Women’s March San Luis Obispo organizers are deeply alarmed by recent drastic changes to our electoral system. Today we urge each person in our county to show up and speak up for safe, fair, and fully enfranchised elections.
Four years ago during the first Women’s March in San Luis Obispo, thousands took to the streets unified in defending a more just and equitable democracy. Since the beginning, this movement has been about creating lasting change. We knew then what we know now—that every single voice makes a difference.
Now, as we watch local elections be purposefully eroded, it’s up to each of us to show up and speak up in numbers too large to ignore.
In November 2020, the SLO County Board of Supervisors voted to raise its own campaign limits to almost four times the limit set by the California Legislature, thereby opening local elections to higher limits than even our state representatives.
Next, when presented with the choice to expand voting access, the same Board of Supervisors went the opposite direction, selecting the most restrictive voting model possible for San Luis Obispo County.
Most recently, in tandem with a fringe trend to sow distrust in American democracy, the validity of the San Luis Obispo County 2020 elections results were baselessly challenged. As part of the disinformation campaign, our County Clerk-Recorder Tommy Gong was attacked with hateful, racist, anti-Asian rhetoric. One went as far as to claim Mr. Gong, a third generation American, might be a Chinese Communist. Subsequently, Mr. Gong stepped down and will leave our county.
With the clerk-recorder seat vacant, it’s up to the Board of Supervisors to appoint a new official who will plan, implement, and supervise our upcoming San Luis Obispo County elections. It’s critically important to make our voices heard in this process. We must make it known that we expect an impartial and apolitical clerk-recorder be appointed.
Ahead of us are urgent issues, such as redistricting, a recall, and a general election, that includes choosing a new clerk-recorder. Each will be incredibly complex and extremely challenging. Together they will have a lasting impact on democracy.
We marched, we organized, we ran, we voted. Now is the time for each and every one of us to defend the cornerstone of our democracy and demand fair elections conducted in a transparent, professional, and nonpartisan manner.
We ask the SLO County Board of Supervisors to unanimously appoint a nonpartisan interim clerk-recorder who will continue to instill confidence in San Luis Obispo County’s democratic process. Join this call by reaching out to your city, county, and state representatives. Make sure your voice is heard. A powered-up democracy requires our involvement. Δ
Dawn Addis, Andrea Chmelik, Terry Parry, Pat Harris, Jen Ford, Rita Casaverde, Gail Bunting are Women’s March San Luis Obispo organizers. Send comments for publication to letters@newtimesslo.com.
This article appears in Jul 1-11, 2021.
Dawn Addis has no credibility!
If you paid attention to her recent campaign to unseat our highly thought of state assemblyman, you would know that Dawn Addis has the wrong prescription for the Central Coast. Here, she rants about efforts to reduce election fraud, and most Americans believe that citizens should have to show an ID when voting, sorry Dawn.
It seems like the feminist ‘Women’s March’ crowd comes out of the woodwork whenever Democrats need to rile up the base, and I personally discount these hysteric people.
No Voter Fraud, demand ID’s
No Voter Suppression, count every vote
America: the Land of the Free.
Figures that Edwards swallowed the Big Lie. I doubt the three SLO County Supervisors did also, but they have to play the game to keep the Tanton Network money flowing in. There were a handful of cases of voter fraud reported, nothing to change any outcomes and mainly involving Trump supporters, but when you celebrate 4th of July this year please remember: Sedition is not patriotism.
Steve Edwards for Supervisor because Lynn Compton is not bad enough. Stamp out democracy, vote for Steve Edwards for supervisor.
Jim Halpert: first of all, regarding this discussion topic it’s not relevant what your skin color is. And I think we can assume you’re not black. But it’s safe to say that people of all color skin are among those who are fighting against the anti-democracy movement that you are helping promote Access to photo ID is not a matter of intelligence, I don’t know anyone but you who has made that correlation on this website. Many people do not have transportation to get photo IDs. It is easy for privileged people to not understand the challenges faced by others, particularly poor people living in remote rural areas of America. Your stance would deny many of those people their right and ability to vote. That’s not good
Tommy Gong did a good job as Clerk/Recorder, and left the position for his own reasons, not because a recent bit of racist craziness somehow drove him out of town. He most likely had applied for and secured his new position BEFORE the recent claims against him were expressed.
To hear the Women’s March writers, you would think that a drastic overhaul of traditional voting procedures was being proposed. Not so. Other than voter ID, something which is supported by over 3/4 of voters, the only changes being considered here and nationally are to recent changes made by Democrats to loosen up the process, such as same day registration, long extended voting periods, and allowing “vote harvesters” to pick up and cast votes. Voting will be no more difficult than it was 5 years ago, and it will be far more secure.
I know we are all hearing this debate all across the country.
One of the most absurd claims is that minorities cannot get an ID to vote, and are thus disenfranchised.
Let’s try to be rational here. You need a picture ID to buy booze. You need a picture ID to get a CBT card. You need a picture ID to enter government offices. You need one to cash a check at the bank.
How do we put up with this laughable claim that minority folks are incompetent? The thesis is racist on its face, as are many on the left who want to dispense with any control over fraudulent voting. Could there be another agenda here?
Right word 2…clearly you do not work with poor people…social services offers bus passes, no fee ID forms and access. The state and county provide plenty…you ever met a skinny homeless person? Gosh, it’s like you don’t know what your talking about.
Pam; Yes, I have met skinny homeless people. Your comments or absurd. Your attitude is deplorable. If youre actually serious and and truly believe your lies, you are in a bubble. Systemic racism is camouflaged in California but if you want to see it in full bloom go to the south. Talk to people in Mississippi. Talk to people in Arkansas and Alabama.
Ignorant people claim that it’s easy for everyone to get a photo ID. Of course, that’s not true. There are untold numbers of people in the United States who are eligible to vote for do not have reliable transportation or are physically challenged make it extremely difficult for them to get or renew photo IDs. The problem isn’t so bad in California. But check out other states and talk to the rural across America. All states do not run as smoothly as California. Systemic racism infects governments throughout United States. Bottom line is that it is not easy for everyone who is eligible to vote to show up with a photo ID. Nor is it necessary to require photo IDs to ensure fair elections as history has shown time and time again. No one should be denied their opportunity to vote simply because they are a day late in renewing their drivers license or have never received one. The voter suppression movement it’s clearly aimed at suppressing the vote of the most vulnerable people in America
If people don’t have a photo id ,.they have more things to to concern themselves with then voting….
Keith, there you go again trying to convince people that you dont like or dont agree with that they should not bother voting in our elections. Now you are even trying to shame people who have a difficult time getting a photo ID Maybe you could show a little more respect for people less fortunate than you
That’s not true Steve.
What should we report rightword for? Personally, I enjoy their comments and find them to be refreshing and helpful as well as entertaining. More power to them!
I dont think people realize how difficult it is for someone such as an 80 year old widow living alone in rural Mississippi Who doesnt Drive or have reliable transportation or any money to spare to travel the great distance required and pay the fees to get a Government issued photo ID. While polling places may be close by although Republicans are trying to shut many polling places down getting to a place where you can obtain a photo ID is much more difficult In many regions of our nation. Many Californians who have so mini convenient services nearby, dont appreciate that. Others are not so fortunate do you have easy access to obtaining photo IDs.
On the other hand, there are people like Steve Edwards who do realize this and have no sympathy and are very pleased to prevent people from exercising their right to vote.
Vote Republican!!!!
As has been shown time and time again in the United States, it is not necessary to require Photo IDs to ensure that we have fair elections. The ID requirements already in place have proven to be remarkably effective. The number of voter fraud cases are minuscule and I cant name a single election in my lifetime that has been swayed because of lack of requiring photo IDs. Can you?
You may be too privileged or sheltered to appreciate that for a large number of Americans it is extremely difficult to obtain photo IDs. Perhaps you should do some traveling in the southern states.
As far as I can tell the efforts to require photo IDs are intended to suppress the vote of tens of thousands, perhaps millions, of eligible voters. Thats not what democracy is about. Sorry