Andrew Carter to vacate SLO City Council seat 

After serving six years on the San Luis Obispo City Council, Andrew Carter suddenly announced on Jan. 23 that he would be leaving his position to become the city administrator for Guadalupe, a small town west of Santa Maria.

According to a press release from Guadalupe, Carter is scheduled to begin his new job on Feb. 20, pending the completion of contract negotiations and a background check. He will replace interim city administrator Tim Ness with a salary of $80,028. His last meeting as a SLO councilmember will be Feb. 19.

The release quoted Carter as saying, “I can’t wait to get started in Guadalupe.”

SLO City Council members will discuss their options to replace Carter, who was known for his analytical abilities, at their Feb. 5 meeting. They could call a special election or appoint a replacement, according to City Manager Katie Lichtig. Anyone interested in filling the vacant seat must submit an application to the city within 10 days of the vacancy being formally announced. That date won’t be known until the council takes action on the process.