Future mayors of Pismo Beach might receive respite from the stress of frequent reelection campaigns. But that decision ultimately rests with voters.
On April 21, the Pismo Beach City Council voted 3-2 directing staff to return with an agenda item proposing a ballot measure aiming to extend the mayoral term from two years to four. The proposed measure would appear on the November ballot. If voters approve, the change would begin in 2028.
“I think that does bring stability in our leadership,” Councilmember Mary Ann Reiss said. “It gives the community the opportunity to actually vote on this again rather than us making that decision.”
Reiss was Pismo Beach’s first elected mayor—an appointed position until 2004. She floated the idea of increasing the duration of the mayor’s two-year term at a Feb. 6 special City Council meeting, adding that mayors have only a year to carry out their duties before they must gear up for reelection campaigns.
Currently, Paso Robles is the only city in San Luis Obispo County to have four-year terms for mayor.
Mayor Ed Waage and Councilmember Scott Newton mirrored Reiss’ comments. Newton, who’s running to be the next Pismo Beach mayor, told council members that an increasing number of cities across the country are switching to four-year mayoral terms.
“Unfortunately, government is not what it was 20 years ago,” Newton said. “If you had a goal 20 years ago, you might see it come to fruition in two years, but government pace is not what it was. Look at how long we talked about CCB [Central Coast Blue water project], how long we talked about the new public safety center.”
‘I think that does bring stability in our leadership. It gives the community the opportunity to actually vote on this again rather than us making that decision.’
—Mary Ann Reiss, Pismo Beach City Councilmember
Waage, who’s been mayor for 10 years, told New Times he’s achieved all his objectives and is retiring.
“We have new police and fire stations, … we have fixed up the downtown with a new pier and pier plaza along with other amenities, we have fixed up numerous parks, our roads are much improved, and we have plans to continue fixing up the city and add additional amenities,” he said. “Finally, this is a time in my life where I would like to have more time for myself and my family. I have really enjoyed my service as mayor, but I am ready to move on.”
Former Mayor Shelly Higginbotham told council members during the public comment period that she supports the term extension. Adding years to the mayor’s term could boost accountability and give the top city official more time to build relationships with staff and the community, according to Higginbotham.
But to Councilmember Marcia Guthrie, Higginbotham’s time as mayor became a reason to not increase term duration.
She referenced an incident in 2014 involving Higginbotham’s husband where he stood up during a City Council meeting and “in the middle of a heated battle over a large track of land, thousand homes, 325 acres, hotel, golf course,” said he not only supported the project, but he also wanted to buy a home there.
“It’s completely inappropriate,” Guthrie said. “That mayor almost lost by 2 votes, and I think everyone was grateful she didn’t run again. So, I understand that running every two years is a challenge but every other city that I can think of in this county has a two-year term and there’s a reason for that.”
Fellow dissenting Councilmember Stacy Inman also reminded the City Council about Higginbotham’s 2014 win by two votes against opponent Kevin Kreowski.
“It’s in our history and I think it’s important to look at when we make this decision,” she said.
Inman also said it’s “interesting” that only mayors have brought up the possibility of increasing the term duration, while “90 percent” of the 100 community members she spoke to prefer the current two-year system.
“What if there’s an ineffectual leader or someone they don’t think is running the city well?” she said. “That’s their biggest concern.” ∆
This article appears in April 23-30, 2026.
It just never made sense to me why a Mayor term limit is any different from that of a Councilmember. Both seats are locally elected community members. There is no “strong Mayor” authority, really just a 5th councilmember who runs meetings and is the face of the community at certain events…I say fix it in Pismo, Grover, A-Town, MB, SLO, and where ever else it exists.