I’m voting for Jimmy Paulding for District 4 county supervisor. His challenger, Adam Verdin, has no coherent platform and is primarily running a smear campaign full of distortions.
As the incumbent, Jimmy Paulding is a strong representative of our community —experienced, knowledgeable, and deeply committed to results. Under his leadership, homelessness has decreased by 42 percent since 2022 through coordinated housing, mental health, and substance abuse solutions.
Verdin has maligned Paulding on several fronts. He claimed nothing was being done about the Cecchetti Bridge washed out in the January 2023 storms—almost comical, given that Paulding worked tirelessly on a solution. A temporary bridge is now open, and the permanent replacement has a design and secured funding. Verdin accused Paulding of opposing Proposition 13—not true. He claimed Paulding voted for the Caballero battery energy storage project in Nipomo (and unpopular)—but Paulding never voted on it. And Verdin charged that Paulding voted himself a pay raise—also false. When a raise eventually passed, Paulding voted against it.
It’s disheartening to see a candidate for District 4 barely address the real issues facing South County—water, infrastructure, public safety, and responsible growth—while choosing instead to meanly malign a good man.
Vote for Jimmy Paulding on June 2.
Cheryl Barton-Petrie
Arroyo Grande
This article appears in Summer Guide 2026.
Have you seen the temporary Cecchetti bridge which took over 3 years to construct under Paulding’s “tireless” efforts? It was not a major project like the pyramids. The entire and permanent 1900 mile transcontinental railroad only took 6 years, and the permanent Golden Gate bridge only took 4 years. So taking over 3 years to complete a temporary bridge over a creek is not an impressive achievement.
Paulding did vote to increase supervisors’ salaries. It’s on record.
Paulding did take advocating for the 2/3 vote requirement for increasing taxes to be removed from the county’s legislative platform in 2023. He voted to add it back in in 2025. (But he therefore admits the county does have a role in it)
Paulding did not vote on the battery plant, but that was never the main message. He helped developers move through serious fire code issues when they were at a standstill. And what I personally think is the worst is that he then lied about it to everyone until emails came out. Then his narrative changed.
Vote for whoever you want to, but Jimmy is a skilled salesman. Lots of inaccuracies in this letter.
Wow…where is this alternative universe? Paulding is so busy claiming “I did this, I did that,” “developers are evil,” and “Adam is bad,” that he is failing to acknowledge his shortcomings. He took a raise, he lied about Nipomo water rates (after being educated by the CSD), he helped the battery plant developer to expedite permitting, and his fix for the bridge took from other county projects and would have to be seasonally removed.
For good measure, I’ll raise you the $14M sheriff’s substation that Jimmy apparently is having built all by himself. First of all, he didn’t do any of these things without the support of at least two other supervisors. Secondly, ask a Sheriff’s Deputy if they want this $14M structure, or more deputies in the field….hint…it’s the latter.
He is so focused on “keeping his job” that he is going scorched earth on the very people he will have to rely on in the future.
Verdin has no career political aspirations. I stand with him.