Lynn Compton and Jimmy Paulding squared off on May 7 in the first debate of a heated race for 4th District SLO County supervisor at Nipomo High School.
Before a standing-room only crowd, incumbent Supervisor Compton portrayed herself as a taxpayer advocate and watchdog for South County while attorney Jimmy Paulding touted his leadership abilities and work experience heading public infrastructure projects.
Compton stood behind the most contentious decisions made by the current three-member conservative majority on the county’s Board of Supervisors, and she said Paulding would flip that to a liberal majority if elected.
“You need somebody watching out for you,” Compton said. “[Paulding’s] talking points are exactly the same as the other supervisors on the board who are in the minority.”
Paulding, in turn, called Compton “unapproachable” to constituents and held her responsible for politicizing the often-divided board.
“Local elected officials are supposed to be nonpartisan,” Paulding said. “Bringing people together is what I do. It’s my experience. We need somebody who will commit to a collaborative spirit to get things done.”
The candidates debated public safety, water, energy, housing, cannabis, air quality, and the economy. Compton is opposed to the “inclusionary housing” fee on developers that goes toward affordable housing projects; in favor of streamlining development processes; against exploring a Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) program for the county; and against additional fire service and transportation taxes.
Compton, owner of an agricultural supply company, said she approaches county issues from the perspective of a small business owner.
“Every single vote that comes before me I think about how is this going to affect our economy?” Compton said. “Whether it’s raising fees on homebuilders or homeowners, everything I look at I look at through that prism.”
Paulding described himself as a consensus builder and someone with experience navigating government processes as a planner and project manager. He expressed support for the inclusionary housing fee; exploring a CCA program as a means to invest in renewable energy; more economic development in Oceano and Nipomo; and generating road funds through the state gas tax and a local sales tax measure.
“I see a lack in vision and a lack in leadership,” Paulding said of Compton. “We need someone with those skills, someone who has a desire to work with others, bring people together, and focus on the issues—not partisan ideology.”
The League of Women Voters is hosting a second District 4 forum on May 10 in the Oceano Community Services District building at 6 p.m. Δ
This article appears in Best of SLO County 2018.
Let’s be real: Paulding is a fake. He is attempting to position himself as an independent when he clearly is not. He is lock-step with the slo county Democrat progressives. He has taken money from them, as well as Bruce Gibson and Adam Hill. Why doesn’t Paulding just come out and say what he is? He would earn some respect that way. It’s obvious that if elected, he will be a tool of Hill and the progressives.
Note to Paulding: Actions speak louder than words, and facts are facts. You’re a registered Dem and you have taken $ from the progressives. That means you are NOT an independent. But, it does mean you are already a deceiving politician before you have even held an office!
Im Tired of the squabbling on our board of supervisors. I like Pauldings comment that elected officials should be non-partisan. Compton says you need somebody watching out for you, yet shes talking about conservatives. What about the rest of us? From the homework Ive done, Compton appears to be for big money, not the average citizen. It would be nice to see our board get something done without all the shit talking. We cant predict the future, but we know whats happening currently, hopefully Paulding will bring a new energy.
What did they each say about cannabis? The issue of bringing new agriculture to our county is not a minor one. Nor is whether or not patients and other cannabis users can purchase legally or turn to the streets because local ordinances and taxes drive the price too high.
Gail I can speak to to my experience with Lyn. I am a legal cannabis farmer but have been told by numerous people that she wont allow me to move forward with final approval for licensing. I have been farming here on my own 10 acre agricultural piece of land since 1997. I know of other farms that she has made up her mind on as well, we are all farmers in her district. We will all be shut out from getting our county license and have to fold our farms if she wins.
Posted on facebook pages – SLOLP and LP of San Luis Obispo today:
I asked the vital question and here is the answer:
“Gail I can speak to to my experience with Lyn[n Compton, 4th District Supervisor].
“I am a legal cannabis farmer but have been told by numerous people that she won’t allow me to move forward with final approval for licensing.
“I have been farming here on my own 10 acre agricultural piece of land since 1997.
“I know of other farms that she has made up her mind on as well, we are all farmers in her district.
We will all be shut out from getting our county license and have to fold our farms if she wins.”
Sorry, Lynn. You won’t get my vote this year or nay other until you open your mind to cannabis.
It is wrong to shut down legal operations in order to control in ways that end up turning cannabis farming to high dollar operations by shutting down the little guys currently farming in our county.
Vote for candidates who understand the value of many small operations instead of a few big operations that end up being corporate controlled.