Elections

On this week's edition of Issues & Ideas: Since the beginning of the pandemic, facilities that care for the elderly have been hotspots for the spread of COVID-19. A new report says nationwide new cases in nursing homes have reached record numbers in November. You’ll hear from Michael Latner of Cal Poly, discussing partisanship, polls and what could change going forward in our country's elections. And we’ll learn about the nonprofit BraveMove.org from its founder and executive director Paul Monroe. He speaks about his experiences which led him to teaching and the work he does to help others succeed. And finally, many on the Central Coast book airline tickets through hubs like Los Angeles or San Francisco. But how safe are those larger airports? Doug Yakel with the San Francisco International Airport talks about COVID-19 holiday travel precautions at the airport.

We’ll learn about an election-related matter now before the SLO County board of supervisors, regarding campaign contribution limits for county offices. We travel to Fort Hunter Liggett for Veterans Day insights and an update on COVID-19 preventative measures at the base. Monterey County is stuck in the state's most restrictive COVID-19 category—purple—and we’ll learn how the tier system works. Both San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties are now in the purple tier as well. You'll hear a conversation between KCBX contributor Consuelo Meux and Shannon McOuat of Hospice of San Luis Obispo County on 'The Nonprofit Story.' Finally, KCBX contributor and Downtown SLO CEO Bettina Swigger has a conversation with Paso Robles city manager Tom Frutchey, about the challenges and opportunities facing these two Central Coast cities.

Many in San Luis Obispo County are more than ready to forget about elections for now and focus on other matters. But there is sizable public opposition to an election-related matter now before the county board of supervisors. District 1 supervisor John Peschong is spearheading a move to allow people to donate up to $25,000 to candidates for county offices like sheriff, district attorney and the five supervisorial seats.

With less than a week left until Election Day, an unprecedented number of ballots have already been cast in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties, and all polling centers are set to open on Halloween.

Continuing KCBX's election coverage, we hear from Dawn Addis, one of the candidates hoping to represent the Central Coast in the state Assembly. And learn more about the two men running to represent the Central Coast in the U.S. House of Representatives. Reporter Harry Lawton of KCSB spoke to Santa Barbara County's election official. The U.S. Census Bureau has finished counting for the 2020 Census, and you’ll hear two experts weigh in on what happens next and why some people are concerned if the Census Bureau will produce an accurate count. Researchers at UC Santa Barbara have developed a whale alert system for transiting vessels, hoping to keep whales from being struck by cargo vessels. On this week’s “Working Lunch” we have a conversation about the local real estate market. And finally, on “The Nonprofit Story,” we learn about the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Center.

In November, California voters will be deciding on a dozen statewide ballot measures. One is about funding stem cell research through bonds, Proposition 14.  

The coronavirus pandemic is changing the way millions of Americans can vote this fall. States are expanding access to mail-in voting as a safer alternative to in-person voting, and some counties are making even further provisions to ensure voters can get their ballots in on time. San Luis Obispo County is no exception.

As coronavirus cases in the world and the U.S continue to soar, we will talk with local experts about what you need to know to stop the spread, stay safe, get tested and how prepared we are to fight this outbreak, as well as what are the political implications of this pandemic for the U.S.

On this week's Issues and Ideas, California Secretary of State Alex Padilla stops by to discuss big changes coming to California elections in 2020. Also, the CEO of San Luis Obispo health and wellness tech company MindBody breaks his silence following a multibillion-dollar acquisition. We talk with Rick Stollmeyer about future plans for MindBody, if the company will stay in San Luis Obispo and what the acquisition means for the Central Coast tech industry. And we get to know more about eating disorders on college campuses through the eyes of a survivor, a dietary expert and a reporter who has been covering one student's journey.

California Secretary of State Alex Padilla was in San Luis Obispo this week to crown Cal Poly the winner of the inaugural California University and College Ballot Bowl. That's a new competition from the Secretary of State's office and various nonprofits aiming to encourage voting among California's students. Of the schools that competed, Cal Poly students and administrators registered the largest number of students to vote in the 2018 election: 3,178.

Central Coast election offices are busy preparing for Tuesday’s Presidential Primary.

Tuesday, June 7, 2016 is Election Day in California as Central Coast voters head to the polls to pick their primary candidates for President of the United States, Congress and various supervisor seats in Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Monterey Counties, among other choices. 

From the moment Central Coast Congresswoman Lois Capps announced her plans to retire at the end of this term, candidates looking to fill her spot began to announce their intentions to run.

Also an earlier 24th Congressional District candidate debate on February 4, 2016 at Cal Poly was moderated by KCBX News Director Randol White.

The debate begins at 18:14 in the video below, produced by Mustang News:

The City of Santa Barbara is working on plans to set up new city council districts for the upcoming November 2015 election.

Until now, the city's council members were elected at-large—meaning any registered voter in the city could cast a ballot for any of the council seats.

The move to districts is the result of a court ruling and settlement under the state's 2001 voting rights act.

Kristy Schmidt is Santa Barbara's Administrative Services Director. She says the city is currently collecting information from the public on forming the geographic boundaries.

ALSO: Hear the argument against Measure G  

On November 4, 2014, voters in the city of San Luis Obispo will decide whether they want to extend a half-cent sales tax for another eight years.

The "general purpose" tax was originally passed in 2006 as Measure Y. This year’s version is known as Measure G, and does come with some changes.

Reporter Jordan Bell spoke with Marilee Hyman, President of the League of Women Voters in San Luis Obispo, about how to evaluate ballot propositions.

Hyman discusses buzz words, endorsements and more.

Election Day is November 4, 2014. The last day to register to vote in California is October 20, 2014.

More information from the San Luis Obispo League of Women Voters can be found on their website. Hyman also recommends the SmartVoter.org site.

This November, California voters will decide who will serve in the state’s top offices, including Governor, Attorney General, and Secretary of State, among others.

California State Senator Alex Padilla is the current front-runner for the Secretary of State race, coming in first place among a crowded field in the June primary, filled primarily with Democrats. He too is a Democrat who currently represents the state's 20th Senate District, which includes much of the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles County.