As Election Day nears, sitting Paso Robles City Councilmember Chris Bausch endorsed two candidates, Linda George and Michael Rivera—both of whom have had previous conflicts with City Manager Ty Lewis.
“We all met happenstance, and we all happenstance have the same nemesis,” George said of herself, Rivera, and Bausch.
In a letter Bausch submitted to New Times, he wrote, “After being on the City Council for two years, I don’t see the current council as having the ability to differentiate spending on substance over style. For this reason, the time for change is well past due.”
He declined to provide any further comment, referring New Times to the letter instead.
Bausch served on the Paso Robles Joint Unified School District board for 10 years before being appointed to the City Council in 2022. He wrote that both George, running in the 1st District, and Rivera in the 3rd District, will prioritize local citizens, drivable roads, and fiscal responsibility.
George also said she decided to run for City Council to be a voice against City Manager Lewis, the former police chief who was hired as city manager in 2021 and has been on medical leave since August.
George said she has openly disapproved of Lewis’s leadership since he was hired and found him aggressive amid Rivera’s allegation of a physical altercation allegation and a recent complaint Lewis filed against Bausch. In the complaint obtained by New Times, Lewis claims that a Bausch has created a hostile work environment.
George told New Times that Bausch supports her campaign because he’s seen her consistently bring information to council meetings.
Despite their interactions at council meetings, George said the two haven’t had much one-on-one interaction up until the past weeks.
“He’s just been a professional support. He sees something in me. OK, that’s what it is. They see things that I could counsel well, and so do Mr. Rivera and other people,” she said. “So [Bausch is] a really good support. I think he’s just a really good person. He likes to encourage people who can do things—I think because I’ve been involved the entire time.”
Rivera told New Times via email that he appreciates Bausch’s endorsement but declined to comment any further.
At a Sept. 26 candidate forum hosted by the Paso Robles and Templeton Chamber of Commerce, Rivera said that he was passionate about the place he lives.
“We’re leaving this to our children, to our grandchildren, and we need to ensure that we’re doing everything in our power to lead a good quality of life for each one of them,” he said. “You know, my passion? People mistake my passion for other things.”
Rivera unsuccessfully ran for mayor of Paso Robles in 2022 and tried but failed to get appointed as mayor in 2023 after former Mayor Steve Martin’s death. Later in 2023, Rivera accused City Manager Lewis of inflicting physical harm after removing Rivera from a Homeless Strategic Plan Working Group meeting.
At a Sept. 3 City Council meeting, Rivera accused George’s opponent, Sharon Roden, of stealing his campaign sign from in front of a local business. In a Sept. 24 opinion piece published in CalCoastNews, George claimed that Roden served the city manager and not her constituents.
Roden told New Times this election cycle has seen some “low punches,” but she’s focusing her campaign on the importance of the City Council.
“If you surround yourself with like-minded people, you are never going to be challenged,” she said. “So it is imperative to me that we have discussions, … and do right by people.”
Third District incumbent Steve Gregory, Rivera’s opponent, said that Bausch can endorse whoever he pleases, adding that it’s important for the elected council members to all be able to work together.
“I don’t mind having opposition, but we need to work together to come up with a solution,” he said, “which is how it should be.” Δ
This article appears in Oct 17-27, 2024.