Why should you care who is elected mayor? Maybe you’re just a guest in this small college town, acquiring a little knowledge before moving on to the bigger and better that the real world has to offer. But if you love San Luis Obispo and plan on coming back to show your kids your old college ‘stomping grounds,’ you might want to have a say in who will be running the show for the next two years.
Maldonado vs. Fitzgerald: Race pits seasoned politician against independent challenger
California’s 15th district state Senate race is shaping up to be a true David and Goliath-like contest.
The incumbent: Abel Maldonado (R-Santa Maria), career politician seasoned by experience of work at a local and state level.
The challenger: Jim Fitzgerald, a to-be United Parcel Service retiree and independent candidate with no political experience and significantly different campaigning style than that of Maldonado.
Two local graduates vie for district 33 state assembly seat
The Race California State Assembly District 33 encompasses all of San Luis Obispo County and 44.25 percent of Santa Barbara County. Last updated in 2001, assembly records show 219,200 registered voters. The Candidates Sam Blakeslee He is a Republican, the incumbent and President of the investment firm Blakeslee & Blakeslee.
Campaign for Congress: Lois Capps and Matt Kokkonen
The People Background: Incumbent Lois Capps has served in Congress for ten years, five of those as a representative for the 23rd district which includes San Luis Obispo County. Capps worked as a nurse for 20 years in the Santa Barbara School District and taught part-time as an early childhood education instructor at Santa Barbara City College for 10 years.
For many, Prop 8 gets personal
Proposition 8, one of the most controversial measures on the California ballot to date, has sparked heated debate locally, whether it be during Thursday night’s Farmers’ Market or on the proposition board in the University Union, which allows students to pen their thoughts
Prop 2 brings agriculture, animal welfare issues home for Cal Poly
Cal Poly’s agricultural majors and professors have been clucking about the effects this election season will have on them if Proposition 2, the proposed Standards for Confining Farm Animals Act, passes Nov. 4.
The statute would require that calves raised for veal, egg-laying hens and pregnant pigs be confined in ways that allow them to lie down, stand up,
Do parents have the right to know all? Prop 4 says yes
Abortion has always been a topic for debate during the political season. New legislation is bringing the debate to an age-group that has little say in the political process.
Proposition 4, or the Abortion Waiting Period and Parental Notification Initiative, proposes to prohibit abortion for minors until 48 hours after a parent or legal guardian has been contacted.
Election day rebels with a cause
When independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader came to Cal Poly to speak in late September, hundreds piled into the auditorium and overflowed out into the hallway outside, hustling and bustling to get a seat. Mixed in the shuffle stood Scott Waddell, a student passionate about politics but without a candidate.
How-to voting guide for students
Fill in the bubbles and feed it into the scanner. Voting is as easy as filling out an 882-E Scantron, but come election day there may be some obstacles students will not foresee.
“The ballots are really simple,” said San Luis Obispo County Clerk Recorder Julie Rodewald.
Student activists campaign for candidates in free time
Change has unofficially dubbed itself the theme of this election. From packed arenas and small townhall meetings, the call is being echoed by millions of Americans. They’re people who are angry, frustrated, inspired and motivated to do something about the status quo, and in some cases, they’re working for change right here on campus.
Interactive: Cal Poly campaign contributions
See an interactive graph of campaign donation amounts from Cal Poly affiliates. All public postings from the Huffington Post’s online database are shown on the graph, with names omitted. Donations less than $100, anonymous and non-listed donors are not included.