It’s no secret that Cal Poly students so often love their short time in San Luis Obispo that they look for ways to stick around long after graduation.
One student has come up with an interesting plan, instead of simply combing the want ads for a local gig; he’s taking part in one of the longest and most public application processes available, for what can often be a thankless job.
Christopher Lopez is running for SLO City Council.
Lopez a fourth-year philosophy student with a double major in ag. business and a minor in political science is taking a break with classes during the election run but he does hope to graduate in winter quarter.
“We’re on track,” he said, despite noting that he’s probably spent more time involved in local community organizations – including the citizens’ oversight committee established to monitor spending of the San Luis Coastal Unified School District’s bond funding – than he has on class work in the last two years.
As well as being on the City’s Mass Transportation Committee, he’s a SLO Chamber of Commerce “Ambassador,” he’s possibly the most off-campus community involved student since T. Keith Gurnee was elected to Council in 1971.
“Whatever happens on Nov. 8,” said Lopez, “This is where I want to be and call my home.”
He added that the issues that the City Council works on are a chance to shape a direct legacy for his future children.
That could be the philosophy degree talking, but he also said that for someone ho grew up on a ranch in Clovis, Calif. with no real for a much larger community, SLO offers unique opportunities to be engaged.
One of the reasons he’s involved in the oversight for San Luis Coastal’s Measure D money is that he, ”had the good fortune to attend a good school district in Clovis Unified, that offered really excellent support for students whether they left to attend college or not.”
He’s particularly interested in updating technology in local classrooms and having paths to offer even if students don’t end up Cal Poly bound.
Assuming just for a moment that voters don’t elect Lopez out of the field of six candidates running, he’s looking to go into other government affairs division of a local company y or nonprofit and has some family support for his dream to open a restaurant in the City somewhere down the line.
The five other council candidates in order of filing are Brett Strickland, Michael Clark, Andy Pease, Aaron Gomez, and Mila Vujovich-La Barre.
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