Front Page  »  

SLO County woman accused of election fraud blames complicated rules

September 6, 2026

By KAREN VELIE

The San Luis Obispo County woman on trial for election fraud told the jury last week that she did not know about campaign regulations when she ran for office. Charged with eight felonies and one misdemeanor, Powell said that she thought she was complying with the law.

In his opening statement, Deputy District Attorney Ben Blumenthal explained to the jury the laws Powell allegedly broke. He described Powell as a candidate who decided the laws did not apply to her.

Powell is facing charges she registered to vote at an address on James Way in Arroyo Grande where she did not live in violation of election laws. Powell argued she had two residences, which gave her the right to chose which one was her primary address.

While Powell claims she had two residences, the landlords at both properties have testified one was a residence and the other an office.

Her landlord at a property on Heritage Lane where Powell has lived in an accessory dwelling unit for seven years, Carolyn Moffatt, said she warned Powell that she was required to live in the City of Arroyo Grande in order to run for the mayor seat. Powell responded saying an attorney had advised her that she was allowed to register at her office on James Way, Moffatt testified.

The trial is scheduled to resume Tuesday afternoon.

 


Loading...
Related:


10 Comments

Again, if she had a voter’s card she could be vetted for here candidate card.


-3

Oh, boo hoo, poor Ms. Powell, who wanted to bring ‘election integrity’ to the city council and also to SLO county clerk-recorder. She has been trying to deny that laws apply to her for years. Hopefully this time the law has caught up to her. I don’t want to wish her ill-will, but her lying and being a boom box for MAGA needs to stop. Her AG campaigns were filled with lies and deceits as well as her campaign for SLO County clerk-recorder. Now the truth will finally come out.


4

Can’t understand the rules that are in place. She’s perfect for gov’t leadership. All the way to Washington with her!


8

Not uncommon to go into any government office on multiple days and talk to different people and get different answers to the same question. Government rules and policies are written to allow those in power to get the answer they want and should their position change they then can use the same rules and policies to get the new answer they want. Government writes things this way on purpose, in part because it allows for plausible deniabillity if a problem arises.


-14

But the rules for eligibility are clear, and easily found.


It took me 20 seconds, and that included downloading the PDF of rules!


https://arroyogrande.org/157/Elections


17

Yes. Who could have known that you have to live in the district you represent?


5

Apparently Alan Settle


1

Pelosi, Waters, etc…


1

Allegedly.


1

For starters, several elected California Congressman.


2