Templeton just wrapped up eight months of its life that it will never get back.
Despite David Leader’s involvement in several restraining order cases and a criminal case, the Templeton Area Advisory Group (TAAG) appointed him as its chair in January. Shortly thereafter, TAAG changed its policies so that someone with a felony could still serve on its board.
The writing was on the wall, and most of TAAG’s board members ignored it. So, it’s really no surprise that the man had to be asked multiple times to leave a recent meeting—and a SLO County Sheriff’s Office deputy had to ensure that Leader left the room. And that the board had to low-key threaten him to resign … or else it would do it for him.
“As we removed the felony conviction clause from our bylaws several months ago, why does this even matter?” Leader wrote in response to TAAG board member Matt Thomsen’s email asking him to resign. “It seems a bit hypocritical doesn’t it? … Keep in mind President Trump has something like 32 felony convictions.”
Oof! It’s actually 34.
I’m not sure Leader got the messaging exactly right. Someone with 34 felony convictions has no business being in office, especially one who was convicted of falsifying business records. Leader pleaded guilty to felony vandalism and misdemeanors for disobeying a court order.
One was a scheming liar and fraudster. That’s Trumpty-Dumpty.
One is a serial harasser with no boundaries. That’s Leader.
Both think there’s nothing wrong with their conduct, and both have no business being in office. That’s the right message.
Leader told Thomsen that his issues were just between him and his neighbors (who he harassed to the point of restraining orders, which he broke multiple times). It’s not a community thing.
He just sneaks around on his neighbor’s properties, shining lights in their windows, vandalizing their stuff, and yelling at them. He doesn’t do it to anyone else! Except, he does—allegedly.
On Aug. 20, when his embattled neighbors showed up to a TAAG meeting to read statements about the “small-neighborhood issues,” Leader had to leave because he wasn’t allowed within 100 feet of them. I guess it became a community issue, then, right? And the creeper didn’t leave the premises; he just waited in the parking lot!
The gall of this man!
“I’ve lived next to this man for 10 years, and his behavior toward us and his other neighbors and tenants is not that of someone who should represent our sweet community,” one of his neighbors said at the meeting.
Yes, Leader’s now heading back into court because a tenant on his property wants a restraining order against him: “I now deadbolt my doors at night because I am afraid [Leader] may approach my residence or enter the adjoining area while I am sleeping,” the tenant wrote in court filings.
That totally tracks. I wonder if he’s tried the ghillie suit on his tenant yet. Fake yeti.
At least Leader’s getting 30 days in jail for his “small-neighborhood issues,” which will enable his tenant to get a much-needed break from his antics in October.
He finally officially resigned from the board on Aug. 26. This is, apparently, thanks to his attorney, who “strongly advised” him to avoid TAAG meetings “for the time being” and because leaving would be “in TAAG’s best short-term interest,” Leader wrote in his resignation letter. “Long-term interest” is the term he should have used.
“It has been my privilege, honor, and joy serving as chair for the last eight months,” Leader wrote. “I wish the board the very best going forward.”
“Joy” isn’t the right descriptor. I’m noticing a pattern here!
His short tenure was tumultuous.
Later in the letter, Leader took the opportunity to call some of his former fellow board members “confrontive” and “destructive,” saying one “craves the spotlight” and is “a bull in a china shop.” That’s one way to wish the board the best!
In earlier emails with board members, he said one member makes “TAAG look like a circus.” Leader must be a pleasure to work with, amirite? He is the circus.
You know what else is a circus? Grover Beach, the appointment capital of SLO County. As we should have learned from this whole Leader situation, appointments don’t always put the right people on a dais. In Paso Robles’ case, a council appointment cost the city $870,000—Chris Bausch, who has the gall to try to keep that seat!
I don’t know whether you can blame the Grover Beach City Council or its boisterous, “passionate” residents for the string of appointments in recent years; either way there’s been a lot of appointing happening and the city’s going to do some more, thanks to a newly vacant 3rd District seat.
One of the sitting City Council members is still serving out the remainder of the term she was appointed to fill after Dan Rushing was recalled by those passionate Grover residents. The council could have two appointees on at the same time!
How great.
You know what really is great? Paso Robles Joint Unified School District’s decision to put book vending machines on some of its school campuses!
Kids will be able to win tokens and redeem them through the machines by picking the book of their choice. I’m in! ∆
The Shredder loves a good grade-appropriate book. Send titles to shredder@newtimesslo.com.
This article appears in Aug 27 – Sept 3, 2026.
