Ben RozakThe college lecturer versus the retired police sergeant: Cal Poly English lecturer Adam Hill will take on incumbent Jerry Lenthall in Tuesday’s primary election for the 3rd District County Supervisor.
Hill, who has lived in San Luis Obispo County and lectured at Cal Poly for 13 years and is the former president of the Food Bank Coalition of San Luis Obispo, would like to see some changes he believes his opponent is not willing to make.
He said he is concerned with quality-of-life issues, which affect water, traffic congestion and urban sprawl.Hill supports well-planned, smart growth, he said, which he believes his opponent has failed to do in approving numerous building projects.
“I don’t think he’s voted against a development project, even ones that have been recommended to vote against,” Hill said. “I think we have a general plan in the city that shouldn’t be amended on a case-to-case basis,” he said.
Lenthall, on the other hand, said growth is important for any city, and that “we have never exceeded the growth rate in 50 years.”
Lenthall, who graduated from Cal Poly, barbecued at UU Hour last Thursday with the Cal Poly College Republicans, who support Lenthall’s campaign.
The 3rd District encompasses Pismo Beach, Grover Beach, Avila Beach and parts of San Luis Obispo.
Both candidates spoke of environmental concerns for the community. Lenthall said his top priority is examining and managing the carbon footprint, including using more efficient light bulbs, which have already replaced less efficient bulbs throughout the county. Lenthall said the county is also working on a solar panel project to provide energy to new housing in the area.
Hill lists, among other priorities, cleaning up the beaches and building more bike trails for a healthier, safer and more sustainable community.
Hill said he believes the university is a very underutilized resource in the community. He also said he would like to create a stronger job base in the county “where Cal Poly becomes an incubator for a cluster of new jobs.” Hill sees students graduate whom he knows would love to stay in San Luis Obispo, but are forced to leave because there are no jobs for them.
“We need that next generation of young professionals,” Hill said.
Lenthall said although Cal Poly is not encompassed in the 3rd District, “We need to make sure we have a safe, healthy, prosperous and well-governed county,” he said, all of which will have a positive impact on Cal Poly.
As the election approaches, Hill said he has encountered negativity from Lenthall. In a recent debate, Hill criticized Lenthall by citing newspaper headlines about approving building projects. Lenthall countered by saying he would not respond until Hill had accomplished something worth writing about in the newspaper.
“I don’t let it affect me, and I certainly don’t let it intimidate me,” Hill said.
Both said they felt confident about the nearing election. Lenthall said he has had great support in the community and the student population, and Hill said he has felt great support from fellow faculty members.
“I feel pretty good,” Hill said. “I’ve been working hard and I will be working hard until the polls close on election day.”