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San Luis Obispo City Council

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City of San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo City Council

Two of San Luis Obispo's four at-large City Council seats are up here. The term is four years. The city uses a new method called Citywide Single Vote. Each voter picks one candidate, and the two top vote-getters win. The Council sets city policy, the budget, and city laws. It also sets land-use rules. An appointed City Manager runs daily operations.

Three candidates are running for two at-large City Council seats. Voters choose one candidate. The two with the most votes win.

Councilmembers serve four-year terms on the five-member Council, alongside the directly elected Mayor. The Council sets ordinances, the budget, land-use policy and city priorities while an appointed City Manager runs daily operations.

The one-vote rule matters: supporting one candidate does not prevent a second candidate from winning the other seat. All three answered the League of Women Voters' Vote411 questionnaire. The two incumbents run on the current Council's housing, climate and homelessness work. Cross runs on neighborhood livability and slowing the pace of development. The choice is which of those you want more of.

Brett Cross

Brett Cross is a neighborhood advocate who grew up in San Luis Obispo. He says he served four years on the city Planning Commission. He wants development that fits the city's scale and firmer noise and zoning enforcement. He has not held elected office.

Michelle Shoresman

Michelle Shoresman is a councilmember. She was appointed in 2021 and elected in 2022. She worked 24 years for the county Public Health Department. Her priorities are safe neighborhoods, the city's climate goals, and homelessness.

Emily Francis

Emily Francis has served on the Council since 2022. She is now Vice Mayor. She was a public school teacher and a city Planning Commissioner. Her priorities are affordable housing, safer streets, and climate resilience.

Your pick

A nonpartisan office: candidates do not run as Democrats or Republicans, and no party appears on the ballot.

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