San Luis Obispo Business
March, 2000

Candidates face tough Chamber questions

Editor's Note: The Chamber asked four questions of the District 3 supervisorial candidates and District 5 supervisorial candidates. Their answers have been published unedited (except for spelling).

Briefly tell us why you feel qualified to hold this office.

District 3

Antonia Hampton I've been a resident of San Luis Obispo County for over 24 years. I currently work for the San Luis Obispo County Probation Department as a division manager. I have a B.S. in Organizational Behavior from the University of San Francisco and an M.A. in Organizational Behavior from Antioch University.

After many years of public service and as a volunteer for many community service organizations, I believe that I have gained the experience necessary to adequately serve you on the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors. As your supervisor, I would dedicate myself towards working on developing partnerships between the Board, the cities, and the community to address issues and concerns.

Peg Pinard Serving as the current Chairman of the County Board of Supervisors and as a former San Luis Obispo Mayor and City Council member, I am the only candidate for the third district supervisorial district with experience in elected public office.

District 5

David Blakely Eight years as Supervisor, 12 years teaching junior high school, and thousands of volunteer hours with many organizations give me the leadership skills and expertise to serve as Supervisor. More importantly, my open collaborative approach is key to working closely with the community to reach consensus and solve problems.

Mike Ryan San Luis Obispo County has been my home for almost my entire life. I know the people and the communities very well. My family instilled me with the desire to give back through public service. As a result, I have been on the Atascadero Unified School District Board, I was President of the San Luis Obispo County Farm Bureau and now I am a County Supervisor. My experience and knowledge of San Luis Obispo County makes me qualified to be the Fifth District Supervisor.

The Chamber has long advocated a policy of compact urban form, where increased development would occur within the City's urban reserve line and open space between cities would be protected from development. How will your personal land-use views impact this goal?

District 3

Hampton: Because of property rights, property needs to be developed according to the zoning in the jurisdiction in which the property exists. Much of the zoning in the county has existed since the 1970s and earlier. I do believe that cities and counties can work together on compatibility issues, through the development of new land use policies. In addition, another way to deter development and not infringe on property rights would be to buy the property.

Pinard: I have worked for the Chamber's goal of creating compact urban form within the urban reserve line and protected open space between cities. To that goal, as Mayor, I facilitated the major expansion of both Scolari's and the Downtown Center within the city, and they were finished in record time. I also created the very successful Business Roundtables which brought together department heads and business owners, and helped local business owners expand. Business owners identified areas in which the city could improve and many improvements were made as a result. The effective work which has been done to protect open space around the city under the Natural Resources manager, was also initiated when I was Mayor.

District 5

Blakely: This view is entirely consistent with my 8-year voting record as Supervisor. I have been an advocate of progressive urban planning since before they coined the phrase "Smart Growth." Studies have proved repeatedly that this model fosters stronger economies and maintains a higher quality of life for residents. I will work with the City to keep our county's communities healthy and distinct not only on a project-by-project basis, but also by implementing programs and policies that will help the city and the Chamber to meet their long term goals.

Ryan: We should look to encourage development within the urban reserve line when it is possible. We must also respect the rights of landowners to develop their property as allowed through our zoning laws. Open Space is a precious resource and should be protected, but we must also balance the rights of our property owners.

In general, when a City turns down a development proposal in its sphere of influence, but outside its City limits, should the County be bound by the decision of the City? Why or why not?

District 3

Hampton: Each project has to be reviewed on it's own merits and according to the law provides to property owners. However, again I would like to reiterate that cities and the county can work together to define and achieve their goals. It is imperative to plan ahead so that we do not infringe on property rights.

Pinard: If the County ignores the wishes of the cities within the county to plan for their spheres of influence, and instead approves the development just outside each city's border over the objection of each city, by definition there will be no compact urban form with protected open space between cities. I believe that the County must honor the wishes of the Cities. It is the only way that the Chamber's goal of compact urban form with protected open space between cities will become a reality.

District 5

Blakely: It's not a case of being ‘bound' by the city's decision, but rather respecting the city's role in the process and understanding the underlying principles of good planning. Land which is suitable to support large developments within the city's sphere of influence should first be annexed by the city so that it can provide basic health and public services. To allow major development on the city's fringe is not only bad planning, it does nothing to foster the kind of cooperative relationships between the city and county officials which is so important for future decision making. The County must respect the City's goals. As a matter of fact, I believe the County should assist the city in meeting its needs.

Ryan: The County is a regional planning body that must look at the issues on a regional basis. As a result, the County cannot always abide by the decisions made by the city. When these developments occur around the sphere of influence of cities, it is important that there be cooperation and collaboration. An example of this can be seen in the San Luis Obispo County Airport area. The County approves development within this area and then works cooperatively with the City to bring about a smooth annexation of that development. We have worked well with the city in the past on the majority of these issues, and I look forward to working with the City on similar issues in the future.

As the County is currently districted, San Luis Obispo has a minority of the vote of four supervisors. Do you think this is fair, and why? If not, how would you make redistricting more fair?

District 3

Hampton: Redistricting occurs every ten years according to the Federal Census. I would like to suggest that we convene community meetings on the subject and encourage public input, or have an independent committee make a recommendation to the Supervisors. If the city wants to limit the number of Supervisors in the city I could work toward that end. I do believe, however, that most cities do not want to split representation. Thank you for your consideration on March 7th, I look forward to serving you. Please feel free to contact me at (805) 474-0779 or send an e-mail to aham0779@aol.com.

Pinard:

The result of previously "gerrymandering" the largest city in the county among four separate supervisorial districts, is the under-representation of the city's almost 55,000 residents. It is not fair. The only way to make it fair is to redistrict so that the city residents are proportionately more fairly represented in fewer districts.

District 5

Blakely: Given the population distribution of the county and the fact that the City of San Luis Obispo is the largest population center in the county, I feel that the city will need to be represented by at least two Supervisors. It is important not to gerrymander the Supervisorial districts and respect the uniqueness of our communities. I will work with the Chamber and the City of San Luis Obispo to institute a fair and reasonable redistricting plan which give a majority vote to the residents of the City of San Luis Obispo.

Ryan: The City of San Luis Obispo would be better served by two supervisorial districts that have the same regional constituency and shared needs. Most of the cities within the county fall almost completely within their own district. Because of the County population distribution, it would be difficult for San Luis Obispo to have one Supervisor. However, having tow Supervisors would allow San Luis Obispo to have a stronger voice in the election process.

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