Executive Director Paul Clark, this weekend, SLO County Public Policy & The Law is broadcasting what will surely be the last ssupervisor candidates forum available for voters to weigh whether a candidate actually recognized a problem, and whether a candidate trotted out a realistic or fantastical remedy.

Importantly, the forum gives voters the ability to evaluate whether a candidate’s answers were smarmy, self-aggrandizing, or direct and substantive.

To catch the broadcast, tune your FM radio to 98.5 at 3 p.m. this Sunday. Folks with a smart phone or a computer can log on here to play the live streamed show at 3 p.m. this Sunday. Some folks no longer have radios, and the strong K-NEWS signal gets spotty among hills and canyons some places on the coast near Cayucos and out on the road to Hausna.

This year’s primary ballot is long.  If you live in District 2, or in District 4, after hearing the candidates, make your choice known by voting for supervisor.

Stew Jenkins is an Attorney in San Luis Obispo who has been appointed repeatedly by the Superior Court as Special Master. He provides customized estate plans for client and represents owners of commercial, industrial and farming property. His phone number is (805) 541-5763. He is the host of the weekend radio talk show, SLO County Public Policy and the Law, K-NEWS, FM 98.5.

 


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13 Comments

These economic hard times are a challenge for pollical beliefs, setting fiscal priorities to fund agreed unmet needs will have to be funded first, before welfare. Too many are becoming entitled to free money or better stated, your money.


2

I voted for Paulding and Dantona.

If you dig deep into Woody and Verdin big money supporters you realize that both of them are puppets!. The idea is to use a candidate( i still salute their willingness) , bring a lot of money and make him elected to promote ideas and agendas.

When you speak with Verdin and woody you know that they do not have the bagage to be a supervisor. they are just opportunists.

Paulding is AG, his family is from there , he goes have a coffee, people recognize him . Speak with him, and you see that he is passionate with his job.


-27

“They do not have the baggage to be a supervisor”.





That, pretty much sums up the democrat party. If you don’t have a highly questionable, and non-transparent background, we don’t want you in our party.


5

I think that sums up BOTH parties. Honestly. That is why NPP is the fastest growing designation in the country. I have been one all my life. I don’t have to overlook the flaws in any candidate. C’mon over, the water’s fine!


1

So you say Paulding is AG but he must not be “city of AG” since he just caused those residents to pay off his 4.5 million dollar lawsuit over Lopez water where his wife is associated with the other party of the lawsuit, thanks but no thanks Mr. Paulding.


11

Perhaps by “baggage” you may have meant experience, familiarity with the unique characteristics of the district in question and education in relevant fields to address those issues that relate to the position being sought. In that case, if so, I am astounded that you would find Michael Erin Woody to be wanting.


First of all, he is a Salinan Native from Torro Creek. So, quite the definition of “native son”. Literally. He is running against a carpetbagger who has been in our area a very short time.


He has his own civil engineering firm, that he has run successfully for 25 years. So, very experienced in the areas where we most need help. We have engineering problems that have been unaddressed, or improperly and very expensively, for over 50 years. His degree is from Fresno State. Whilst living in Fresno, he served in several responsible positions in local government.


And then there is the Masters in Public Administration from Harvard. You may have heard of that institution. He is not only equipped to evaluate projects for their effectiveness and cost, he is also much more capable of carrrying through those that make the grade.


If you made your evaluation by “talking” to the candidates, I would suggest that next time, you should be more prepared to listen to the answers. Since Mr. Woody has no party affiliation, he has no organization whose agenda he must adhere to but the people he is elected to serve and the world class environment he is passionate about protecting from the totally inappropriate development actively promoted by his opponent until just last year, when Dantona was appointed by his party to run.


5

I do believe Franny is coming ’round to reality!


Well said, Ma’am!


4

“Puppets…opportunists…”


What a silly thing to say. I’m in Woody’s district, I have met the man and discussed issues, he is no opportunist and the farthest thing from a puppet.


3

You voted for both Paulding *and* Dantona? I believe you may have committed voter fraud…


3

I wish there were more Stew Jenkins around and involved in local politics. Can we clone you?

You show that serving your community takes many forms.


11

#SaveSLOCounty


#Vote4AdamVerdin

#Vote4Woody

#Vote4VanessaRozo


19

I don’t think SLO county needs “saving”, if thats their association, it becomes pretty clear who not to vote for.


0

Perhaps it would be just a bit wiser to be less reactionary and actually look into what candidates have to say for themselves. I would suggest http://www.woodyforsupervisor.com for starters


2