Thank you to everyone who made this great victory possible. See you there!

I look forward to working with all 5th District Residents to bring fair and honest representation of the needs of our district to the Board of Supervisors. I look forward to working with the four other members of the Board of Supervisors to bring you only the highest quality of local government that answers directly to the citizens of SLO County.

If you need to know where to go to vote, or need a ride to your polling place, please call my Campaign Manager, Jeff Snyder, at (805) 801-8259.

After you’ve voted, remember that friends and supporters of mine will be joining me for an Election Night Celebration at Taft Barn at 10125 Santa Clara Rd. in Atascadero. See you there!

Unprecedented show of solidarity for one candidate

Atascadero, Calif. – San Luis County Board of Supervisors candidate Debbie Arnold has broken a ceiling and earned the endorsement of the entire Atascadero City Council, her campaign announced today.

Atascadero Mayor Bob Kelley, Mayor Pro Tem Tom O’Malley, and Councilmembers Jerry Clay, Sr., Roberta Fonzi and Brian Sturtevant have unanimously chosen to support Arnold.

Councilmember Jerry Clay, Sr. noted no other candidate has ever earned the solidarity of support Debbie has from the Atascadero City Council.

“The North County needs Debbie Arnold now!” said Councilmember Clay. “The present S.L.O. County 5 District Supervisor and his appointees have not supported the City Council and its citizens on important issues. Creek Set backs, potential septic tank regulations, restrictive water basin issues, Air Pollution Control restriction and the plastic bag ordinance will cost Atascadero property owners dearly.”

“I support Debbie Arnold as she will be a representative for all of the people,” said Mayor Kelley. Having been involved in the local business community, I support Debbie’s efforts to make the county more business friendly, as we have done in Atascadero. Creating jobs is the primary answer to an economic recovery and Debbie will work hard to achieve her stated goals.”

Mayor Pro Tem Tom O’Malley praised Arnold for her pro-businesses platforms.

“Debbie Arnold is by far the strongest business candidate. Her years of business and community service will be a tremendous asset for our town!” said O’Malley. “All five Atascadero Councilmembers support Debbie Arnold for 5^th District Supervisor.”

“Debbie Arnold represents the heart and character of Atascadero,” said Councilmember Fonzi. “She listens to us and will protect our rural lifestyle.”

“Debbie Arnold understands the needs of our community,” said Councilmember Sturtevant. “Her experience and values will best represent the city of Atascadero and its residents on the County Board of Supervisors.”

Arnold is a longtime San Luis Obispo County resident whose family is fourth and fifth generation farmers and ranchers in the Pozo Valley. Arnold founded and operated Small Wonders Preschool in Atascadero for over 17 years. She and her husband, Steve, have two children and four grandchildren.

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I believe in open, honest and transparent governance. I believe that easy public access to a Supervisor’s votes is important. In following with that idea, I believe that campaign transparency is equally important.

In recent days, my opponent has criticized the funding sources of my campaign (Footnote 1). I invite the public at large to review every single donation, both monetary and non-monetary (Footnote 2), that I have received.

Campaign finances are reported at specific intervals on what’s called a “Form 460.” These are available to view at the County Clerk-Recorder’s office in San Luis Obispo.

Today, the final pre-election campaign finance report was made public (Footnote 3). I am so proud to report that my campaign has received 648 donations from 521 unique donors totaling $233,228 (Footnote 4). 361 of these donations were $100 or less. These donors represent your friends and neighbors, local businesses, local unions, local business associations and local political action committees.

If you have any questions about my Form 460s, please call my Campaign Manager, Jeff Snyder, at (805) 801-8259.

A couple of my larger donations were given by “political action committees.” These represent pooled donations from many diverse individuals and businesses. For example, I received donations from several local realty associations, agriculture and ranching associations, as well as the Deputy Sheriff’s Association. Each of these associations, in turn, raises campaign funds from dozens to hundreds of individuals. In total, my campaign finance reports represent the hard-earned money of well over a thousand individuals.

Thank you to everyone who has been involved in my campaign in any way. I look forward to representing all of you–and everyone else in the 5th District and San Luis Obispo County as a whole–when I am elected as your next 5th District Supervisor on June 5th.

Footnote 1: The primary attack against my campaign finance has been concerning out-of-area donors. I have received a total of $3,918 from 11 out-of-state donors who own businesses and/or live part-time in SLO County. Additionally, some of my donations have come from out of the county. These out-of-area donations do not mean that the individual or business is not physically present by owning a business or living part-time in the county.

Footnote 2: A non-monetary contribution is anything that is donated to the campaign. Common examples are wine and auction items for fundraisers and outreach events. Additionally, if a venue or office space is available for rent, but is given to me at no charge, that must be taken into account as a “non-monetary contribution.”

Footnote 3: Now that the final reporting period has passed, all donations in of $1,000 or more will be reported within 24 hours of receipt.

Footnote 4: This figure is the grand total of all monetary and non-monetary donations given since the beginning of the campaign. This figure is larger than any number that will appear on any of my Form 460s because I have gone through and done all the math for you.

Speaking of comparing and contrasting my views with my opponent, I hope you might take a moment to read this piece about the 5th District race in the New Times. Read it here.

On Sunday, May 27, I will be in San Miguel for a meet and greet. The event will start at 3pm at Harmony Farms at 8283 Cross Canyon Road in San Miguel.

In these final 12 days before polls close, I urge you to get involved with my campaign. This election will be close and every little bit helps. If you are interested in helping, please contact my Campaign Manager, Jeff Snyder, at 805-801-8259.

That is not true.

As the San Luis Obispo Tribune exposes the Air Pollution Control District’s budget troubles, I want to remind voters that the APCD budget is a matter of public information. Please take a moment to look at the minutes and budget. You’ll see, right there in black and white, the big compensation packages that Supervisor Jim Patterson voted for.

Check out the minutes from the meeting on July 27, 2011 to see the budget votes.

And read the actual APCD 2011-2012 budget. Scroll all the way down to the last page, item B-2 page 44, to see the compensation packages.

It is important to note that more than 70% of the APCD budget is spent on employee compensation. And 50% of the APCD’s income comes from fines and fees.

San Luis Obispo County needs an advocate for taxpayers to stop this kind of wasteful and abusive spending. I will be your voice on the Board of Supervisors. I ask that you vote for me, Debbie Arnold, on or before June 5th.

In just 18 days, San Luis Obispo will elect it’s next 5th District Supervisor to represent Atascadero, East Templeton, Creston, Ground Squirrel Hollow, California Valley and parts of the City of San Luis Obispo on the Board of Supervisors.

I look forward to representing your interests on the Board of Supervisors with my experience as farmer, rancher, and business owner in Atascadero for 17 years and advocate for San Luis Obispo County residents as a legislative assistant to the Board of Supervisors, California State Assembly and Senate.

In these final days before the election, I urge you to get involved with my campaign. We have plenty of work to do as we continue reaching out to our friends and neighbors. If you are interested in helping, please contact my Campaign Manager, Jeff Snyder, at 805-801-8259.

I’m proud to share my new radio ad. Please listen here.

I hope that you might join me to celebrate the Election Day! At 7:30pm, I will host an Election Night Celebration at Taft Barn in Atascadero, 10125 Santa Clara Rd.

Thank you so much for your continued support,

Debbie