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SLO Council Candidates Make Five

By Camas Frank ~

With the state and national primaries out of the way it’s time to get serious about SLO’s municipal election.

Two new candidates, Aaron Gomez, downtown business owner, and Mila Vujovich-La Barre a local middle school teacher, have filed their financial disclosure documents to run for SLO’s two open City Council seats.

That brings the candidate count to five for the Council, with Mayor Jan Marx currently running unopposed. The Mayor plans to hold a party to have her nomination papers signed later in the month.

Already in the running for Council are Brett Strickland, Michael Clark, and Andy Pease. Current Councilman Dan Carpenter is in the running for the District 3 County Supervisor seat and Councilman John Ashbaugh will be leaving political office entirely at the end of the year.
Introducing the newcomers:

Aaron Gomez, has been “Co-Captain” of his family’s business, The Gold Concept Jewelry & Design, for the last five years. At 37 he says he’s learned a thing or two about how the town runs, although he’s not in the race specifically for the youth demographic. Although, he said, “younger folks are very under represented. We need more well rounded philosophy to include the entire community.”

“I’ve been fortunate to be able to stay in town,” said Gomez, “I had a business of my own before stepping into the family business and I’ve been active the whole time. The majority of my local friends have gone though, moved for school or work.”

As a member of the Leadership SLO Class of 2016 and Vice President of the Downtown Association Board, he’s also familiar with the recent top ten list ranking that places SLO County as 6th place for the most unaffordable county in the U.S.

“As a City that’s our major issue,” he said, “housing and rental costs need to come down, but I know there are no single solutions. We have to address that over time as a priority.”

Mila Vujovich-La Barre describes herself as having become politically active as a “Soccer Mom” in 2000 while organizing around the Damon-Garcia Sports Fields. In 2005 she became President of Save San Luis Obispo while opposing development on the Dalidio property, now known as “San Luis Ranch.”

City Council watchers will recognize her track record of activism, which she says is part hobby and all passion.

While it took her slightly longer to file initial paperwork to start fundraising, Vujovich-La Barre said she’s been meeting with community groups and groups of friends who stand ready to contribute since her announcement in front of the council last month.

In a printed statement she said, “I would like to recreate and strengthen the respective neighborhoods throughout the City by working with Residents for Quality Neighborhoods (RQN), advisory bodies and other groups.”

As a schoolteacher she’s got a little time on her hands for the moment to kick-start a campaign, but in office she’ll still have plenty of energy.

“I’ve been looking forward to having more direct contact with city staff around key issues,” she said. “Friends tell me that if I actually do get the job I’ll probably be spending less time in meetings than I do already.”

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