Bausch deserves our respect, reelection to the Paso Robles City Council

October 13, 2026

OPINION by RON CUFF

Naval aviators say, “You know you are over the target when you start taking fire.”

My first Navy assignment was with an all weather attack squadron, the VA-95 “Green Lizards,” flying the Grumman A-6 “Intruder” aboard the USS Coral Sea. All weather meant… all weather. Therefore, Intruder pilots frequently couldn’t see the target, and didn’t always know exactly when they were over the target… until they started taking fire.

Paso Robles Councilman Chris Bausch wasn’t a Naval Aviator, but as a local elected official on both Paso Robles Joint Unified School District Board and City Council, he has taken a lot of fire. Is it because he has frequently been over the target?

Last June, the San Luis Obispo Tribune, a struggling left leaning legacy media outlet, announced that it would not endorse local candidates. Ironically, the Tribune decided last week to editorially attack Bausch’s candidacy. Interesting.

Unfortunately, most local elected officials are “rubber stampers” of the ideas and plans that their staffs present. Fortunately, Chris Bausch is not a “rubber stamper.” He asks a lot of questions. Smart questions can make certain public employees very uncomfortable.

I’ve had the pleasure of meeting many rank and file Paso Robles city employees, and they are stellar. However, until recently, their managers have not been quite as stellar.

For example, a former city manager strongly supported the paid downtown parking scheme. When things didn’t go his way, he sued the city (taxpayers) for $2,275,000. His claim of a “hostile workplace,” which arguably he was in charge of, was never litigated or proven, yet he received a settlement of $365,954 on his way out the door.

The former city manager’s nemesis, Chris Bausch, whom he accused of “conspiring” against him, was one of only two council members who consistently refused to support the paid downtown parking scheme.

Because Councilman Bausch had the temerity to call out a really bad idea, he took fire from the San Luis Obispo Tribune. Mr. Bausch was definitely over the target.

Acknowledging that Chris Bausch is 100% human with faults like all of us, he deserves respect for his service to the community, our gratitude, and reelection to the Paso Robles City Council.